Union slams NSW ban on ticketless fines, cites increased risk to rangers

The union is up in arms over the NSW government’s decision to ban ticketless parking fines, warning the move will put parking rangers at greater risk of assault and abuse.

The union is up in arms over the NSW government’s decision to ban ticketless parking fines, warning the move will put parking rangers at greater risk of assault and abuse.

Union officials claim the change could take rangers “back to the bad old days” of facing daily threats on the job.

The government’s legislation, introduced by Finance Minister Courtney Houssos, will effectively ban councils from issuing parking fines without placing a physical notification on the vehicle.

The legislation aims to prevent drivers from being fined without their knowledge, a practice that saw councils collect $155 million in revenue last year.

Ms. Houssos emphasised that the reform was a win for motorists, following concerns that many councils had been issuing ticketless fines despite being ordered to stop.

The state government has moved to make ticketless parking fines a thing of the past. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

Under the new rules, parking rangers will be required to attach a visible notification, such as a sticker or traditional parking ticket, to cars receiving fines, with repeat penalties for the same offence also being invalidated.

But the union representing parking rangers has strongly condemned the move.

Finance Minister Courtney Houssos said ticketless parking fines do not pass the “common sense test”. Picture:NewsWire/ Monique Harmer

United Services Union General Secretary Graeme Kelly OAM warned that eliminating ticketless fines will increase the risk of physical harm to rangers, recalling instances where workers have been seriously injured.

“Removing ticketless parking fines will take rangers back to the bad old days where they suffered broken jaws, black eyes, and daily abuse for simply doing their job,” Kelly said.

“Parking inspectors have a tough job, and like every other worker, they deserve to go home safely each day, not end up in a coma in hospital.”

Kelly recounted a recent incident where a parking ranger was run down in Enmore, suffering brain and spinal injuries that left him in a coma for two weeks.

He added that the union had proposed alternative solutions, such as linking council fines to the car registration system, which could notify drivers via text message when they receive a fine.

Councils had been raking in the cash from ticketless fines. Picture: NCA NewsWire

He also criticised the government for failing to consider the significant financial investment councils have made in ticketless parking technology, which will now be rendered obsolete.

“Councils have invested hundreds of thousands of ratepayers’ dollars in ticketless parking technology, and now it’s just going to be junked without compensation,” Kelly said.

Kelly argued that if the government was concerned about real-time fine notification, it should extend similar practices to speeding fines, seatbelt violations.

“Parking inspectors are being put in danger for a government sugar hit to boost its popularity. It’s disgraceful,” he said.

Ms. Houssos, however, defended the changes as necessary for transparency and fairness to drivers, with the legislation to be set today.

Originally published as Union slams NSW ban on ticketless fines, cites increased risk to rangers