Is Parking on The Nature Strip an Offence?

PChinna on 31/12/2019 - 06:25
Last edited 31/12/2019 - 12:13 by 2 other users

Hi,

From last few weeks I'm staying in my relatives house. They have already 2 cars and so I cannot park my car in their double garage. The road in front the house is not wider and so I have to park on nature strip.

I have 2 options, 1)completely park on nature strip 2) Half on the road and half on the nature strip

I recently found a infringement ticket on a car which is parked on nature strip near railway station (not residential area). So, is it even valid to the place where I'm parking?

You can find the way I parked my car in this pic.

Automotive

Comments

  • apsilon on 31/12/2019 - 06:52
    +5

    Of course it's illegal. You can't park in the driveway if any part of the car is across the property boundary either. You're parking on council land, they'll want their cut so you will be fined if a ranger comes across it.

    • PChinna on 31/12/2019 - 07:09
      -1

      Thanks. What if people do have more than 2 cars to park? Where can they park? Any idea or suggestions?

      • TheMindsetTraveller on 31/12/2019 - 07:26
        +2

        Park around the corner or somewhere else where it is legal, maybe rent a garage from another neighbour etc.

        Parking on the nature strip is illegal, I have been fined in front of my parent's house once upon a time.

        I tried to appeal to the council who issued that fine, they said no way, so I told them to come and mow the lawns on that nature strip right away - that day was 14 years ago - and since then my parents have never maintained the lawns in front of their fence, the council do. They once sent a letter saying it would be fairer if we did so, but we told them to no way.

        • Craze on 31/12/2019 - 12:54

          Interesting- I should write in to my local council to have the nature strips mowed as well then, I thought it was responsibility of home owners to mow those directly in front of the property.

          But back to the question- yes apparently it is illegal, learnt that myself only last year when a ranger/police fined bout 20 cars on my street, my housemate was one of them unfortunately. Coughed up the fine as they wouldn't budge waiving it even though it's a very narrow street.

          • whooah1979 on 31/12/2019 - 12:58

            @Craze:

            I thought it was responsibility of home owners to mow those directly in front of the property.

            Crown land, crown responsibility.
            http://www.lanecove.nsw.gov.au/Environment/NaturalEnvironmen…

          • TheMindsetTraveller on 31/12/2019 - 13:50

            @Craze: I didn't write for them to mow the lawns, we called in the first few months then stopped calling. Now they just came around when the grass is higher than usual.

            The time and effort my parents have saved from not mowing their lawns over the last 13-14 years easily outweighs the cost of the one fine they gave me.

          • eaddd87 on 31/12/2019 - 22:51

            @Craze: "Interesting- I should write in to my local council to have the nature strips mowed as well then, I thought it was responsibility of home owners to mow those directly in front of the property."

            Usually this depends on the council's policy. Check if there's a footpath/driveway policy listed in your council's website. That normally tells you who is responsible to maintain nature strip in front of your property.

            • Craze on 03/01/2020 - 09:03
              +1

              @eaddd87: Was curious so checked council's website and it says:

              "Council will care for your street tree but all other associated landscaping costs including ongoing maintenance of the naturestrip are borne by the resident."

              • eaddd87 on 03/01/2020 - 09:14

                @Craze: I think that's normal if there is a policy. In addition, if there's a council asset like a footpath they'll usually maintain just that bit and the rest including nature strip becomes residents responsibility for maintenance.

              • whooah1979 on 03/01/2020 - 09:25

                @Craze: The nature strip is Crown land. The liability of maintenance rests with the local government.

      • Euphemistic on 31/12/2019 - 07:49
        +12

        What if people do have more than 2 cars to park? Where can they park? Any idea or suggestions?

        Contrary to popular belief it isn’t up to council or government to provide parking for you. It is up to the vehicle owner to find a safe, legal place to park. That might mean around the corner or even worse, clearing the gym out of the garage so you can use it for what it is intended.

        • serpserpserp on 31/12/2019 - 08:56
          +1

          clearing the gym out of the garage so you can use it for what it is intended.

          WOAH lets not get rash. I think i'll just park my few cars across the street in front of my neighbours house instead.

  • MS Paint on 31/12/2019 - 07:04
    +3

    The only offending item I can see in that picture is a holden viva wagon.

    • PChinna on 31/12/2019 - 07:09

      Thanks

    • oscargamer on 31/12/2019 - 07:14
      +3

      Yes the Viva is offensive, but both cars are offending.

  • piersoar on 31/12/2019 - 07:22
    +2

    May depend on where you are, but according to VicRoads you cannot park;
    * if there is fewer than 3 metres of clear road left for other traffic
    * on a footpath, nature strip or reservation (unless the vehicle is a motorcycle or bicycle)
    Mainly enforced by local council, so risk in a residential area probably low - unless a neighbour complains. Good luck

  • tightpike on 31/12/2019 - 08:13
    +2

    This is illegal in NSW, police also have the authority to fine you. Recently a highway patrol car fined about 50 cars in our area. The council usually turns a blind eye as the streets are to narrow

  • slow on 31/12/2019 - 08:19

    Looks like there is enough room to park on the road and a car still to get past- that is what I would be doing

  • serpserpserp on 31/12/2019 - 09:01
    +2

    OP the area doesn't look signed. Why can't you just park on the street? Looks like plenty of width for a car to get by.

    Or park in the driveway?

  • whooah1979 on 31/12/2019 - 09:06

    Park on the road and remove the number plates.

    Parking on nature strips wider than 4.5 m isn’t a problem unless someone makes a complaint to the council.

    • Presence on 31/12/2019 - 10:00
      +1

      Its illegal. Just because the council doesn't see it doesn't make it less illegal.

      • whooah1979 on 31/12/2019 - 10:09
        -1

        A lot of things road users do on the road is unlawful. Parking on nature strips wider than 4.5 m like in the image isn’t hurting anybody.
        https://imgur.com/a/4n0ROC5

        • skinner on 31/12/2019 - 10:12
          +1

          Ah yes, the old "they broke the law so I'm going to do it too" attitude. That always works out well for everyone.

        • Presence on 31/12/2019 - 12:42
          +1

          It ruins the grass and compacts the soil which damages tree roots. It's unsightly and unnecessary.

  • Presence on 31/12/2019 - 09:08
    +1

    Parking on the nature strip destroys the kerb and gutter and also compacts the soil, damaging tree roots. It's illegal everywhere afaik.

  • Okayy on 31/12/2019 - 09:43
    -1

    maybe park a little far, doesn’t look good on nature strips.

  • wolvesaussie on 31/12/2019 - 10:07
    +1

    Everyone must have their own rules. Where I there are 3 or 4 caravans parked on nature strips and they have been for years. I went and asked one of them once, as i was toying with the idea of buying a caravan, they were very defensive though, oh no we don't usually park it on the nature strip… its normally in the garage…. hmmm 2 years later still on the nature strip.

  • Davo1111 on 31/12/2019 - 11:16
    +2

    Depends on the state and council, but generally it's illegal. This is common knowledge.

    For example city of south perth allows it with permission of landowner.

  • pegaxs on 31/12/2019 - 14:47
    +3

    Is Parking on The Nature Strip an Offence?

    Yes. And because no one has listed it yet…

    Aust. Road Rule 197: Stopping on a path, dividing strip, nature strip, painted island or traffic island

    (1) A driver must not stop on a bicycle path, footpath, shared path or dividing strip, or a nature strip adjacent to a length of road in a built-up area, unless—
    (a) the driver stops at a place on a length of road, or in an area, to which a parking control sign applies and the driver is permitted to stop at that place under these Rules, or
    (b) the driver is permitted to stop under another law of this jurisdiction.

    nature strip, except in rule 13(1), means an area between a road (except a road related area) and adjacent land, but does not include a bicycle path, footpath or shared path.

    Part (b) in this road rule is important, as the council may allow parking on the nature strips in narrow streets… So, that leads to the next question;

    What did *insert council name here* say when you asked them??

    In Vic; (OP's state)

    Stopped on a nature strip = $99 and no demerit points

    In NSW; (for contrast to NSW, The ReVeNuE State.)

    Rule 197 (1)Stop on path/strip in built-up area = $268 and no demerit points (youch!!)

  • Euphemistic on 01/01/2020 - 13:24
    +1

    You can choose to park wholly within your property boundary or wholly on the road to be legal.

  • BobLim on 04/01/2020 - 12:00

    Obviously yes, and also it's pretty inconsiderate to your neighbours and other road users who then can't see oncoming traffic when pulling out or pedestrians trying to cross the road etc. Same applies to parking on the driveway crossover.

    Aside from anything else, someone else could legally park on the road next to the kerb and then you can't get out…

    • Ajax45 on 14/01/2020 - 08:48

      Hate when people do stuff like this, bonus points to the ones who park in the driveway right up against their gate so pedestrians have to walk onto the road and around their vehicle to continue on the footpath. Makes me wish you could report people like that so they get a fine.

  • ph81 on 05/01/2020 - 10:53

    Yep. Suck it up and pay. We constantly have people parking on these strips at our place. I told a guy that council do fine people for doing it and he goes "there's no where to park." I said there's 100m of good parking 15m away. People are lazy and stupid. He also then proceeded to tell me he'll risk it. Morons.
    Council have a field day regularly ticketing cars and I think to myself that you can't fix stupid.

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