Toowoomba Regional Council deploys License Plate Recognition technology to catch parking violations

Have you been hit with a fine for parking on your median strip lately? Chances are this roving licence plate recognition unit may have caught you breaking the rules.

Errant drivers have been put on alert after the Toowoomba Regional Council issued more than 2000 fines from evidence gathered by its new license plate recognition vehicle.

The red hatchback is mounted with a network of cameras and GPS technology and scans vehicles as it rovers around the city.

It will be deployed in January 2023 and has issued more than $86,000 worth of fines in that time.

Councillor Tim McMahon said he encouraged residents to follow the law, which included observing time limits and not parking on the footpath.

The Toowoomba Regional Council's License Plate Recognition vehicle has issued more than 2000 parking fines since it was deployed in January 2023.

Parking fines vary, starting at $46 for parking not wholly within marked space or failing to properly position a vehicle in angle parking to $309 for parking in a disabled spot without a permit.

“The surest way to avoid a fine is to do the right thing,” he said.

“Parking regulations assist with safe and smooth functioning and flow of traffic.

“In the Toowoomba CBD, the council has a mix of on-street and off-street parking options which is about supporting businesses with patronage.

“Without parking regulation, businesses would be adversely impacted and safety compromised, particularly with regard to parking on footpaths, where pedestrians would be in danger.”

The license plate recognition vehicle’s current focus is footpath parking, no stopping and yellow line offences.

It became fully operational in January and has clocked about 13,000km, operating in the CBD and the suburbs.

“The vehicle can be used in school zones on a reactive basis if a safety complaint or hazard is received from the community, however this is not the council’s focus,” Mr McMahon said.

Toowoomba Regional Council Parking Fines

Park longer than permitted time – $77

Stop contrary to ‘NO PARKING’ sign – $123

Stop contrary to ‘NO STOPPING’ sign – $123

Park not wholly within marked space – $46

Authorised vehicle stop in loading zone for longer than signed – $61

Stop near obstruction on road so as to obstruct traffic – $123

Other parking offences and restrictions on stopping – $46

Angle parking – failing to properly position the vehicle – $46

Park improperly in parking bay – $46

Stop unauthorised vehicle in bus zone – $123

Double park – $61

Exceed maximum indicated time – $77

Fail to comply with requirements of authorised system (pay & display) – $61

Fail to pay parking fee (metre) – $61

Stop heavy/long vehicle not in a built-up area other than on shoulder of the road – $309

Stop heavy/long vehicle on length of road longer than 1 hour in a built-up area – $774

Authorised vehicle stop in loading zone more than 30 minutes – $61

Stop unauthorised vehicle in mailzone – $61

Park longer than permitted 30min – $77

Stop within 3m of postbox – $61

Park on a one way road other than parallel – $46

Park on a two way road other than left and parallel – $46

Stop unauthorised vehicle in permit zone – $61

Stop contrary to ‘CLEARWAY’ sign – $123

Stop contrary to disabled parking sign – $309

Stop across driveway – $61

Stop at intersection $123

Stop within 20m of intersection with traffic lights – $123

Stop within 10m of intersection without traffic lights – $123

Stop contrary to motorbike parking sign – $46

Stop on bicycle path/footpath/shared path or dividing strip/nature strip in built-up area – $61

Stop unauthorised vehicle in taxi zone – $123

Stop within 20m before or 10m after pedestrian crossing – $123

Stop unauthorised vehicle in work zone – $61

Park another vehicle in allocated space – $61

Stop unauthorised vehicle in loading zone – $77

Stop at bus stop – $61

Stop within 20m before or 10m after bus stop – $61

Park within 3m of continuous dividing line or strip – $46

Stop contrary to continuous yellow edge line – $123