Parking fines NSW has become a hot topic in the state’s traffic news. Since the introduction of the ticketless parking fines NSW in 2020, a lot of drivers faced challenges when it comes to receiving the infringement notice via email.
Parking in a restricted location or breaking parking regulations is punishable by a penalty notice issued by the local council or the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS). Among the NSW Councils to issue parking tickets are North Sydney council and Sydney City council.
This is significant because under the ticketless system, drivers may not get their fine in the mail for a week or longer, which limits their ability to obtain supporting documentation. Finance Minister Courtney Houssos said that prompt notification is a must for drivers because it is an important aspect in the restoration of community trust in the administration of the parking fines NSW system.
This article will discuss the difference between the traditional and ticketless parking fines NSW, their pros and cons, and contesting a parking fine.
Traditional Parking Fines NSW
Traditionally, parking fines in NSW were issued as a physical paper ticket tucked under the windshield wiper of the offending vehicle. This ticket would be clearly visible to the driver. The paper parking ticket would usually contain:
- Date and time of the offence.
- Location of the violation
- The exact nature of the parking offence
- The amount of the fine
- Due date for payment
- Instructions on how to pay.
- Options for early payment discounts (if applicable)
- Information on contesting the fine
The physical ticket system provided immediate notification to the driver upon returning to their vehicle. This allowed for:
- Early resolution of the fine if the driver accepted the offence.
- Swift action to contest the fine if the driver believed it was unfair.
Ticketless Parking Fines NSW
The former Liberal-National Government tested the ticketless fine system in May 2020 before extending it to further councils in December of the same year. It enables issuing authorities to communicate directly with Revenue NSW, which then notifies violators via mail or the Service NSW app. However, most of the time, the driver is unaware that they got a ticket.
Thus, in early March of this year, the government of New South Wales has halted local councils from adopting the ticketless parking fine system and is currently reviewing it. Substantially, the present ticketless parking system’s implementation has damaged public confidence in the parking fine system.
The following are the main issues with ticketless parking system fines:
- Challenges in obtaining documentation should the motorist wish to request a review of the fine.
- Decreased ability of a fine to influence behaviour and serve as an instant deterrence.
- A driver may be issued many parking tickets prior to being notified by mail or the Service NSW app.
READ: Tips to Avoid NSW Parking Fine
Pros and Cons of the Two Types of Parking Fines NSW System
| Pros | Cons | |
| Traditional Parking Fines | 1. Drivers are instantly aware of receiving a fine, allowing them to act quickly to pay or contest it. 2. Drivers can immediately assess the situation and gather evidence (photos, witness statements) if they want to challenge the fine. 3. There’s no need to wait for a mailed notice or proactively check if a fine has been issued. | Paper tickets contribute to waste. Tickets can be lost, blown away by the wind, or become illegible due to rain. |
| Ticketless Parking Fines | 1. No paper waste. 2. Reduces time and resources spent by parking officers on issuing physical tickets. 3. Ticketless systems often include photos of the offence, aiding the review process. 4. Online payment portals can streamline the payment process. | Drivers may be unaware of the fine for days or weeks, making it harder to recall the circumstances and contest it, particularly if they’ve already disposed of potential evidence. Drivers genuinely forgetting about time limits could incur extra fines due to late notices. |
In NSW, there are advantages and disadvantages to both the paper and ticketless parking fine systems. The transition to a ticketless fine system is intended to increase sustainability and efficiency. Its fairness and the effect on drivers who might not learn of the infraction until it is too late to obtain relevant evidence for a challenge, however, continue to raise concerns.
Thus, the government of New South Wales (NSW) has mandated several councils to switch back to paper parking fines after the ticketless system generated $140 million in revenue. The Finance Minister, Courtney Houssos, has written to 128 councils, requesting that those who impose ticketless parking fines rectify any shortcomings in their strategy.
In a formal letter, Minister Houssos recommends that councils legally notify drivers when they impose a fine in writing. One possible method of doing this would be to place a small, pre-printed card on the driver’s windscreen.
Contesting Parking Fines NSW
If you think the system made a mistake in issuing you a parking fine, you have the option to request for a review of a fine in New South Wales. Moreover, if there were unexpected and special circumstances at the time of the commission of the offence, you can also request for a review.
The review could result in the fine remaining in place, your release with a warning, or the waiver of the fine. Particularly, Revenue NSW will take into account your individual circumstances as well as any unique events that led to the imposition of the fine.
You can be qualified for a caution for various infractions if you have:
- had your driver’s licence for more than ten years and
- a spotless driving record.
During the review process, a caution will be automatically applied if you are eligible. Serious offences are not subject to the cautions. However, if you’re still unsure whether you should request for a review, you can do the following in the meantime:
- View camera images of the offence from a traffic camera; or
- Nominate the person responsible for the offence.
READ: How to Get Out of a Parking Fine NSW?
There are three modes of requesting for a review:
- Online.
- In writing (sent by post)
- Form with attached proof of identification (sent by post) stating the following:
- address
- date of birth
- driver’s licence number.
You can submit the documents to this address: Revenue NSW l PO Box 786 l Strawberry Hills 2012
Need to Contest Parking Fines NSW?
If the fine involves a significant amount of money, potential demerit points, or complex legal arguments (incorrect signage, unclear parking rules, disability-related circumstances), JB Solicitors is here to help.
Our traffic offence lawyers handle a wide range of traffic offences, with parking fines being a minor area compared to speeding, drink driving, or more serious matters. We can also collaborate with various NSW Government agencies that handle traffic offences.
