The confusing road marking that could cop you a $600 parking fine

It's a parking error not many of us know about - and some even question why it's such a big deal. 

Knowing where you can and can’t park is hard enough even with proper signage. But, when there isn’t and you’re left to make the call yourself, it’s a downright nightmare.

One Melbourne local has taken to social media asking the classic question, ‘Can I park here?’, and the comments are well and truly divided.

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Image: Reddit.

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“Can you park here?”

A Reddit user has taken to the platform asking whether or not they can park in front of a fire hydrant in Mount Waverley, south-east of Melbourne's CBD.

“Can you park here?” they wrote.

“I don’t think so but wanted to check.”

Pictured was a fire hydrant on the side of the street, indicated by a white triangle.

The user noted that the VicRoads has specified online that drivers can’t stop or park within a metre of a fire hydrant - unless there’s a sign saying otherwise.

“There isn’t a sign post, but what's the point of the painted parking line on the left?” they wrote.

“I suppose if you had a motorbike, they could park in there and still leave 1m from the fire hydrant.”

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Commenters were divided

Commenters on the post were divided, with many saying that given the markings, parking there would be no big deal.

“I think the marked parking spot means it’s good to go,” one person said.

“I haven't worked in local government but I doubt the 1m to hydrant rule is enforced often… Plenty of room for fire crews to access the hydrant and set up hoses,” said another.

“We had a fire hydrant in front of our house and parked there without a problem for over 20 years,” a third assured.

However, more said it would be better to be safe than sorry.

“The hydrant rule definitely supersedes painted car parks,” one person pointed out.

“Always err on the side of caution,” another agreed.

“Unless there's a sign explicitly saying you can park in front of the hydrant, don't do it,” a third urged.

“It’s best not to block access to fire services, even if it were allowed. Access isn’t required, until it suddenly is required,” said another.

Image: VicRoads.

Don’t do it!

VicRoads has confirmed to Kidspot that you are not allowed to park, stop, or leave your vehicle within one metre of a fire hydrant, fire hydrant indicator or fire plug indicator, unless driving a public bus, taxi, or public minibus.

Diagrams specify that regardless of how far the fire hydrant really is from the road, this one metre distance refers to the horizontal distance on the road between your vehicle and the fire hydrant.

That means that the driver should probably give this spot a miss - unless they were in a particularly tiny car.

A $118 ($122 from 1 July due to indexation) infringement fine, or a maximum court imposed fine of $592 ($610 from 1 July), applies for drivers found not complying with the rule.

So yeah, better to be safe than sorry.

Originally published as The confusing road marking that could cop you a $600 parking fine