“Hardly 2-3 minutes” may cost this driver $581 and a demerit point

An Indian man, who posted about parking in a Disabled Parking spot, has received some sobering advice from netizens.

A Sydney resident posted in a group saying he received a note on his car. The typed plain paper note, left on his car windscreen, said, “Abusing a disabled parking space has cost you $581 and 1 demerit point, a timed dated photo has been emailed to Parramatta Council, you can expect a fine in the next 21-28 days.”

“There is a construction going on in Parramatta, and I could not find a parking spot nearby. Therefore, I parked my car in a Disabled Parking spot (hardly for 2-3 minutes). Although I saw an old man with my car but it was too late; he ignored my calls and went back to the apartment block,” read the post.

“Your genuine advice would be highly appreciated,” appealed the poster.

Many who responded told him that he would definitely get a fine. 

“Sorry to hear that. Your only chance is that the old man does not know how to work his way through the computer,” someone commented.

“Remove the post asap, don’t admit to something someone else has to prove (sic),” suggested another.

Many citizens are now apps such as SnapSend to report illegal parking to the local councils. These smart phone apps include geo-coordinates and pictures in the complaints. The council then sends out reinforcements to issue the fines. Thus, the system works like another version of a citizens arrest. 

The Daily Telegraph had quoted a spokesperson from the Inner West Council saying that fines would not be issued based on the photo alone but that this would trigger an investigation with a parking ranger often sent to the area to check.

“Whether people phone, email, snap, post or tweet us about illegal parking, we respond,” Blacktown mayor Stephen Bali had told The Daily Telegraph in 2017.

“Anything that makes it easier for us to track down people overstaying their limit and denying other people a parking space is worth using,” said mayor Bali.