Barking dogs about to sting more with council fines set to rise in new financial year

PREPARE yourselves, Gold Coast City Council fines are about to go up across the city from July 1. Find out what fines will be affected:

If you have a barking dog, it’s about to hit your hip pocket even more

THE sting of a loud, barking dog is about to get a lot more painful with a hike in on-the-spot fines on the horizon.

The Gold Coast City Council is about to raise fines, including for barking dogs and illegally parked cars, after a change by the state government.

From July 1 the state government will increase the cost of a penalty unit from $121.90 to $126.15.

The sting is going to include a large number of fines, including:

Illegal dumping of rubbish (200L to 2500L)

Individual $2,018 (up from $1,950)

Commercial $6,307 (up from $6,095)

Illegal dumping as about to cost a little more.

Animals in a public place not under effective control (ie not on a leash):

- $126 (up from $121)

Excessive dog barking:

- $630 (up from $609)

Parking in a disabled bay without a permit:

- $315 (up from $304)

Owners caught with dogs who bark excessively will be slugged more.

Overstaying in a timed or metered area:

- $75 (up from $73)

Stopping on a footpath/nature strip:

- $100 (up from $97)

Parking in the wrong place is about to hit the hip pocket. Picture: David Clark

A city spokeswoman said the increase would only apply to those offences committed on or after July 1 this year.

“Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 (the Act) provides a legislative mechanism to allow for an annual increase to the penalty unit value applicable to most state laws, the local laws of most local governments and the Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) under these laws,” she said.