Now that the Australia day happy vibe/hangover has worn off and it's a Perfect Monday to whinge, here's the tale of our brave and valiant South Perth Rangers handing out $300 fines for parking on one side of a residential street, rather than on the OTHER side which is not an offence.
Granted they did a good job of most probably paying some tradies exorbitant hourly rates to properly dig up the verge and put up sign posts overnight, I didn't really look around when parking there on Australia day, since I normally just park there when visiting my mate, and the few cars parked there didn't have any tickets (yet) either.
What baffles me is, it's on ONE side of the street only that you're not allowed to park, and it's FRICKING $300!! I'd wouldn't be as annoyed (see, getting ripped off by the biggest criminal organisation in WA) if it were $100-$150, but damn $300? On Australia day?
Fremantle did waive all parking tickets since the Mayor wanted Australia day to be a day for everyone to enjoy, how about not being a party pooper South Perth?
Is there any way to appeal for this?
$300 Parking Fine for Australia Day? How Very Unpatriotic!
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It was a 'no parking on 26 January' sign by the street. I'd rather remember it as a day where I just got a warning or not pay an outrageous amount for a parking fine though!
C'mon - is that really the fine?
@wickedsick: The fine says "Stopped contrary to a no stopping sign" - please elaborate what I'm missing here? Were ya stopped? Seems pretty open and shut to me.
@ThithLord: Residential street, no sign posts about no parking/stopping on any other day, you can park on either side of the street, done it loads of time when visiting my mate's.
@wickedsick: Your OP is a little hazy, I need some more details. Is it literally only on the 26th of Jan that this applies? Where is this signed? For example, where I live if a street isn't signed with an hourly limit, the assumed limit is 2hrs. If it's game day, limit is 15mins. All major entries into this traffic area have flashing signs outlining the limits, though, so you may experience differently.
@ThithLord: Literally said "No parking(or no stopping) on 26 January", with the soil at the post freshly put back into place.
It should really say; Stopped in contravention to a 'cash grab', as other councils Inc. Perth City council were running the same scam.
@wickedsick: If the sign was not there when you parked on this occasion, you should take it to court.
If the sign was there when you parked, and you didn't notice it was recently installed, tough shit.
Now you released why its so expensive, because you ignore when it says "no parking on 26 January" on 26 January.
Just write a appeal letter, I can't read English and I forgot it was 26th, at least it will be a good laugh for person who reading it :)Haha should I write it in… English?
They have specific 'no parking on Jan 26' mini covers made and places over all street signs, on streets they'd like to extort people at on the 26th of Jan. 364 other days of the year people are free to park there, but come the 26th of Jan the covers go on.
So you got a fine for parking in a spot that has a no parking sign?
Spare a thought for the ranger who had to work on Australia Day.
I did spare a thought for him getting paid double, and charging me more than triple a parking fine :)
I'll take family time over double time :)
You'd make a better ranger as opposed to these money hungry South Perth rangers :)
pity the person who can't…
I'll take family time over double time :)
Said no ozbargainer ever. Im surprised this wasnt negged to infinity
shouldn't this post be in the ozwhine.com.au forums? or the ozineedtojustifymyshitdrivingparkingskills.com.au?
so you learnt your lesson?
to pay more attention to your surroundings?
It's not about my getting fined. I totally agree with that part. It's the excessive amount of $300 that I can't wrap my head around.
This is why I still don't own a car even though I can afford one. Having a car in a country like Australia is like marrying a hot and immature woman. The sex is good, but all the bullshit comes with it for free. (The comfort of having a car is great, but the fines, costs and occasional replacement of expensive parts comes for free)
Or maybe you know, not get fined? do the speed limit, look around when you park for signs, that sort of thing?
You;ll pay the "replacement of expensive parts" costs from your lost time waiting for public transport (when it does show up)
@steff: I have only one friend who never got a fine. Rest of them got a fine at some point in their lives. I know I will. With all the rules the odds are great. Accidents happen even when it's not your fault. Hit and run happens (someone damages your car while it's parked, you never catch them and you pay out of your pocket + spend time getting it fixed). Plus in Sydney you don't even save time taking the car to work due to traffic and parking is an issue. How does it make sense to own a car then?
The public transport is good enough if you live close to station or bus stop. The buses suck but they're not too bad. Trains have a meltdown only once in a while. I'm a software developer, so I code in the train and improve my skills while I travel or catch some sleep. Too easy. The only few reasons to own a car is if you have kids or like me I'm interested in photography and to travel to remote places I'm just going to need a car. I'm a motorcycle guy though. :)
you mean whingepool.
Yet another "I didn't look at the sign and got fined" whinge.
The same thing happened to me in Unley where they do the same thing on weekends to allow smoother traffic flow in the side streets.
I called myself a few names for being stupid and not reading the sign, and paid up.Calling the council "the biggest criminal organisation in WA" doesn't help, either.
Learn from it - I did.
I don't deny it would make traffic flow better, and I would have gladly paid a fine for that. But $300 seems too excessive though!
"Calling the council "the biggest criminal organisation in WA" doesn't help, either."
That's totally untrue, the local councils are the biggest criminal organisation in the whole damn country.
Oh Dear
While granted $300 is going to hurt for an Ozbargainer, really somethings you write are just over the top.
You feel the council is negligent because some people hadn't been booked before you parked there. That really has nothing to do with the council. Next others will complain, they get a ticket after parking for just 1 minute, rangers being ready to pounce. Yes I understand seeing others with a ticket already would be a warning, But its not the councils fault.
You are the one responsible for doing what is correct. Hey officer I didnt see the speed sign, it wasnt there last week. Thing is its there now. Given the Ozbargain way to jump on any anomaly with a deal, its human nature to exploit loopholes. So allowing "mistakes" then when do you stop? But officer last week, they let my friiend off, because they didnt see the sign etc. Exactly what you claim when you say the Freemantle Mayor did this. Then the rest of WA, then Australia.
You now also say $300 is too much, give ita break we dont know how dangerous this was and thats the cop you pay. Every fine can be unfair, in it's charge. Going to Gaol for something another gets let off for. Sorry it's not always equal
Good luck, sorry you wasted your dough but accept that you did it, not anyone else. It sucks and I feel for you but not your reasoning.
Thanks for your thoughts. I totally agree with getting fine since there was the sign there, but what gets to me is the excessive $300 fine.
So what amount should it be?
Usually it's $60ish, so double fine on public holidays makes it $120ish, sounds fair.
Seems to be their biggest day of the year: https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/south-perth-collects-640…
The City of South Perth warned residents and visitors before this year’s Skyworks show that parking fines would be doubled on Australia Day.
That meant the $100 fine for stopping contrary to a “No stopping” sign jumped to $200.
From Ozmian's link.
Why were you fined for $300? Were you driving a Rolls?
@ausdday:
Base fine clearly gone up. Had a read of the article @ozmian shared jeeeez
Can only blame yourself for not checking the signs but geez clearly see ausday as their chance to bump up the cash. Wonder how many more inspectors they have on AusDay and if there are bonuses for targets being met on the day. Signs installed for one day is a ridiculous move lol
@ausdday: I believe they've changed the number of penalty units it attracts as that article is from 2015. According to the most recent legislation (2017) the offence "Stopping contrary to a no stopping sign" carries 15 penalty units. 1 penalty unit in South Perth between 6am on the 26/1 and 6pm on the 27/1 is equal to $20. Typically it's $10.
It sounds excessive, but they're obviously doing this for traffic flow and public safety in the area. I don't know what street this is, but it may be a thoroughfare that is needed for emergency access. I'm sure hundreds if not thousands of others that day saw signs like this and avoided them.
Sources:
https://southperth.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/6-about-us/…
https://southperth.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/6-about-us/…@wickedsick:
So you were hoping to buy your convenience for $120 but got charged $300 for everyone elses' inconvenience. Sounds fair to me.
As others have noted, the fine amount has increased in recent years, and is doubled (as stated on the South Perth website) for Australia Day as an additional deterrent.
However, the nature of the areas with parking restrictions and closed roads during Australia Day in South Perth has hardly ever changed in my time of almost 10 years living in the closed road zone. If it isn't your first Australia Day visiting the foreshore you should have been aware of these restrictions and checked things before arriving.
As for "probably paying some tradies exorbitant hourly rates to properly dig up the verge and put up sign posts overnight", (at least) the vast majority of those signs were in place for several days prior to Aus Day.
For many years this has been a nice little earner for south perth council.
Been going on since the fireworks started.
They are ruthless… we hate motorists.. money hungry bastards
Bloody oath!
OP should have taken the ( push- ) bike.
Think how short life is and then decide how you want to use your attention and the limitied time you have. Pay it and move on dude :)
Wise words, I'll ponder over it once my rage subsides!
The Aussie spirit is about doing the right thing. Fremantle was wrong to waive parking tickets as it rewarded a selfish few.
Giving out parking fines is right, $300 fine isn't right though.
The OP was exercising his larrikinism in true Australian spirit, à la Ned Kelly, Dawn Fraser, Chopper Read, et al.
Really? If you think the Aussie spirit is about doing the right thing then you have no idea mate. We are descended from convicts ffs.
Actually the percentage of Australians who descend from convicts is relatively low.
I live in Melbourne. Do you want to know my new years resolution ?? No Fines for 2018, honest to god I can't afford them
Then sell your car lol
Yes but public transport is worse.
Uber, no fines (as long as you don't cancel rides)
According to the fine you weren't even allowed to stop there.
It does sound excessive :( Have heard rangers at Claremont Showground are ruthless too. So be warned there too!
"*The City of South Perth warned residents and visitors before this year’s Skyworks show that parking fines would be doubled on Australia Day.
That meant the $100 fine for stopping contrary to a “No stopping” sign jumped to $200.*"
(https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/wa/south-perth-collects-640…)
The article outlines the increase to $200 for Australia Day in 2015 - looks like they've increased it further this year!
You screwed up by parking there so you deserve a fine. But at $300, I honestly do think it's quite excessive!
What's the normal fine for "No Stopping"? I didn't know that the council had the power to increase fines whenever they felt like it!
Yeh it's not about my getting fined. I totally agree with that part. It's the excessive amount of $300 that I can't wrap my head around.
There's laws as to "penalty units" for offences and what the max a "penalty unit" is - so say stopping in a no standing zone would be a max of 3 penalty units, at a max of $75 per penalty unit.
This is in Vic at least to stop councils pulling bullshit like doubling fines on a public holiday.
Look into it.
Road Traffic Code 2000, Part 12, Division 2, Rule 140 "No stopping signs", says that the penalty is "1 PU".
1 penalty unit is $50 (for traffic offences).
OP, can you share the penalty code? You've blanked it out on your earlier picture. I'm curious what the council is relying on to increase the legislated fine amount.
Not sure what can be shared or not so preferred barring more than not enough. Says code: 5867 Section: 5.1(1).
har, better yet show me the OP signature on the bottom of that bit of paper that proves he has agreed to those rules? If not it's just another bunch of scribbles by a mob who think they have the right to do whatever they please.
This is enforced by the City of South Perth so according to the most recent legislation (2017) the offence "Stopping contrary to a no stopping sign" carries 15 penalty units. 1 penalty unit in South Perth between 6am on the 26/1 and 6pm on the 27/1 is equal to $20. Typically it's $10.
Sources:
https://southperth.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/6-about-us/…
https://southperth.wa.gov.au/docs/default-source/6-about-us/…@heatseeker424: What an absolute pack of power-abusing corrupt c—ts. In any other situation I'd tell OP to shove it, but in all seriousness - this isn't something like double demerits - it's a disgraceful cash grab.
Only further reinforces my opinion that all forms of local government are utterly corrupt and should be disbanded.
@picklewizard: They were never legal in the first place…we voted against them in 2 referendums but federal and state government crooks illegally ignored those referendums and concocted their 'local government acts' anyway.
@heatseeker424:
Seems very strange! I see your links and agree with the information you've provided. The fine has been issued in accordance with your information.It conflicts with the information that I found based on State law. I'm not a lawyer but I always thought that road traffic offences were defined at a state level.
Perhaps I'd understand if it's council-specific rules in say, a council-owned carpark or something, but local council being able to create the local offences and the penalty for state-owned road baffles me.
Does that mean there's two possible fine amounts for the same offence? The No Stopping signs wouldn't be any different to the other ones throughout the rest of the State. If it was the police that had come around that day to write the ticket, I'm pretty certain they would be applying the State law (which is a lesser amount)? They probably wouldn't even know about this council rule.
Like I said, I could've completely missed the mark in my interpretation, and if that's the case, can anyone clarify how this whole thing works? I'm very curious.
Why do you call them Rangers? If all they do is dole out parking tickets than the term Ranger doesn't seem right.
They were in a SUV with "WA Ranger" on the side.
Cos it sounds nicer than 'police' but not as harsh as 'thieving tax collector'.
I guess being Canadian I have a completely different definition of Ranger. :)
Lumberjack?
South Perth
the citizens of south perth wa thank you for your contribution.
lets hope they put it to good use.
lets hope they put it to good use
Like parliamentary entitlements
This post is written like a schizophrenic. Everything ok, OP?
Nope, not happy Jan!
Reading more into it, despite the rambling, you're right to be mad. As said in another post - any other time I'd tell you to suck it up, but that's the most ridiculous, corrupt, bullshit thing I've seen in a while.
So you're saying not only did they double the fine, but the made an area that's free to park in 364 days of the year a no stopping zone on the day they doubled the fines?
Hit it right on the nose! My rage induce rant might have gotten the best of me, but I'm not mad about the fine, I totally deserve it. It's the huge fine compared to the insignificant offense that gets to me.
And yes, they did indeed freshly plant these posts there specifically for Australia day, since it's my first time seeing it there for the past months I've been in and out of my friend's place.Yeah that's extortionate. I'd challenge it; surely any judge with a shred of common sense would side with you.
We were in South Perth for the skyshow too. With up to 50,000 people to clear in a small area, I suspect they wanted the traffic to flow faster so made the decision to only allow one way parking. $300 is a lot for a genuine oversight tho.
But this isn't a 'genuine oversight' as the OP bloddy well knew and expected to be fined. $300 is extortionate though.
I wish my neighbour was issued a $300 fine for noise on Australia Day.
Played (profanity) John Williamson
"True (profanity) Blue "
"run the (profanity) pants of a kangaroo"
"we are one (profanity) Australians"
about 15 (profanity) times over and over. mixed with Hits
from Neil (profanity) Diamond and
"Down (profanity) Under. From 10:30 am to 8pm then I yelled
out "that's (profanity) it, music man,the neighbourhood as had enough
of your (profanity) Austalia Day.
the (profanity) end. and then all
was (profanity) quiet.Hey boo hoo, I bet you have an Aussie flag on a pole in the middle of your front lawn.
Hi Ozpit,
I don't but I will next year.
Got a free flag from Catch on Australia Day.(actually I was just taking the piss a bit trying to line
up all the profanity blanks)cheers
bh
So, you're upset because someone:
Made a bit of noise, on a public holiday well known for people having parties, during reasonable hours, and stopped the first time they were asked.
Yeah, what a terrible person they are!
was having a joke abb ((profanity))
Great to see who the real true blue Australian's are on this site from the comments. The rest of you new age hipster PC wannabees can go get a dog up ya! Having a go at an honest bloke having a whinge at the man is the most un-Australian thing since that damn stingray had a go at our Stevo! Pull ya head in you flamin galas!
And others replies, are not also valid "whinges" ROFL ya gumnut !🇦🇺🐨
😀
onya mate!
You really should have been reading the sign instead of waving your flag so energetically!!
Of course it was more on a public holiday, They are paying the ranger twice as much as normal.
Struggling to get to $300?
How about:
- $100 for stopping at a no stopping sign
- $100 for parking at a no stopping sign
- And $100 in petrol because WA is so big and isolated, the ranger wants to celebrate Australia day and it's a public holiday :)Think of it as a 'donation' - now you are so patriotic :)
wow you parked in no standing zone and got a fine, welcome to life……………………..
suck it up princess.
no need to tell the world, just pay it and move on.
Pretty out of character considering Australia day celebrates being parked unfairly now well over 200 years.
Did you enjoy your public holiday?
I worked actually. And unfortunately didn't make it to an Invasion Day rally.
I also enjoy Christmas holidays even though I'm not a fan of the JC club.
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what kind of car parking rule did you break? well consider you donate $300 to the government in Australia day , you should be happy, now you will remember this for rest of your life:)