Barry Street, South Yarra salon owner spies Stonnington ticket inspectors fining council worker

An overzealous parking inspector is suspected of fining another council worker just doing his job in South Yarra.

A Stonnington parking inspector allegedly fined another council worker planting trees in Barry St, South Yarra on June 4. Picture: Supplied.

An inner city council has been accused of going to “hilarious” lengths to keep its parking inspectors busy in lockdown by fining its own workers.

Hairdresser Colin Moxey spotted an inspector “sneakily” fining a Stonnington Council traffic worker who was placing cones near a South Yarra salon on the afternoon of June 4.

Mr Moxey witnessed the incident while waiting for a delivery.

Photos, supplied to Leader, show an inspector and the worker talking by a council ute in Barry St.

Mr Moxey said he was unsure why the fine was issued but found it amusing the council was “essentially fining itself”.

“There was no traffic around, hardly any cars, and he was still fined,” he said.

“I don’t know if they didn’t like each other, but it was bizarre, because they’re on the same team.

“It was utterly pointless and a complete waste of time and money, but hilarious to witness.”

The council said it had not received any reports of recent incidents from parking officers, and could not confirm if the fine was processed.

Parking fines in Stonnington range from between $83 and $165 depending on the offence.

Stonnington chief executive Jacqui Weatherill said the council’s inspectors were only enforcing fines for parking in no stopping and loading zones during lockdown.

Ms Weatherill said council vehicles and officers were not automatically exempt from parking infringement rules.

“Any driver, including council staff, that receives an infringement is entitled to contest it,” she said.