Gold Coast drivers confused by ‘primitive’ parking notices issued at train stations

Is it a fine? Is it a scam? Is it just a prank? Gold Coast drivers have been left in a state of parking-related perplexity after finding ‘primitive’ notices on their windshields. Now we can finally reveal the truth.

Is it fine if a fine isn’t a fine?

Or is it fine if it’s only a fine in time?

Where is the line?

Well, wherever it is, it seems government bureaucracy has truly crossed it. At least, that’s the line from confused Gold Coast motorists who received a very primitive-looking piece of A4 paper that, apparently, identifies as a fine.

“Parking notice,” reads the paper, which appears to have been printed with an inkjet.

“You have parked your vehicle in contravention to section 26 of the transport infrastructure (rail) regulations 2017. You have been issued with a penalty infringement notice for a parking related offence. This notice will be sent to your registered address in the mail.”

One recipient of such a notice at a train station even posted it to social media to ask whether or not it was legitimate.

“Just wondering if this is a fake parking notice? Many cars around me parked at the train station on the curb also received this fine. It also says that section 26 is parking on a railway which I did not do.”

One of the parking notices received by motorists at a Gold Coast train station.

The bulk of respondents assured the recipient that it was a scam and to chuck it in the rubbish bin.

“That’s about as fake as it gets, printed on A4, no letterhead or contact information. Seems like someone was annoyed they couldn’t get a park so stuck these on cars to try and discourage people parking there in future. Either that or just bored and crazy,” said one commenter.

“God, people are weird. Who has time/can be bothered to do this?” said another.

My favourite comment was apparently posted by the actual grammar police, who used syntax to reject the notice’s validity:

“It’s ‘in contravention OF Section 26 of the Transport Infrastructure (Rail) regulations 2017’ not TO.

But it turns out, all those comments are not, in fact, fine.

It’s also, technically, not a fine … but it is a legitimate warning that one is on the way.

According to Queensland Rail, it’s actually motorists who are crossing the (yellow) line, which is why they are copping a fine … which is not actually a fine.

As fake as that parking notice might appear, QR senior manager of security Drew Brock said it simply meant that a very official fine was incoming.

“Customer safety and security is a priority for Queensland Rail and our Authorised Officers regularly patrol car parks at train stations to ensure this,” he said.

“As part of this role, they can issue infringement notices to vehicles parked on Queensland Rail property illegally. Parking infringements can include, but are not limited to, instances of vehicles parked in places that can make it unsafe for other park ‘n’ ride users, such as parking on verges, across yellow lines or blocking traffic.

“While the notices are issued by Authorised Officers, the issuing platform, infringement, and methods to contest are owned, operated, and delivered by Translink and can often take some time before they reach the registered vehicle owners.

“Our teams leave these pamphlets on the vehicle windscreens as a courtesy to inform these drivers they have contravened parking regulations, so they do not keep making the same parking mistakes before the infringement notice arrives in the mail.”

Some of the parking at Helensvale Train Station. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Given that just one fine can set you back $322, it’s commendable that QR gives motorists warning to change their illegally parked ways lest they accumulate three weeks’ worth of fines before the postie delivers the real deal in their letterbox.

Unfortunately, in this day and age where it seems everything is a scam, it’s no wonder people are not taking these warnings seriously - meaning not only are drivers in danger of more fines, but their poor parking behaviours continue.

Fortunately, QR is now working on a more official-looking notice … and just in time because it seems the advent of those 50-cent fares has train stations busier than ever.

On the positive side, at least our public transportation is proving popular. Maybe these infringement notices will eventually encourage more people to walk, cycle, catch a bus or even Uber to the station.

And if not?

It’s fine.

Originally published as Gold Coast drivers confused by ‘primitive’ parking notices issued at train stations