A Melbourne driver is furious at an inner city council for its refusal to back down from a parking fine he received – even though he had a valid ticket on his dashboard.
The driver Matthew received a $76 parking fine even after he’d paid $8.10 to park in Dorcas Street, South Melbourne, in September 2015.
When he returned to his car, he noticed an infringement notice stuck to his vehicle. Matthew then did his due diligence, compiled his evidence and wrote a letter to the council to explain his position. And what did he get in return? A letter saying that his “infringement notice has been issued correctly and will not be withdrawn” – basically, a big, fat thumb to the nose.
The problem wasn’t that Matthew had a valid ticket – that argument is undisputed – but Matthew believes the ticket he’d placed on his dashboard somehow “must have blown over when I shut the door”, effectively rendering it invalid.
The council admitted, in its written response, that it recognised that he had purchased a valid ticket, and that the parking officer had also seen a ticket on his dashboard which was facing down, but the fine would not be retracted.
Matthew was incensed by the response, saying, “Fair enough to issue the ticket, but not fair enough to not accept the appeal. I’m outraged. I mean if they are prepared to acknowledge I did the most important thing, as I do every other day, and gave them my $8.10 in coins (as these machines still only accept coins), then it is appalling they will not overturn the fine.”
“Drivers must not only possess a valid ticket but must follow the instructions printed on the ticket to be in compliance,” said Port Phillip Mayor Amanda Stevens. “These instructions state the ticket must be ‘placed on the passenger side of the dashboard with the expiry time visible from outside the vehicle.'”
Matthew claims that he will not take further action, but hopes that his story may inspire the council to change its decision.
“I am not sure what the court costs or taking additional action will cost financially, and to be frank, my time is probably worth more than the bureaucrat that will attend on behalf of them,” he said.
Do you think this is fair? Or should Matthew take further action? Do you think the council is within its rights to fine him? What would you do if you were in Matthew’s situation?
Read more at The Age
