‘Money grab’: Soccer dad slams Gold Coast City Council’s robo-fine scheme

A Gold Coast dad slapped with a $179 parking fine while he watched his daughter play soccer from his car has slammed the city council’s robo-fine scheme.

An Ormeau dad slapped with a $179 parking ticket while he watched his daughter play soccer from his car has slammed the city council’s robo-fine scheme.

He likened it to the federal government’s Centrelink robodebt scandal in which debts were generated through automated technology.

Dean Davies is one of hundreds who have been stung by the Gold Coast City Council’s Park Safe vehicles, which carry roof-mounted cameras designed to snare drivers breaching regulations.

This work would previously be carried out by parking inspectors.

Mr Davies received his fine on July 31 for not parking parallel on a patch of grass adjacent to Orange Mountain Rd, near the Ormeau Soccer Club.

“I was totally unaware, there’s no signs or anything there. I never left the vehicle.”

The Ormeau resident described the Park Safe vehicles as a “money grab”.

“You’re taking away the human factor and the opportunity for people to rectify the problem before fining them,” he said.

A council spokeswoman said three parking fines were issued at Orange Mountain Rd, Ormeau, on July 31.

“Under Queensland road rules, unless signposted otherwise, parallel parking applies which means vehicles must park in the direction of travel parallel with the line of traffic,” she said.

“The road in question is a busy arterial road carrying both light and heavy vehicles.

“Parking other than parallel poses a safety risk to pedestrians and other vehicles.”

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