Gold Coast parking fine: Fan Sun had parking ticket tripled after he attempted to fight it in court
A battle not to pay a parking ticket has left a Gold Coast bus driver with a massive bill.
Crime and Court
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AN attempt to fight a parking ticket has left a Gold Coast bus driver with a bill three times the size of his original fine.
Fan Sun was originally given a $100 parking fine for parking on the nature strip at the front of the Surfside Buslines Molendinar depot during the Commonwealth Games last year.
But he took the Gold Coast City Council to Southport Magistrates Court over the fine because he claimed he was told by Surfside security he could park there.
The father changed his mind and pleaded guilty to stopping on a nature strip last week more than 12 months after he first start fighting it.
The court was told parking officers found Sun’s black Mercedes on the verge outside the bus depot about 9.45am on April 5 last year.
Photos were taken and a ticket was issued.
The council’s solicitor Nick Hatcher said parking officers were in the area after a complaint.
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He said the car was parked on the nature strip between the fence and the bitumen.
“It obviously unsuitable to park there,” he said.
“It was Surfside Buslines who, by my instructions, made the complaint.”
Sun said he had permission to park there.
“During the Commonwealth Games period it was very busy,” he said. “I work for Surfside Buslines.
“We had security directing we can park there.”
Mr Sun said it was for that reason he wanted to contest the fine.
But he decided to plead guilty to finalise the matter.
Mr Sun told the court he had been off work for weeks after a back injury.
He said his partner was also pregnant.
Magistrate Kay Philipson fined Sun the $100 ticket amount.
“It was against council regulations to park there.
She also ordered he pay the council’s $99.50 filing fee.
All people found guilty of an offence before the court must also pay the offender levy which is $125.80.
That means Sun will now pay a $325.30 for a ticket which was only $100.
No convictions were recorded.
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