Brisbane woman furious after being fined $179 for parking at The Spit

A Brisbane woman says she is furious after receiving a “ridiculous” fine for parking at The Spit. Here’s why she was penalised.

A Brisbane woman says she is furious after receiving a “ridiculous” fine for parking at The Spit.

Linda Smith was one of five drivers socked with $179 penalties for angle parking, rather than parking parallel to the road, at SeaWorld Drive on Sunday February 26.

Ms Smith, who was staying in Surfers Paradise, said she was stunned to find she had been fined after taking her dogs for a walk at the nearby off-leash section of beach.

“It was dead cert ridiculous,” Ms Smith said.

“There was no parking anywhere. Everyone was angle parked to let more people fit.

“We’ve all parked not parallel to the road, and everyone got booked $179.”

Linda Smith's car and others parked on Seaworld Drive on The Spit on February 26. Ms Smith was fined $179 for not parking parallel to the road.

Ms Smith said there was no signage to warn that only parallel parking was allowed at the location.

She added that she could not imagine how the way she had parked her car caused anyone else any harm.

“There’s no line marking, no signage that you have to park in a particular way,” Ms Smith said.

“It (angle parking) didn’t impede anyone. It didn’t impede pedestrians or cyclists or the road. We were out of the way and they still got us.

“... It’s completely unfair. It’s just rubbish.

“You tell me how it endangered anyone. I didn’t mess with anyone’s weekend.”

Fine received by Linda Smith for angle parking on Seaworld Drive on The Spit.

A council spokesperson said parking parallel “reduces traffic congestion” and “improves safety”.

“On February 26 there were seven parking infringements issued along Seaworld Drive, of these five were issued to vehicles parked on a road other than parallel,” Ms Smith said.

“Under the Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Road Rules) 2009 a driver must position the vehicle parallel, as near as practicable, to the far left side of the road.

“Parking parallel on a road reduces traffic congestion and improves safety.

“Potential hazards to pedestrians and passing motorists include reduced awareness when a driver is navigating traffic, and the risk caused by vehicles reversing into, or from, an illegal angle parked position.”

Cars parked on Seaworld Drive on The Spit on February 26. Linda Smith and four others were fined $179 for not parking parallel to the road.

Ms Smith said she initially decided against paying the fine, but after taking advice and failing in an appeal to council realised she had no option.

“I was so furious, I said I’m not paying it. I was doing the right thing by my community,” Ms Smith said.

“But I can’t do anything. I have to pay the bill and that’s it.

“... I just want someone to explain to me, how was I hurting anyone. It’s just not fair.”

It is not the first time that fines issued for angle parking have proved controversial on the Gold Coast.

In June last year 17 drivers were fined for not parking parallel at Helensvale Farmers Market.

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Originally published as Brisbane woman furious after being fined $179 for parking at The Spit