Anger over the new HCC parking meters escalates into a petition calling for their removal

A Hobart alderman has received threats of physical abuse by angry parking meter users. Meanwhile, a popular petition calling for the new machines to be scrapped is gaining traction.

Hobart City Council is under fire about the new parking meters and fnes that are issued for offences not made clear. A 2P parking sign at Salamanca. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

HOBART City Council has come out in defence of its controversial parking meters — saying ignorance of parking rules is no excuse.

Anger over the meters has become so bad that one local councillor says he has received threats of physical abuse.

HCC general manager Nick Heath says it has never been legal to overstay in parking spots by feeding the meter — and those who have been fined for doing so only had themselves to blame.

Hobart man Garrick Cameron has attracted nearly 2500 signatures to a petition calling for the meters to be scrapped.

Mr Cameron was fined after staying in a parking spot for longer than allowed, despite the meter accepting his payment for the longer period.

The new parking meters have drawn criticism from the public because they are slow, difficult to use, are hard to see in sunlight and require a $3 minimum charge when used with a credit card.

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In a Talking Point article in today’s Mercury, Hobart City Council general manager Nick Heath said people had been able to get away with overstaying parking spots in the past by continuing to feed the meters — but not any more.

The practise was never allowed, but detection was previously difficult, he said.

“Now that there are in-ground sensors, the City is aware at all times of how long a car has been parked, and is obliged by the State to enforce the bylaw,” he said.

“The onus is now on everyone parking in the CBD to take responsibility for knowing the rules and reading the signs — in the same way that the public are expected to be aware of other laws. Ignorance is no longer an excuse.”

Mr Heath said street parking was intended for people to stay for short periods, while those who wanted to stay for longer could use off-street city carparks.

“We accept that we have not adequately explained the law to people — and this is a big change to how people have parked in Hobart historically.

“However given the huge issues around traffic and adequate parking in the City, I make no apology for the Council taking steps to alleviate these problems and help those looking for free spots in the City.”

Mr Cameron said he was determined to see his campaign against the meters through.

“If nothing happens over the coming weeks, I’m going to organise a protest outside the Town Hall,” he said yesterday.

“The council is supposed to be for the people, they’re supposed to be doing what the people want,” he said. “The amount for flack they’re copping is insane.

“There’s always going to be parking meters. I don’t think there is any way out of that, but this is just entrapment.”

“What’s annoying is that if this was any other business, they would take them down until it was fixed, the ACCC and Fair Trade doesn’t seem to apply to them. It’s nuts.”

Hobart Alderman Marti Zucco said he had been contacted by people exremely angry about meters.

“To get phone calls of physical threats of abuse and to be threatened. It’s not on,” he said.

“I’ve assured every person who has contacted me, I have been doing my utmost to find a solution and I have for the past five months.

“I sympathise with people, it’s something that we as aldermen can’t to anything about, we’re waiting for the technology to tell people they can’t pump the meter.

“I’m reassured that they’re working on it and they’re close to a solution.”

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Comments on Mr Cameron’s petition included:

* “I have used these meters and will not go back to the city after my experience, downright robbery.”

* “Hobart City Council are legalised thieves.”

* “I live in a rural area, when travelling to Hobart it’s just to hard, every machine is different, some work, some don’t, you think you’re parked safely, but you’re not.”

* “I don’t trust the new meters. Too many stories about people being overcharged or wrongly fined. I’d like to be able to park in the street in the city again.”

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