Driver fined for parking in his driveway sparks debate

The driver thought he was safe leaving his vehicle in his driveway, in front of his garage, but it seems police disagree.

A Sydney driver has been slugged $283 for parking in their own driveway.

Radio 2GB producer Angus Kelleher had parked his Mazda CX-3 in his driveway some time last week, in front of his garage, but there was one problem with the parking that’s run him afoul of the law.

“The problem is, it’s obstructing the pathway, ever so slightly, behind,” said Mr Kelleher, who shared photos of the car, which can be seen with the rear wheels on the footpath in front of his property.

He presented his case to 2GB Breakfast host Ben Fordham, who questioned why Mr Kelleher didn’t simply use the garage.

Radio 2GB producer Angus Kelleher was fined $283 because his car protruded ‘ever so slightly’ over the footpath. Picture: 2GB

“It’s a real old garage, it doesn’t always work, there’s heaps of problems with it,” said Mr Kelleher, staunch in his defence that his vehicle caused no obstruction.

“There is a swath of pavement behind the pathway; there is no obstruction,” he said, “people can easily get around.

“I reckon a semi-trailer could get around it.”

In NSW, road rules 197 and 198, which both prevent parking on footpaths, nature strips, or blocking driveways, have been the matter of some contention.

Bondi's Jason Graham-Nye was fined twice in two weeks in early 2021 for parking in a similar manner in front of his own garage.

In January 2021, Jason Graham-Nye posted in the Bondi Community Noticeboard Facebook group to complain about being booked twice in two weeks for parking in front of his own garage.

“We just got nailed twice in 2 weeks for parking in front of our own garage with a car registered to the address of the garage,” Mr Graham-Nye wrote.

“I’m completely confused. The actual law seems to say it is not legal but then every street in Bondi has cars parked like this. So is it just how the police are feeling on any given day?!”