Aussie driver stung for car sale habit
Aussie councils are being accused of overreach after hitting drivers with steep fines over unknown infringements.
An Aussie council has warned about a practice thousands of Aussies have used for decades – parking cars on main roads with a “for sale” sign slapped on the window.
At the entrance of the town of Tully in Far North Queensland, new “no parking” signs have been erected and time bollards installed after residents complained about a line-up of cars for sale at the welcome sign.
The council announced the ban on Facebook, where it said grassed areas have “become a common spot for people to park vehicles for sale”.
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“While convenient, this is a prohibited activity that can damage public spaces and disrupt Council’s regular maintenance and mowing,” it said.
“To help protect the greenery in this area, Council has installed ‘No Parking’ signs.
A council spokesman told Yahoo News “parking vehicles for sale on the main entrance to town is not only unsafe and damaging to grassed areas, it also detracts from the welcoming impression we want to create for residents and visitors alike”.
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Locals will now be fined $166 if they are caught breaking the rules.
“This renewed enforcement comes in response to community concerns and Councillors’ direction to improve the appearance of our townships,” a council spokesman told Yahoo News.
Frustrated residents responded to the council’s annoucement on Facebook.
“Given that this is the first time any of us have been made aware of this, I’m assuming that the fines issued last week will be revoked,” one person said.
“Cars have always been for sale here for the 30 years I’ve lived here. I understand that sometimes it’s necessary for new rules to be implemented, but I think it’s a bit unreasonable to issue fines before notifying anyone of the rule changes.”
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The law applies in other states but varies widely depending on where you live.
NSW is the harshest state, where drivers can be hit with fines between $1,500 and $2,500 for parking a “for sale” car on a public road without council approval.
WA has a blanket ban on advertising cars on public land, with fines up to $1,000.
Victoria and South Australia roadside sales are only allowed with a council permit; fines sit around $100.
Legal experts say many motorists don’t even realise they’re breaking the law.
Sydney lawyer Avinash Singh told Yahoo News that “for sale” signs can distract other drivers, and councils want oversight on where and how ads are displayed.
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Originally published as Aussie driver stung for car sale habit
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