Adelaide parking fine hotpots mapped: Where South Aussies are getting stung with $24m worth of fines

Councils have raked in more than $23 million in car parking fines in a year and an Advertiser investigation reveals where and when you’re most likely to get caught.

The Advertiser reveals Adelaide’s parking fine hotpots. Picture: iStock

Councils across metropolitan Adelaide raked in more than $23 million in parking fines last financial year and an Advertiser investigation reveals where and when motorists are getting stung.

Adelaide City Council was the biggest revenue generator, dishing out 65,000 fines at a price tag of $10.2 million between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024.

More city parkers were pinged in January than any other month with the council fining 10,098 individuals at a costly $730,347.

At more than $2.5 million Charles Sturt Council came in second, followed by Holdfast Bay at just over $2 million and West Torrens at $1.07 million.

For the highest numbers of fines, Charles Sturt again ranked second with 23,857, followed by Holdfast Bay at 22,453 and Tea Tree Gully at 11,675.

Charles Sturt did not specify its most fined locations but a council spokesperson said parking in bike lanes, across driveways, in no parking zones and exceeding time limits were the biggest offenders.

While Holdfast Bay parkers are most likely to be caught at Jetty Rd and Moseley St in Glenelg, Cliff St in Glenelg East, Brighton Rd in Hove and Whyte St in Somerton Park.

The 5445 fines handed out to drivers using the Westfield Marion car park accounted for more than half of the council’s 9442 infringement notices. Other hotspots in the Marion council area included Diagonal Rd with 601 and Castle Plaza with 509.

Marion Council handed out more than half of it’s expiation notices around Westfield Marion.

Onkaparinga hotspots included Marine Dr in O’Sullivan Beach, Saltfleet St and Weatherald Tce, Port Noarlunga, Beach Rd, Noarlunga Centre and Bains Rd in Morphett Vale.

In Port Adelaide Enfield less motorists were fined last year than the year prior, with the number of fines dropping from 5408 to 4156, bringing in $177,462 less.

Common locations to get stung included Nile St, Port Adelaide, Victoria Rd, Taperoo and Prospect Rd, Kilburn.

Prospect Rd was also a major hotspot in Prospect Council, where motorists were caught in bicycle lanes and along marked yellow lines.

ADELAIDE’S DIRTIEST SUBURBS REVEALED

Onkaparinga council said most of its expiations were for offences including parking in no parking zones across the township. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

More than half of those caught parking illegally in Walkerville Council got off without a fine with more warnings, 1776, issued than expiations, 1513, while it also waved almost 300.

Those that did pay the price included 451 on Victoria Tce, 237 on Walkerville Tce, 182 on Dutton Tce, 157 on Warwick St and 137 on Church Tc.

A council spokesperson said it had made a “shift” towards “education-first” over fine enforcement.

“It is important that council monitors the roads for illegal and dangerous parking by individuals to ensure the safety of its residents and the people visiting or travelling through it, while also encouraging parking turnover,” they said.

A Mitcham council spokesperson said it was focused on “traffic safety” around schools, businesses and high-demand areas including Bedford Park, St Marys and Colonel Light Gardens.

While Mount Barker said its 1201 fines totalling to $73,130 were predominantly issued inside the Hahndorf and Mount Barker townships.

Norwood, Payneham and St Peters and Campbelltown councils were contacted for comment but would not release parking fine data. Some councils declined to detail most common locations for fines.