Fiery debate after homeless camper slapped with $600 fine

Byron Bay council workers divided opinion when they slapped a homeless man with a huge fine for filling his water up in a ‘no stopping’ bay.

An ugly feud broke out this week in picturesque Byron Bay where a homeless man was slapped with a $600 fine after reversing his van up to a public water tap.

The man thought given no one was around and he would only be there for a few minutes while be filled up his water tank, he would be safe to briefly park in a “no stopping zone”.

He was proved wrong however when two Byron Bay Shire Council officers pulled up in their “parking enforcement” vehicle to issue him a fine on Fawcett Street in Brunswick Heads.

The man began filming as the officers got out of the car, saying: “They’re policing the hell out of me basically, and he’s about to give me a 600 and something dollar fine”, in the video, later shared to social media.

He reiterated he was parking in the spot for the sole purpose of filling his van with water.

“This is just unbelievable, like is he serious? I was standing behind my car filling it up with water, you know?”

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The man was fined for parking his van here.

Council workers slapped him with a massive fine.

The officers were seen tapping into their phones and taking photos of the scene, with one attempting to tell the homeless man that he “tried to explain” why he was being penalised.

The homeless man argued it would only take him a few minutes to fill his water tank and he was almost done when the officers pulled up.

He also said he had no choice but to reverse into the compromising spot because it was the only position his hose could reach the tap from.

“I was just about to leave when these guys turned up,” he said.

“You don’t get ho much strain you’ve just put on the system,” he argued, begging for the officers to use “some common sense”.

In his post to social media, the man revealed how crushing the fine would be on his ability to pay for basic essentials.

“I’ve had enough. I will be happy if I have enough dog food and I am pretty sure I have just run out of fuel where I am, and I am almost out of food again,” he wrote.

“Everyone should have the right to draw water with dignity without being harassed. This is bullying! I wasn’t hurting anyone.”

He argued the man had “too much power and no respect” and “the belief that they have the right to enforce and push me around when I am causing no harm to anyone”.

Community opinion was divided over who was in the wrong.

His plea divided opinion online, with some arguing he had no excuse to be in a “no stopping zone” and there were other places he could have filled his water tank.

“Plenty of other taps around. Buy a longer hose. Next you’ll be fined for illegal camping,” one comment read.

Others however felt it was wrong for council workers to be targeting homeless people.

“This is awful. Homeless are so often targeted. Sorry this is happening to you. They would be better spending their time checking all the disabled parks,” another said in a comment.

When news.com.au inquired with Byron Shire Council about the matter, it revealed the charge against the man had been dropped.

“Council first received evidence from the customer on November 2 regarding this matter,” a spokesperson said.

“Upon review of this evidence Council has now contacted Revenue NSW and requested this fine be withdrawn due to an administrative error.

“The customer has been advised.”

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