Hills Shire Council reduce parking fines by a massive amount

A Sydney council has voted to reduce parking fines for 42 different offences — in what has been described as “a Christmas gift for residents and commuters”.

Hills Shire Council has reduced parking fines for 42 offences.

THE Hills Shire Council has voted to reduce parking fines for 42 different offences — in what has been described as “a Christmas gift for residents”.

Councillors voted to opt in to a State Government amendment which will result in the reduction of parking fines from $112 per infringement to $80.

The decision to modify fine amounts would result in an estimated $164,800 reduction in revenue raised by council within 12 months.

The cost of 42 parking fines will be reduced by 25 per cent at The Hills Shire Council.

A Hills Shire Council report said the parking enforcement program was “aimed at achieving an appropriate balance between public safety, traffic flow and equitable access to available parking”.

“Reducing the penalty amount would provide a strong message that Council is motivated by these aims, not by revenue raising,” the report said.

Hills Shire Mayor Michelle Byrne commended NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, who initiated the review of parking fines as part of the NSW Budget.

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“Fines should only be used as last resort means to deter parking offences and only applied when parking signage and warnings fail to fix a problem,” Cr Byrne said.

“Fines certainly shouldn’t be used as a means to create a revenue flow.

“Councils should be creating revenue through other services.”

Liberal councillor Alan Haselden said regulation and penalties are “not put in place to force people into bankruptcy”.

“They are there as an incentive to follow the rules,” he said.

“We give people the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes people do need to be reminded that regulation is there for the betterment of the entire community.”

Hills Shire Councillor Alan Haselden said the reduction showed council’s aim was “not to revenue raise”.

Hills Councillor Tony Hay described the reduction as a “good news story for residents”.

While Labor councillor Tony Hay described the review as a “Christmas gift for residents”.

“This amendment will see 42 types of offences downgraded when it comes to infringements,” he said.

The reduction in parking fines will be rolled out from March 1 next year.