Jacinta Costello fined by Bayside Council after putting parking permit in wrong place on car

Jacinta Costello thought she was doing the right thing when she parked near the Brighton Bathing Boxes with her permit clearly on display. But Bayside Council deemed otherwise and fined her $81 — and now she might fight it in court.

Jacinta Costello was fined by Bayside Council for having her parking permit in the wrong place on her car. Picture: Penny Stephens

A furious motorist has been fined for displaying her parking permit just centimetres from the “correct” location.

Despite the sticker being clearly visible from outside, Brighton woman Jacinta Costello was slapped with an $81 fine for placing her permit on a side window instead of the windscreen.

She has slammed Bayside Council for “absurd revenue grabbing”, saying the strict guidelines had never been a problem — until now.

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Ms Costello has regularly parked at the Brighton Bathing Boxes on the Esplanade for more than 40 years, and sticks her permit on the right side window so it doesn’t block her view while driving.

But the 66-year-old was stunned when returning to her car in late February to see an $81 parking fine — all because her permit wasn’t stuck on the inside bottom corner of the passenger side, as instructed by council.

It’s left her flabbergasted, and she’s now considering taking the matter higher, after the council refused her appeal and told her to pay up or go to court.

In a letter seen by the Leader, the council’s appeals officer states: “Failure to correctly display your Beach Parking Permit will not exempt you from paying parking fees“.

However Ms Costello says it’s just a blatant money grab.

“They’re not disputing I had a permit and they saw it there, but they fined me anyway,” she said.

Jacinta Costello’s parking permit was on the side window of her car, rather than on her windscreen. Picture: Penny Stephens

“I’ve always done the right thing and park there often, but now an overly-zealous little person has come along and fined me.

“It is just absurd, a revenue grabber to make more money and surely they can just give people a warning first before (stinging them).”

She’s also warning other Brighton ratepayers who receive a parking permit with their rates notice to be careful.

“I have never given it a second thought until now but obviously something has changed,” Ms Costello said.

“I just don’t want anyone else being caught out.”

Bayside Council city planning and amenity director Hamish Reid said parking officers always inspected the entire front window for a valid permit, but if nothing was found a ticket was issued.

“Every motorist has the right to elect to have their infringement heard in court,” Dr Reid said.