How low can the NSW Government go

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Dawn service earns $179 parking fine



After attending a "very dignified" Anzac Day dawn service at Roseville yesterday, 73-year-old Ronald Coppel returned to his car to find a $179 parking fine on the window.

An officer from the highway patrol had fined Mr Coppel's white Lexus and two other cars parked in a no-stopping zone on the Pacific Highway. The fines were issued just after 5am.

A principal solicitor from Bradfield Mills, Adam Halstead, has offered to take Mr Coppel's case for free.

But Mr Coppel has said that he intended to pay the fine as he does not think he has any other option.

Another smh.com.au reader, Kristy Chambers , 27, is outraged at being fined by the police yesterday morning.

"I was one of the other people who was in front of Mr Coppel that got the infringement and I am extremely upset,'' Ms Chambers said in an email to smh.com.au.

"I am 27 yrs old, my fiance and I thought we would do something to show our support...the fact of the matter is, it was raining, there wasn't a lot of parking available and above all else it was 5am in the morning.

"The roads were basically like a ghost town. Who were we stalling the traffic for?''

She wanted to know if the officer was placing the tickets on the cars as The Last Post was playing.

Mr Coppel said the fine was a "mean-spirited act'' and the officer who issued it had showed poor judgement.

"I just thought, 'Why would anyone want to do that?' '' he said. "I'm not arguing [that] I didn't break the law, but the law has to be enforced with a sense of reason.

"The car wasn't creating a hazard. You have to be very foolish to do something like that."

Mr Coppel said his car had been parked in the no-stopping zone for about 30 minutes.

"The service started at five and because it was wet they didn't prolong it,'' he said.

"It was very, very wet and a lot of people were there, considering the time and weather. I thought the atmosphere very dignified."

Mr Coppel, who came to Australia from Belfast in 1963, said he remembered bombings in his home town as a child during World War II.

"Some of my uncles were in the army, some of my family in Europe were wiped out, so I feel emotionally attached to Anzac Day," he said.

The Returned & Services League of Australia national secretary, Derek Robson, said: "Yes, he's broken the law, but given the circumstances ... he ought to be able to put up a good excuse and I would like to think there is a sympathetic ear.

"The bottom line is that all Australians should get out there, of course, and show that respect.''

In the fine, the offence is listed as: "D'SOBEY STOPPING SIGN/S." The offence time is listed as between 5.17am and 5.24am.

It is understood the officer is part of the Highway Patrol based at Ku-ring-gai Local Area Command.

NSW Police would not comment

url: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/...459831477.html

[Bax]

If you break the law you break the law.

However, very poor judgement, I'm sure they could turn a blind eye to it, especially when they are paying their respects.

[minux]

The officer here cannot be blamed, he was simply doing his job. I am sure however that if you sent a letter of explaining the authorities would be sympathetic.

[NVE_069]

Agreed ^^^^^ its the law no matter what the time is. n like minux said write a letter.

[Grennan]

I agree that the law is the law. But seriously what parking inspector goes around at 5 am? Seems like they woke up extra early for the event to catch a few people.