Parking inspectors given the power to hand out demerit points

New rules giving parking inspectors more power over drivers could spell trouble for Aussie motorists as they risk copping more than just a fine.

It’s never a great feeling when you get back to your car to find you have been hit with a parking ticket and now some drivers have more than just a fine to worry about.

Under new laws, NSW parking inspectors will be able to hand out demerit points as well as fines to drivers who park illegally.

The new rules see inspectors able to tack on a maximum of two demerit points on top of a fine for a range of different parking offences.

Leaving a stationary vehicle on or near a children’s crossing, pedestrian crossing, marked foot crossing or bicycle crossing could cost you $337 and two demerit points.

Sydney drivers have to worry about more than just a parking fine now.

The penalty is the same for drivers who park in an intersection, within 10 metres of an intersection with no traffic lights or within 20 metres of an intersection with traffic lights.

Parking in a disabled parking area without a permit already comes with a $561 fine and now you can also get one demerit point as well.

Leaving your vehicle on or near a level crossing will also result in a demerit point and a $337 fine.

The announcement hasn’t gone down well, with many people taking to social media to share their frustrations at the new rule.

“This is ridiculous. The only person who should be able deal with demerit points is the police.

Fine is ok. But demerit point for parking fine is purely rubbish,” one person wrote.

Parking Inspector’s now have the ability to hand out a maximum of two demerit points for certain parking offences. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“Demerits were meant to be for bad behaviour whilst driving, next we will be getting demerits for just breathing,” another said.

Other people complained that in many spots around Sydney it wasn’t even possible to park 20 metres back from an intersection.

According to 7 News, 675 NSW drivers have been fined for parking too close to crossings, 4745 have been fined for leaving cars too close to intersections and 3812 fines have been handed out for illegally using disabled parking.

Parking in a disabled spot without a permit could cost you over $500 and one demerit point. Picture: iStock

Bernard Carlon, from the NSW Centre for Road Safety, told news.com.au that parking illegally poses a bug safety issue.

“Illegally parking on or near crossings, in school zones or an intersection poses a road safety risk by affecting other motorists’ ability to see pedestrians or cyclists when approaching the crossing point or intersection,” he said.

“It can also reduce the ability for these road users to safely cross the road.”

Parking inspectors have been able to give out demerit points for a while but a grace period has meant they had the option of handing out the points at their discretion.

That period is now over and any drivers caught parking illegally risk being hit with demerit points and a fine.