North Sydney residents, business owners call for paper parking fines to be reinstated

Residents and business owners are calling for paper parking fines to be reinstated after recent changes meant infringements are now sent days, or weeks, later via mail. Find out why.

Rising numbers of NSW councils are ditching paper parking fines.

Growing numbers of Sydney councils are no longer issuing paper fines for parking infringements – sparking criticism from some residents and motorists.

Forty councils across NSW are now sending parking fines to motorists via mail, instead of issuing physical parking tickets on car windows.

The councils ditching paper to date have included the City of Sydney, Penrith, Lane Cove and North Sydney.

Concerns over the system were aired at a Crows Nest community group meeting where residents called for paper fines to be reinstated by North Sydney Council.

Resident Davie McDonald, who chaired the meeting, claimed the move toward mail fines had reduced the likelihood of motorists who are wrongfully fined to challenge infringements.

Paper fines are no longer being issued in 40 council areas in NSW.

“The issue with mail only tickets is that a motorist may have been incorrectly fined and they have no way of knowing until the fine comes in the mail maybe a week later,” he said.

“Instead of knowing at the time, people will have to think back to where they were parking a week ago and will be left scratching their heads and will likely end up just paying the fine.

Parking fine changes mean infringement notices are now sent via mail.

“Having a ticket on your windows means you know you’ve committed an offence and are more likely to move your car.

“It also shows other motorists that fines are being issued and have a role in deterring from overstaying in timed areas.”

The move away from paper has had unexpected ramifications for mechanics in North Sydney after several residents received fines in the mail after taking their cars in for a service.

The owner of one mechanic business – who asked not to be named for fear of coming under “persecution” from rangers – said mail-only fines have caused “embarrassment” to his business after parking customer cars on the street during services.

“I only have so much room in the garage so sometimes I have to park cars (that have been serviced) on the street,” he said. “With the old system I used to occasionally see the tickets and I’d just pay it.

“We’ve had customers who are now getting fines in the mail one or two weeks later. It’s embarrassing to me as a business owner.”

The changes are partly aimed at reducing paper usage.

A North Sydney Council spokeswoman said moving to paper fines had helped reduce paper usage – as well as instances of “aggression” towards parking rangers.

“(The changes have) significantly reduced the level of confrontation and aggression our parking officers experience in their work, reduced paper usage and put the vehicle owner in direct contact with the State Debt Recovery Office to dispute the fine if they wish to do so,” she said.

“Council has a high-quality assurance process for issuing fines that includes a minimum of five photos being taken to provide substantial facts and observations when the fine is issued, as the burden of proof lies with us.

“We have only had a couple of customers raise concerns about not receiving a paper ticket at the time it was issued.

“The council is not considering reverting back to paper infringements.”

The NRMA has previously spoken about the changes with the organisation arguing mail-only fines take away the opportunity for some drivers who feel like they have a case to contest the fines.