In-ground sensors set to detect parking fines in Hobart

IN-GROUND parking sensors would detect the exact moment a vehicle arrives and immediately notify parking inspectors when motorists exceed their time limits, under plans being pursued by the HCC.

New technology is set to be used to issue parking fines in Hobart.

IN-GROUND parking sensors would detect the exact moment a vehicle arrives and immediately notify parking inspectors electronically when motorists exceed their time limits, under new technology being pursued by Hobart City Council.

The council recently called for tenders to supply up to 1700 of the in-ground sensors, that monitor parking space use and overstays, to cover its meter and voucher parking spaces.

Hobart Lord Mayor Sue Hickey said extensive testing would be done in Hobart’s CBD before the system was implemented fully.

Introduction of the sensors interstate over recent years has led to increases in parking fines, but also more challenges, including through the courts.

Ald Hickey said she was aware of the challenges interstate.

“During initial investigations, City of Hobart officer discussions with the City of Melbourne officers at the operational level revealed that the City of Melbourne’s parking sensor equipment has proven accurate and has withstood scrutiny,’’ she said.

“It is understood that each court challenge in matters relating to City of Melbourne parking sensors has failed.’’

George Farrugia, the media spokesman for the Australian Services Union’s Tasmanian and Victorian branch, which represents local government parking inspectors, said the rollout of the sensors in the Melbourne CBD had been a “shemozzle’’, leading to large numbers of fine challenges and union protests the sensors were “flawed’’.

Disputes involved fines being issued to the wrong driver; confusion among parking inspectors; aggrieved motorists accused of being in two places at once; fines issued despite the parking times on the ticket not synchronised with the times recorded by the sensor; and motorists denied a five-minute grace period promised by councils.

“It was absolutely ridiculous,’’ Mr Farrugia said.

He said Hobart City Council should be forewarned “things can go wrong’’ and it should have “contingency things in place’’ in the event there are “major teething problems’’ and parking inspectors were unfairly treated by angry motorists.

The main objectives of the sensors include improving compliance, increasing the turnover of scarce parking spaces by preventing motorists from continually topping up their meter throughout the day or sitting in their car before buying a ticket.

Ald Hickey said the rollout of the sensors was not about revenue raising.

“No, the purpose of introducing new parking equipment and technology is to provide efficient parking space management, not to increase revenue,’’ she said.

And no parking inspector jobs would be axed, she said.

RACT Member Assist general manager Darren Moody said it was up to the council how it dealt with compliance and its operational efficiency.

But Mr Moody said the sensors, if rolled out in parking spaces, should also be used in clearways.

“If they are going to implement something like this, we would be interested in seeing them put it in things like clearways,’’ he said.

“That’s probably where we would see the most benefit.

“We [the RACT] are much more about people keeping mobile, reducing traffic congestion.’’

In 2013 the Hobart City Council, in its Parking — a Plan for the Future report, predicted the use of the sensors would “translate into a reduction’’ in parking inspectors and “increase the amount of surplus funds generated by parking meters and the enforcement of the time limits’’.

Originally published as In-ground sensors set to detect parking fines in Hobart