Gold Coast Council: $336k in fines for parking on front lawn

ALMOST 4000 Gold Coasters have been stung for parking on the nature strip out the front of their homes this year. Have you been booked?

Scott Whiting is one of thousands of people fined for parking on the nature strip out the front of his home on the Gold Coast. The Southport man is refusing to pay the $100 fine and has written a letter to council. Picture Jerad Williams

A SOUTHPORT resident is in a fight with Gold Coast City Council after being slugged $100 for having his car parked adjacent to his driveway.

Scott Whiting noticed the ticket soon after washing his other car before 9am on Sunday, October 8.

$1700 FINE FOR PARKING IN SURFERS

He said he parked the car on the nature strip that morning because his street, Charlton Street, was a noted rat run and previously he had pulled two people out of their cars after crashes.

“They have tried a number of traffic calming measures for a huge expense and nothing has helped,” Mr Whiting said.

Gold Coast Council has issued more than 3000 fines for people parking on nature strips since January. Pictured is Scott Whiting who received one of the fines. Picture: Jerad Williams

So, as a matter of safety he parked his car on the lawn on Sunday because there was a risk of it getting hit.

“I thought it was a cheap shot from council,” he said.

However, he is getting little sympathy from his area councillor.

“They just can’t park on the nature strip, it’s as simple as that,” said Councillor Dawn Crichlow.

Scott Whiting is one of thousands of people fined for parking on the nature strip out the front of his home on the Gold Coast. The Southport man is refusing to pay the $100 fine and has written a letter to council. Picture Jerad Williams

“If there is a need for extra car parking they need to buy something with a double garage or rent something with a double garage because then you always got the third car in front of that.

“I don’t think there is any excuse for it.”

Nearly 3400 Gold Coasters have been fined for parking on the nature strip out the front of their homes this year.

BROADBEACH KINDY PARKING WAR

Residents in Robina, Palm Beach, Southport, Burleigh Heads and Biggera Waters are the worst offenders.

One of Mr Whiting’s Charlton St neighbours said a number of her children had been fined for parking out the front of her home.

“There is not enough room for all the kids to park their cars in the driveway,” she said.

“But I don’t think the kids realised it was illegal.”

Council officers have issued 143,056 for illegal parking across the Gold Coast this year. The top five offences are non/expired payment, exceeding the time limit in a non-paid parking area, exceeding the time limit in a paid parking area, stopping on a yellow line and no stopping sign.