Massive rise in NSW drivers contesting parking fines in court

“It’s grotesque.” That’s Kate Meller’s take on a $644 parking fine received while helping a friend in labour. She planned on joining a growing number taking such penalties to court. Then we got involved.

After being hit with a “grotesque” $644 parking fine while helping a friend who had gone into labour, Sydneysider Kate Meller decided to challenge the penalty in court — like a rapidly growing number of NSW drivers.

Last month the friend called to say her waters had broken.

She needed Ms Meller to come over urgently to look after her two-year-old so that she and her husband could go to the hospital, which had told her to come in.

Ms Meller immediately drove to her friend’s home in Randwick, but there wasn’t a single car space available when she arrived. So she parked in a disabled zone.

She was fined at 3.45pm. The baby was born less than four hours later.

Kate Meller was set to contest the fine, until the Daily Telegraph got involved. Picture: Damian Shaw

Kate Meller was fined $644 for parking in a disabled zone. Picture: Damian Shaw

Ms Meller’s bid for clemency was rejected, so she planned to take the matter to court.

“I had to help my friend. She needed care for her son,” Ms Meller said.

“I was in crisis mode. It was a safe spot.

“That fine is more than twice as much as a no stopping zone. I was shocked by the amount,” Ms Meller said. “It’s grotesque.”

Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data shows a 31 per cent increase in the number of people choosing to contest a range of parking fines in court.

More than 1150 people did so in the 12 months to the end of September, up from 885 in the prior year. About one in five were successful in both periods.

There was a 121 per cent leap in challenges for failing to pay a parking fee and a 54 per cent increase in contesting offences for parking for longer than allowed.

Following advocacy by The Daily Telegraph, Ms Meller’s penalty reduced to a caution.

The Telegraph can also reveal Revenue NSW has been coming down hard on unpaid parking fines.

The number of driver’s licence suspensions for failing to pay penalties has surged, up by more than 6000 or 25 per cent in a year.

NSW authorities suspended 30,395 licences in calendar 2023 for failure to pay overdue parking fines compared to 23,937 in the previous 12 months, data obtained by The Telegraph shows.

NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos said the government was “engaging with issuing authorities and community groups” to improve an existing fine forgiveness scheme to “reduce the cost-of-living burden on families and households who are experiencing hardship.”

The changes have yet to be finalised.

NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos. Picture: NCA NewsWire’s Monique Harmer

To date, the scheme – which was introduced by the previous government – has been a flop, with less than 0.1 per cent of penalties reduced.

It’s understood NSW uses licence suspensions to coerce people into paying a range of overdue non-driving penalties at a far greater rate than Victoria does.

NSW authorities suspended driver licences nearly 330,000 times in 2023 for offences including failing to vote and not paying to ride a train.

A licence is suspended only after several warnings have been issued. Taking away a licence typically leads to a fine being paid.

It’s understood the state government is also scrutinising Revenue NSW’s broader review system to test whether it “meets community expectations” or is simply designed to frustrate people into paying.

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