Parking technicality lands Manly woman with $177 fine for facing the wrong direction

A Manly resident is outraged after copping a $177 fine for parking in the wrong direction in her street.

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A Manly resident is outraged after copping a $177 fine for parking in the wrong direction in her street.

Maret Peachey is a long-term resident of Manly who just moved to Cove Avenue.

According to Ms Peachey, the street – which is one way – turns into a two-way system that isn’t adequately signposted.

“This is the first time I have ever parked in the area and I didn’t know which way to park,” she said.

“So I just parked parallel to the curb in the same direction as the car behind me.”

Unfortunately, the spot Ms Peachey had parked was at the start of the one-way system, so she was facing the wrong direction.

Ms Peachey said she was just trying to do the right thing.

“I was parked in a legal spot, I had my parking permit displayed,” she said.

She took a photograph of her new lease to prove she had only just moved into the area as well and sent an appeal to the State Debt Recovery Office.

The appeal was rejected.

A letter by the State Debt Recovery Office said they considered the circumstances Ms Peachey presented however they were unable to cancel the penalty purely on the basis that it wasn’t adequately signposted.

“So now I have to pay the fine – it’s a bit lousy,” said Ms Peachey.

“I really think it’s just revenue raising.”

A Manly Council spokesman said it’s up to motorists to observe traffic signs.

“Cove Ave is clearly signposted ‘One Way’ at the beginning of Stuart St; and clearly signposted ‘No Entry’ at the Oyama Ave entrance to the street,” the spokesman said.

Not parallel parking in the direction of travel is one of the more expensive penalties in terms of parallel parking fines.

The most expensive fine is $248 for parking parallel close to the dividing line or strip.