Ticketless parking fines scrapped in great news for drivers

Motorists have been left outraged ever since an “unfair” and costly parking fine system was introduced. Now, things are set to change.

There's nothing more frustrating than going through your mail only to find a nasty surprise awaiting you – a parking fine.

What’s worse is that it’s from weeks ago, so it’s too late to collect evidence such as photographs from the scene showing the signs where you were parked and the time, or take down any details. So it becomes near impossible to dispute the fine.

In what is sure to be music to many motorists’ ears, and hip-pockets, things are about to change.

The NSW Government has ordered councils to revert to the old way of enforcing parking rules, by ditching ticketless fines and going back to paper.

The move follows widespread community outrage upon the introduction of ticketless parking fines which came alongside a surge in revenue to almost $140 million from fines, the Daily Telegraph reported.

Ticketless parking fines are set to go. Picture: Jonathan Ng

On Friday the Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos wrote to 128 councils urging them to scrap the ticketless parking system due to its shortcomings.

“While there are some benefits to the ticketless system, I am aware of community concerns around the issuing of ticketless parking fines, particularly the timeliness of fine notifications,” Houssos said.

“I believe these concerns can be addressed by implementing some simple administrative measures.”

She requested councils provide drivers with immediate, written notification at the time they are issued a parking fine, such as a note on the windscreen. This had previously not been required.

“This could be as simple as a note, which could take the form of a standardised, pre-printed card, noting that a fine has been issued.

“This note does not necessarily need to form part of the infringement notice but at a minimum it should inform the driver they will soon receive an infringement notice via post or the Service NSW app.”

Bring back the paper parking ticket, or at least a note. Picture: Brett Wortman

“Doing so will provide drivers immediate notification that they have been given a parking fine and will allow them to take their own photos and note down relevant details.”

Houssos also called for councils to ensure photographic evidence is captured and transmitted to Revenue NSW.

“The current implementation of the ticketless parking system has eroded trust in parking fine system.”

Houssos said that under the ticketless system, drivers can request images of the alleged infringement, however it is hard to gather evidence.

The ticketless fine system started as a trial in May 2020 and it sees councils sendings details of a fine to Revenue NSW, which then sends a penalty notice by post or the service NSW app to the driver.

NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury said the system clearly has flaws.

“If motorists only learn they have been fined weeks later, it takes away the transparency of the scheme and stops motorists from getting their own evidence,’ he said.

“It is also not a deterrent. If you park at the beach and you see parking fines on peoples’ windscreens, it reminds people that parking officers are about and to do the right thing.”

Cumberland City Councillor Steve Christou said it is a good move to ban ticketless fines.

“Under a Labor majority in 2023 council has issued 12026 ticketless parking fines that’s $2,494,895 in a cost of living crisis,” Christou said.

“I have always opposed ticketless fines being issued as the driver does not know when they have been booked until the fine arrives to their place of residence a couple of weeks later. It also makes disputing the fine harder.”