Parking Fine for Parking under No Stopping Sign - Contesting in Court

coolhead on 17/05/2018 - 12:20
Last edited 17/05/2018 - 12:26

Yes i was wrong in the first place to park under a no stop sign but due to lack of parking space, i could not park anywhere else.
This is Tarneit railway station and if anyone is aware of it, parking here is a chaos.

10's of other cars are parked everyday under a No Stopping sign, usually not given a ticket. There are a few signs at a few places. The one under which I parked had space for only 1 car. At the other end of the parking lot under another sign there is space for 2 cars and 2 cars were parked there.

Came back later in the day had a $159 parking ticket. None of the other cars had any ticket. This a**h*** only picked up my car.

So my question is:
- Is it worth challenging? I took photos of lot of other cars which were parked and did not get a ticket
- If i contest this in court, and they reject, would i be asked to pay more than $159 (penalty etc)
- I am hoping to talk through it myself. Do I need a lawyer (in which case it would be a no due to his fee)

Any past experiences to share? read other forum where someone had to pay $1700 after court rejected.

Thanks,

Poll Options expired

  • 4
    Challenge and it might be rejected
  • 6
    Challenge and it might be waived
  • 7
    Challenge and it might be rejected plus risk of paying a penalty
  • 526
    Pay the fine
Automotive

closed Comments

  • altomic on 17/05/2018 - 12:23
    +20

    Pay the fine

    • Hybroid on 17/05/2018 - 12:27

      Yup, if you admit you broke the no stopping sign then pay the fine and avoid doing so again (the point of a fine in first place). Others doing it or getting away with it is not a court-justified defense.

        • Hybroid on 17/05/2018 - 12:29
          +16

          That's not a valid defense for breaking the law. Counter argument is you can go park elsewhere or use another mode of transport.

        • D C on 17/05/2018 - 12:52
          +1

          there is never enough place so where am i supposed to park.

          Somewhere else or take the train.

          Council should organize more parking

          Where?

        • Kenb0 on 17/05/2018 - 13:09
          +2

          What kind of stupid argument is this? My child does not get enough caviar and lobster in his school lunches, where is he supposed to get his fancy foods from? School should organise more expensive ingredients.

        • geoffs87 on 17/05/2018 - 15:42
          +1

          Theres too many people in the restaurant, so i killed one. Now there is space for me at the restaurant…

        • Succulent Synth on 17/05/2018 - 15:45

          get there earlier

        • phocus on 17/05/2018 - 17:35

          you deserve a higher fine for this comment alone

    • Yummy on 17/05/2018 - 16:01
      +1

      Pay is fine.

  • [Deactivated] on 17/05/2018 - 12:26
    +9

    You're contesting the fine because no one else got fined?

    That's just salty AF.

    • coolhead on 17/05/2018 - 12:27
      -7

      yeah.. Why pick only 1 car and not give a ticket to the rest

      • [Deactivated] on 17/05/2018 - 12:30
        +2

        Lol.

        At least you're honest.

        I hope these are things you say only in anonimity. Only the worst of humanity would want others to suffer because they have.

        • coolhead on 17/05/2018 - 13:52

          dont want others to suffer.. that would have only been for argument sake. I am more than happy if no one gets a fine at all.

        • D C on 17/05/2018 - 13:55
          +1

          @coolhead:

          dont want others to suffer..

          Thanks, but most of us already tend to avoid parking under 'No stopping' signs. Y'know, because of the fines & stuff.

          In return for looking out for us I'll send you some thoughts & prayers.

        • [Deactivated] on 17/05/2018 - 17:03

          @coolhead:
          You got a fine. You. No one else. You're more than happy if you didn't get a fine.

          I thought you were being honest. Not that it matters to anyone but yourself.

      • bbourke85 on 17/05/2018 - 12:33
        +1

        Pay the fine and don't waste court resources.

      • Kenb0 on 17/05/2018 - 13:11
        +6

        Maybe they handed the fines out to all the cars hours before you got back and all the other cars have left since?

        Elementary, my dear Watson!

        • coolhead on 17/05/2018 - 14:18

          dear Einstein not really.. its station parking most cars are parked in the morning and they go after 4:30-5pm so were same cars..

        • Kenb0 on 17/05/2018 - 14:25
          +3

          @coolhead: not everyone follows the same schedule non-Einstein. I've parked in station parking many times before and I can guarantee you that sometimes I've left before 3pm, sometimes 5pm, and shock horror, sometimes 7 or 9pm depending what time I finished work. OMG, you mean not everyone works 9-5? Or some people park to go to uni and don't have full day schedules? What sorcery is this?

          Sometimes the easiest explanation is the right one, you don't have to try and wonder why the parking inspectors are targeting just you, you're not that special. Not for targeting specifically for illegal parking nor for council to supply enough car parks just so you have somewhere to park.

      • tomleonhart on 17/05/2018 - 17:07

        Username doesn’t check out

  • [Deactivated] on 17/05/2018 - 12:36
    +3

    Judge Judy would look knowingly at Byrd and nod.

  • Rifraf on 17/05/2018 - 12:38

    You've got rights OP.

    Here in this case, probably the right to silence is the one to utilise…… ;-)

    • D C on 17/05/2018 - 12:54
      +1

      Ah come on, don't discourage him.

      Everyone else was doing it! He's got photos! It's not fair! There was nowhere else and it's his right to be able to park!

      He's going to represent himself & everything!

  • stratbargain on 17/05/2018 - 12:40

    Catch the bus to the station
    Ride your bike to the station
    Walk to the station

    • coolhead on 17/05/2018 - 13:53
      -3

      need to do a kid drop off..
      dont have a bike
      station is too far

  • Clear on 17/05/2018 - 12:56
    +1

    Would you argue the same if you got done for speeding? Everyone speeds.

    • coolhead on 17/05/2018 - 14:21
      -4

      speeding is very different:
      1. i never speed
      2. Many people over speed all the time.. so not a concern for me
      3. But if 2 cars are going at same speed (let's say over-speeding) at the same time and the cops stop just 1 car, then the question arises why let the other go. This is not saying I will not get a ticket

    • Illian on 17/05/2018 - 14:59
      +1

      "Everyone speeds"

      It doesn't take a genius (or even a 6 year old) to figure out that's clearly wrong.

      • Clear on 17/05/2018 - 15:10

        Doesn't take a genius to work out that was a figure of speech grumpy. Besides I bet everyone has gone over the speed limit before. That's called speeding.

  • cocomelon on 17/05/2018 - 12:57

    "could not park anywhere else" anywhere close to the station perhaps the complete statement?

  • edwardcr on 17/05/2018 - 13:01
    +7

    "……park under a no stop sign but due to lack of parking space, i could not park anywhere else."

    Ah - today's entitled society at its best!

    Coolhead?? I could think of a better name .

    • [Deactivated] on 17/05/2018 - 14:09

      Here, I'll trade you "c-o-o-l" for a "D".

  • [Deactivated] on 17/05/2018 - 13:04
    +23

    I find the defendant guilty of starting a useless thread

    • R-Man on 17/05/2018 - 16:49
      +1

      Hey! they took photos of lot of other useless threads like stephanie's which were posted and did not get a guilty verdict from you.

      Why pick only 1 thread and not give a ticket to the rest???

  • garffi on 17/05/2018 - 13:06
    +3

    Please contest it and tell us how it went. Some people just need to learn the hard way.

  • oscargamer on 17/05/2018 - 13:06

    Parking fine for being lazy……..

  • Ryanek on 17/05/2018 - 13:08
    +8

    How do I delete someone else's post?

  • retiredfeline on 17/05/2018 - 13:14
    +4

    Let us know when the hearing is. We'll crowdfund an airtasker to video it and post it for the Internet's amusement.

  • jamesblake2908 on 17/05/2018 - 13:17

    Ask them to provide evidence. If the photo does not clearly show that you were parked in an inappropriate area contest it. If it does, appeal on the basis of good record. If you don't have a good record, pay the fine

  • garetz on 17/05/2018 - 13:19
    +1

    Not only will you end up paying the fine in the end, but you will also be charged court costs.

    • coolhead on 17/05/2018 - 13:56

      thats what i fear.. thanks

  • OzzyB2013 on 17/05/2018 - 13:28
    +1

    .
    There is a difference between No Parking & No Standing (but if only for a few minutes) you can ask at a Free Legal Aid office for some advice

    Came back later in the day had a $159 parking ticket. None of the other cars had any ticket.

    Others may have been booked and later drove away and then others parked in their spot before you came back so don't assume you were the only one booked
    if you contest it in court you will have court costs added which will be more than the fine
    Contact your local elected councillor so he can lobby for more parking, and get up earlier to grab a parking spot

    • coolhead on 17/05/2018 - 13:57

      i do get up early but job starts late…

    • Euphemistic on 17/05/2018 - 16:38

      I thought they stopped using No Standing ages ago. Now it's either No Parking or No Stopping.

  • JimmyF on 17/05/2018 - 13:44

    i was wrong in the first place to park under a no stop sign but due to lack of parking space, i could not park anywhere else.

    Not a defence

    10's of other cars are parked everyday under a No Stopping sign, usually not given a ticket

    also not a defence and USUALLY not fined, means some days people are fined, just like drumroll you did on this day.

    Came back later in the day had a $159 parking ticket. None of the other cars had any ticket.

    How do you know the other cars hadn't been fined, and these cars without tickets are just new (silly) cars who parked there?

    • Is it worth challenging?

    Not at all

    I took photos of lot of other cars which were parked and did not get a ticket

    again, not a defence.

    • If i contest this in court, and they reject, would i be asked to pay more than $159 (penalty etc)

    Clearly you would have to pay the fine and yes you will also have to pay your court costs and theirs.

    • I am hoping to talk through it myself. Do I need a lawyer (in which case it would be a no due to his fee)

    Have a long hard talk to yourself. It should go something like this

    you parked in the wrong area, you knew this, you got fined. Pay the fine.

    Or go talk to a lawyer for $300/hr, go to court and lose.

    read other forum where someone had to pay $1700 after court rejected.

    Fine + lawyers + court costs

  • coolhead on 17/05/2018 - 13:55
    +1

    seems the obvious thing to do is pay the fine.. thanks for teh feedback and votes guys.. cheers

    • D C on 17/05/2018 - 13:56
      +2

      What exactly were you expecting?

    • tsunamisurfer on 17/05/2018 - 13:59

      I find it astounding you needed to wait for 59 votes to come to that conclusion.

      • coolhead on 17/05/2018 - 14:22

        well initially saw 2 votes, was away from desk. came back and saw all the backlash and other votes

        • tsunamisurfer on 17/05/2018 - 14:43
          +10

          I find it equally astounding you needed to wait for 2 votes to come to that conclusion.

    • payton on 17/05/2018 - 14:21

      Noted the same situation as you where i normally park, OP.
      one car fined but not the rest.
      The scofflaws still park whenever they want

      • [Deactivated] on 17/05/2018 - 15:08
        +1

        I think it's the council's way to induce indirect justice. Favour one kid and watch the rest of the kids beat him up at lunchtime.

        Sometimes, all you need is a little push.

  • Tech5 on 17/05/2018 - 14:19
    +6

    I too park where ever I want when I need a space. Why, just yesterday I stopped my car in the middle of a roundabout, close to my dinner venue. The nerve of the people who were honking their horns at me. I suggest you take it to court and get what ever you deserve

  • Blitzfx on 17/05/2018 - 14:43

    It's like when a pack of cars are speeding 110 down the highway and the cop only picks up the first car they ping with the shitty radar gun but the other 5 behind them were also speeding / matching speed.

    Can't catch them all, but they can at least catch one.

    Unrelated: r
    I did see on Highway Patrol an episode where two bikes were speeding and his mate got away, did a u-turn and came back hurling insults at the cops who were giving his mate a fine. Both cops weren't about to stop writing the ticket and chase his mate. When questioned who the other rider was, he kept denying any relation to the other rider.

    Not sure why they aired that episode, because the moral of the story is that you can escape the cops on a bike.

  • 0FoxGiven on 17/05/2018 - 14:46

    I have seen Tarniet station's parking lot. People I know have raised this issue to the council already.
    They were told that:

    • The parking lot is already quite big compared to stations in most suburbs in Melbourne (it really is).
    • Residents need to help out and make things easier by cycling/walking to the station, have a partner who doesn't work or housemate drop them to the station in their car, drive to work if feasible, car pool with friends who live nearby etc.
    • Apparently, multiple cars from one household park at the station just so that they can come and go without worrying about syncing timings with others. I personally can relate to this but I get around it by stowing an electric scooter in the boot. Whoever gets back first from work takes out the scooter and rides it back home leaving the car back in the lot for the other partner
  • Ocker on 17/05/2018 - 14:53

    Cut and dry - you are gone so just pay the fine.

  • chumlee on 17/05/2018 - 15:13
    +7

    OP i would contest the fine in court. It seems like you have a well thought out legal defence. Can't find any holes in your argument.

    Good luck in court

  • pegaxs on 17/05/2018 - 15:15
    +1

    Best defence, ever… “but but but… why didn’t all these other people get a fine???” :D

  • [Deactivated] on 17/05/2018 - 15:32
    +4

    This is exactly why Victoria needs lights to help drivers merge into highways. Idiots everywhere.

  • Goraka on 17/05/2018 - 15:36

    the law in here sux, if you are a student ask for a reduction of the amount from the ranger if the refused to reduce then pay the fine they asked otherwise you will end up having so much of stress and trouble.

  • rave75 on 17/05/2018 - 15:40
    +1

    go to court, OP! for $159 it is worth it to spend your time and court resources for that!

  • [Deactivated] on 17/05/2018 - 15:51

    Jonah Takalua:
    Cause hes a Ranga.

    Doug Peterson:
    A What?

    Jonah Takalua:
    A Ranga sir. Cause hes got red hair. Orangotang, thats what we call him.

    Doug Peterson:
    and does that make it Ok for him to be bullied, because he has red hair?

    Jonah Takalua:
    Well, people are racist to FOB's…

    Leon:
    To us.

    Jonah Takalua:
    -So, so we can be racist to Ranga's.

    Doug Peterson:
    But red-heads arent a race, Jonah.

    Leon:
    But sir, theres heaps of them. There everywhere.

  • aoujay51 on 17/05/2018 - 16:01

    LOL You wasted our time and now you want to waste court's time too?

  • djmm on 17/05/2018 - 16:13

    My god another level of stupidity here. Fully aware of himself breaking the rule but not wanting to take responsibility

  • SuckleMyWorm69 on 17/05/2018 - 16:37

    I live not far from that station mate, you should be taking the 150 or the 151 bus that takes you right there, with no need to worry about parking. You shouldn't have been parking in that space to begin with, those other idiots will probably end up getting their tickets soon.

  • cheaper on 17/05/2018 - 16:37

    This post should have been closed……

  • Euphemistic on 17/05/2018 - 16:40

    Where's the voting option to take the fine to Council and tear it up and leave it on the counter?

  • dealhunting007 on 17/05/2018 - 16:48

    No point, you don't know if other cars were fined or not. I had same issue where i got fine via mail nothing on car was left. You can ask council to review, but if they still ask to pay just do it and move on.

  • SydStrand on 17/05/2018 - 17:38

    If it was that easy to contest fines, everyone would do it. 99% of these Ozbargain 'I road goofed, what can I do?' can be summed up with 'just eat the fine.'

  • Moderatorscrimshaw on 17/05/2018 - 17:42

    As OP's dilemma has been solved, the thread is now closed.

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