Gold Coast man cops $157 council fine for parking in his own driveway

A PALM Beach man plans to fight a hefty fine from the Gold Coast City Council for parking outside is own house even though he has been doing exactly that for five years.

Johnathon Dao has lived in his Palm Beach home for the past five years and has always parked parallel in his small driveway. Yesterday he came out to find a $157 parking fine on his car, parking in his own driveway. Picture: Jerad Williams

A PALM Beach man has vowed to fight council after he copped a hefty fine for parking in his own driveway.

Johnathon Dao, a natural medicine doctor, has lived at his Jefferson Lane home for almost five years and has always parked parallel across his small driveway — without an infringement.

On Wednesday Dr Dao parked his Toyota in its usual spot and was shocked to find a ticket for $157 on his windscreen when he returned to his car later in the day.

Johnathon Dao’s car parked exactly as it was when he was fined.

“There is a yellow line across my driveway, but this is to stop people parking illegally in the street, not me parking in my own driveway,” he said.

“The council have crossed a line with this ticket and I will be fighting it.”

Dr Dao said he and other residents in the one-way, beachfront street were at times forced to park streets away due to strict parking restrictions.

“Our garage has been converted into a rumpus room, so all we have is our very small driveway,” he said.

“We have more than one car in our household, so we park one at home and the other in unrestricted parking around the corner.

“Jefferson Lane is a narrow, one-way street, as residents we understand the restrictions are in place for a reason.

The fine issued to Johnathon Dao

“Where I park my car is not in the way of any other drivers, or locals ... no one should be fined for parking on their own property.”

A council spokeswoman refused to comment on Dr Dao’s infringement, stating that individual cases could not be discussed.

“We can review parking fines on request ... the yellow lines on this particular roadway are there in order to prevent people from parking across private driveways,” the spokeswoman said in a written statement.

Area Councillor Daphne McDonald said she was not able to get involved with parking infringements.

“It’s totally up to the council officers, councillors are not able to interfere with infringements,” she said.

“Although, if you are parked on a yellow line, you are parked illegally, no matter where you are.”

Cr McDonald said the biggest problem with parking along Jefferson Lane was density.

“We do have problems with a lack of parking in this area and we need people to do the right thing,” she said.

Johnathon Dao with his car and fine. Picture: Jerad Williams