Hey All,
I'm a regular commuter to Watsonia Station notorious for it's parking fines. They seem to either have odd definitions of what the 'nature strip' is, or maybe I just caught them on a bad day. Does anyone know if I can contest this fine? I was on the grass up on a curb, but been I've parking there for years.
It did seem odd that it wasn't the usual small slip of paper though which I'm unfortunately acquaint with. Maybe the PSA's issued it?
Damn, thanks for the reply. I thought at least parking in front of your house on the nature strip would at least be acceptable, considering some cars park in really awkward places otherwise.
Just seemed odd how on one day the only difference between cars getting fined and being safe, was that some were on the inner side of the nature strip towards the station, where cars parked opposite those cars on the same bit closer to the road got fined. Just seems like there might be some interpretation of what it is.
The city of casey had to change the council law to allow residents to park on their own nature strip. The fine remains for anyone else who parks on the nature strip.
Parking on the nature strip is illegal in many council areas.
Do you know the reason for this? The only reason I could think of is if an entire council is made up of narrow roads that were unsafe to park on.
I don't mind it - I think cars parked on nature strips make an area look like a commission housing area.
I was not aware that Casey Cc had changed this ruling. I live opposite a fellow in a residential area (borders onto industrial zone) and he regularly parks his truck, diggers etc. on his nature strip (for years). Became so boggy with the continual heavy use that he has even had fake grass lawn applied. No tree (of course). The signs that were installed over a narrow section of road, between the two zones, has seen one removed so he has more space to park his truck and/or digger trucks. I had always assumed he was either very lucky not to receive fines (trucks usually parked after hours) or he had received special permission.
It was a few years ago now, I did not realise that it only applies to roads less than 5.5m wide.
http://cranbournenews.starcommunity.com.au/news/2013-05-09/c…
" At Tuesday night’s council meeting, the councillors resolved to allow resident who live in streets 5.5metre wide or less to park on their nature strips without copping a fine if they abide by a number of conditions.
The conditions include that resident maintain the nature strip and repair any damage caused by vehicles parking on the nature strip, trucks are still not allowed to be parked and nature strips and pedestrian access and footways must not be obstructed."
And the reason was:
" The move came about after a flood of complaints from residents living in narrow streets who were fined by the council for parking on their nature strips, despite feeling it was unsafe to park along the road."
According to the news article I found, trucks are not allowed on nature strips…the council website might be more clear on this…
What he said .
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You need a spare set of number plates just for parking on the nature strip
Are you talking about the carpark itself at the station? There are designated car spaces and if you're not in one of those, you're asking to be fined. Or are you talking about a house up the road, a bit of a walk away?
Outside the spaces in the car park, there's never enough after around 7:30 AM. Some spots I've found I've never been fined despite seeing cars elsewhere with the windscreen surprise.
Ok, but the fact remains you're taking a chance parking where there's no designated space. They love earning their keep there. I used to park there years ago and saw it was overflowing, I'm certain it's even worse now. I chose mostly to park at my closer stations, I'm out towards Hurstbridge, but the further out you go, the less frequent the trains run, so sometimes I'd have to park somewhere closer to make it to work on time.
Text taken from Diamond Valley Leader March 4, 2015:
STATION’S PARKING SHORTFALL PUTS COMMUTERS IN A BIND
A COMMUTER says she is fed up with copping fines for parking on embankments at Watsonia railway station while authorities “pass the buck” on providing additional car parks.
Bundoora resident Gina Boskovski has received more than 10 fines in the past year because she had resorted to parking on embankments due to the car park being full by 7.30am.
“It’s impossible to drop the kids off at before school care and arrive at the station to an available car park; it’s already full by 7.30am,” Ms Boskovski said.
“People are up on to the nature strip, between trees, everywhere.
“The cheapest fine I have received is $65 and the most expensive is $145, I have spent over a $1000 in fines.”
She said a multi-level car park would address the issue by using land on the corner of Watsonia and Greensborough roads.
VicRoads and VicTrack own the car park, but it is operated by Metro Trains.
More than 470 infringement notices were handed out to drivers at the car park in 2014.
Public Transport Victoria spokesman Daniel Waugh said: “We believe that the best way to alleviate parking congestion is to offer a range of ways to get to the station”.
“In addition to more than 400 car parks, there is a dropoff zone, two nearby bus routes, and bicycle racks.”
Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan spokesman Bob Neilson said Labor planned to expand commuter parking and was auditing land holdings near stations to identify areas that can be sealed and made available for free parking.
Banyule Council Mayor Craig Langdon said he would support additional parking, including a multilevel car park, at Watsonia railway station.
Could op be Ms boskovski?!
Course not… She has a 10 fine headstart
It is always worth writing to the council to explain the circumstances. I have found them very considerate to honest explanations and first time incidents.
Parking on a nature strip has always been illegal. Perhaps you hadn't been detected by a parking inspector before, or maybe even past parking inspectors saw it as a harmless offence. Nonetheless, even though you've been parking on the nature strip for years and hadn't been fined before, it doesn't change the law.
Unless you have some documentation excusing the offence, which outlines an emergency situation involving the offending vehicle in question, you or a person who accompanied you at the time of the offence, you'll have to pay it.