Why Adelaide City Council scrapped $1.5m in fines

THE City Council scrapped more than 23,000 parking fines worth almost $1.5 million in the past three years. Read why.

Adelaide city parking inspector placing fines on car. Parking fine.

PARKING inspector errors, faulty ticket machines and drivers having a valid ticket are among the reasons the Adelaide City Council scrapped more than 23,000 parking fines worth almost $1.5 million in the past three years, latest figures show.

The huge number of withdrawn fines has prompted the RAA to urge motorists to check the details of any fines they receive to ensure they are valid before paying them.

And the council has promised to introduce new technology to reduce the number of fines it issues by improving the on-street parking system.

Marked and unmarked police cars breaking the law also account for thousands of fines being withdrawn while council also shows compassion to thousands of drivers and cancels the fine, figures for parking fines issued since 2013 on the State Government’s data.sa website show.

In that time period, figures for withdrawals include:

VALID ticket produced – 4775 fines worth $224,692

INSPECTOR/MACHINE error – 2925 worth $87,200

POLICE vehicles – 697 worth $24,411

INTERSTATE vehicles – 151 worth $9199

COMPASSIONATE grounds – 2033 worth $141,603

The RAA’s road safety manager Charles Mountain, inset, has urged motorists to make sure any parking ticket they receive is correct before parting with their money.

“Ensure the details on the ticket – such as the vehicle rego, type of infringement and its location align with your situation,’’ he said. An Adelaide City Council spokeswoman said: “We encourage customers to contact us if they feel there are grounds for a fine to be reconsidered.”

She said the council was investigating new technology “to improve customer service for city visitors and further reduce the need for, and number of, expiations’’.

“The aim of any new technologies will be to enhance the customer experience by providing guidance systems that will assist city visitors to find vacant parking spaces, pay by phone for easier payment options and reminder message applications to alert customers that their time is about to expire,’’ the spokeswoman said.

Records also show motorists have dodged 63,266 fines since 2013.

These fines, worth almost $3.7 million, have been referred to State Government’s Fine Enforcement and Recovery Unit which is charged with tracking down offenders.

If necessary, a payment plan can be arranged.

The council’s spokeswoman said the revenue shortfall affected its ability to provide services and infrastructure maintenance.