Gold Coast driver fined by council for parking in her own driveway

A Gold Coast woman is furious after copping an unusual parking fine which has divided local residents. She says if she can get fined for this, you can too.

A GOLD Coast woman has been left scratching her head after she was handed a parking fine for parking in her own driveway.

Robina woman Kirsty Sanderson was shocked to receive the $104 fine from council after parking behind her husband’s car in the driveway of their Leopardwood Circuit home on Monday afternoon.

Mrs Sanderson said the fine came as a surprise because she hadn’t realised she had been doing anything wrong.

According the fine, the ticket was issued for “stopping a vehicle on or across an access for vehicles travelling to or from adjacent land”.

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Mrs Sanderson took to social media to query the fine, which quickly divided opinions on a local community Facebook page.

“I have a sick husband and two kids to look after and I work night shifts just to cover bills,” she wrote in the post.

“$104 is a hefty fine for such a minor mistake …(it) takes food out of our mouths.”

Kirsty Sanderson illustrates what the scene looked like after she was fined $104 by Gold Coast City Council for parking in her own driveway. Picture: Facebook

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While some residents were quick to point out the vehicle had been parked too far down the driveway to be allowed, many were quick to defend her actions, calling for a council to issue a warning instead.

“I do believe a warning and explanation should be appropriate for a first offence,” one person posted in reply, “if repeat offences, then a fine issued.”

Others accused council of revenue-raising for pursuing the “ridiculous” rule.

Another resident said she had also been fined recently for parking on her “wide” footpath.

Mrs Sanderson said she is considering fighting the fine, but admitted it was a lesson learned “the hard way”.

Gold Coast City Council told the Bulletin it had responded to a complaint about a car blocking the footpath.

A spokeswoman said it was an offence under state legislation to block a footpath, a driveway or public land, even in a resident’s own driveway.

“It is important that sufficient clearance is maintained for pedestrians including the elderly and disabled to travel safely without having to resort to the roadway where they are at risk from moving vehicles,” the spokeswoman said.