Parking Fine at Shopping center?

[LightningVP]

Hey people, now first of all, I admit I'm somewhat in the wrong for this as I didn't double check any signs.

What happened, Well I went to the broady library, and I thought I'd park at the shopping center carpark, get something to eat then go the library, was there for 30m, got back and had a ticket, reason "In a area zone", I looked at the closest sign and it WAS an area parking only, (some weird zone name), possibly for shop owners only??

Is it possible for me to contest this?

[SAV_117]

i would say no

[davway]

on what grounds?
you parked in the wrong area and got a fine - good luck.

[minux]

Was it issued by the council?

If so you cant really challenge it. Although get photos of the area and post them up.

[danja]

What's an "area zone"??

I know here in NSW shopping centres and the like can apply to the RTA to issue their own fines, much like how local councils do I suppose.

[Eliminator]

The only way you can get out of it is asking for photographic evidence showing your car parked at that location, if they dont have a pic then your off scott free as thery have no evidence agaist you.

Write a letter to the council asking them for photographic evidence and stating you belive you werent in the wrong (even thoughg you were) ...

[Ozzie]

Nah you'll have to cop the fine.

Just consider yourself lucky you were'nt towed away. lol

[hsvpunk]

No deal. as its your own fault for not checking the signs.

I got done for parking in a permit zone in the city, and tried to contsest it, as the sign was blocked by an over hanging tree branch. But wasnt going to contset a 61 dollar fine as if i had of loooked at other signs i wouldve known.

Just pay it, and forget about it.

I always check parking areas if im not familiar with the area.

[danja]

Was it issued by the council?

If so you cant really challenge it. Although get photos of the area and post them up.

Not true, I've had 6 council-issued fines revoked because they were issued incorrectly

[Rufus®]

If it was issued by the council then you'll have to pay it, if it was issued by the shopping centre, they have to prove that you were driving the car at the time. If they cannot prove it was you, then you shouldn't have to pay..... will try and dig some more info up on it.

[LightningVP]

Was issued by the council, I "can" get photos.

I wouldn't have been towed, as it was a shopping center carpark, cars packe din their like sardines...

Danja, An area/permit zone is a zone you are only allowed to park in if you have a permit to park their, USUALLY ONLY found in residential areas where people don't have a driveway (so only people with a house there can get a permit to park on the side of the road) or where there is pay parking....Shopping centers to my understanding only have the P[add minutes here]

[Rufus®]

While what I was thinking of was a different situation to the OP's, it should be helpful to anyone else who is issued a parking fine from a shopping centre.

Supermarket shoppers not legally obliged to pay parking fines | Herald Sun

[pow3rslave]

i work at a shoppping centre and the council was giving fines in the shopping centre car park, apparently people got out of paying because it isn't council land and their authority didn't cover it.

[danja]

Danja, An area/permit zone is a zone you are only allowed to park in if you have a permit to park their, USUALLY ONLY found in residential areas where people don't have a driveway (so only people with a house there can get a permit to park on the side of the road) or where there is pay parking....Shopping centers to my understanding only have the P[add minutes here]

Ah yep, got you. The fines I had revoked were for the same thing, but I actually had a visitors permit for the area.

[LightningVP]

While what I was thinking of was a different situation to the OP's, it should be helpful to anyone else who is issued a parking fine from a shopping centre.

Supermarket shoppers not legally obliged to pay parking fines | Herald Sun

Thats some interesting stuff

i work at a shoppping centre and the council was giving fines in the shopping centre car park, apparently people got out of paying because it isn't council land and their authority didn't cover it.

That's interesting to know...

The only reason I parked where I did was because I don't like parking close to shopping centers, so I parked in the small quiet section But I was still in the shopping center carpark, and did go to the shops

[LightningVP]

Ok, well thanks for the help guys, I'll contest it to see if I can get ot of it, only costs a piece of paper stamp and envelope, so it's worth a try....I have better things to spend the 70$ on...

[Stressball]

i work at a shoppping centre and the council was giving fines in the shopping centre car park, apparently people got out of paying because it isn't council land and their authority didn't cover it.

I wouldn't rely on that being the case everywhere though. Perhaps you had some pushover council workers, because they can be stubborn.

Supposedly any place where a car can legally be driven which is not a place of residence, road rules apply, and as such so do parking rules. Hence people getting done for hoon offences and drink driving etc in car parks and maccas drive throughs

[danja]

Just FYI, certain people can apply to be a "Restricted Parking Area" in NSW:
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/doingbusin...ls/rpav2_i.pdf
and can then issue fines. Looks like not all shopping centres would be able to qualify for this though (not that's it's relevant if it was issued on council turf).

On a side note, that picture on the cover is part of where I work!

[Bax]

That's what I was going to suggest.

But either way I'd be saying just pay it, you don't really have any reason to get out of it.

[jules]

Supposedly any place where a car can legally be driven which is not a place of residence, road rules apply, and as such so do parking rules. Hence people getting done for hoon offences and drink driving etc in car parks and maccas drive throughs

that's correct. the road rules include 'road related areas' which are publically accessible areas, including car parks. you do a burnout in a supermarket car park and the cops will prosecute you without blinking.

i'm not sure about parking infringements though. i suspect that if the council didn't put the signs up themselves, they are probably not enforceable.

[Stressball]

i'm not sure about parking infringements though. i suspect that if the council didn't put the signs up themselves, they are probably not enforceable.

Actually that's a point.. I think if the signs have been erected by the landowners and a private company contracted to distribute pentalties according to the owner's signs it's allowable.. But the council fining someone for non-council-signed parking infringements I don't know.

There's one thing I remember hearing, if you do get a fine from a private contractor and the fine ticket is the same colour etc and looks nearly exactly like a council one, it can be disputed. Somebody got off a ticket from a private contractor because it "looked too much like a council ticket." No idea why that matters, but hey.

[jules]

i don't quite agree - only govt authorities can issue fines. private companies can never issue them. here in Vic there's a private company doing it and the govt has clarified that they are meaningless and advised people not to pay.

[Stressball]

Fair enough, it may have been outside of Australia, I'm not sure.

[Reaper]

Hey people, now first of all, I admit I'm somewhat in the wrong for this as I didn't double check any signs.

What happened, Well I went to the broady library, and I thought I'd park at the shopping center carpark, get something to eat then go the library, was there for 30m, got back and had a ticket, reason "In a area zone", I looked at the closest sign and it WAS an area parking only, (some weird zone name), possibly for shop owners only??

Is it possible for me to contest this?

I highly doubt it. If I were you i'd be happy at least one of the wheels the whole car wasn't stolen.

Reaper

[Ado]

Where is the library there,at the town hall?