Frankston residents wrongly fined for parking in own street after council permit bungle

A BUREAUCRATIC bungle has seen Frankston residents wrongly fined for parking in their own street.

Frankston resident Mark Clarebrough received a parking fine because his council-issued pa

A BUREAUCRATIC bungle has seen Frankston residents fined for parking in their own street.

Frankston Council contractors issued parking fines to residents because their council-issued parking permits did not have expiry dates.

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Frankston resident Mark Clarebrough said his daughter Rachel had received an $87 fine for parking in their street despite having a parking permit visible.

Mr Clarebrough said his daughter was later told by council staff the fine was due to the lack of an expiry date on the permit.

“It’s strange we are issued parking permits, but they are no good,” Mr Clarebrough said.

“There has obviously been a communication issue somewhere.”

Mr Clarebrough said a contractor issuing fines in his street subsequently told him they had been directed by their management to “issue fines to cars with permits if they don’t have an expiry date”.

Council chief executive Dennis Hovenden said the fines would be waived.

“We apologise for the confusion and the issuing of any fine,” he said.

“Council is issuing new residential parking permits to those residents who require them.

“Many of the current parking permits were issued several years ago and include out-of-date information.

“Once new permits are issued, old permits will become invalid. Anyone who has, at this time, ­received a parking fine for using the old permits is urged to contact council.”