An NSW parking fine is a penalty notice that the local council or the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) issues for parking in a restricted area or for violating parking rules. Among the NSW Councils to issue parking tickets are North Sydney council and Sydney City council.
Naturally, most drivers dread the sound of authorities issuing a parking ticket. The accompanying sting of a fine in the mail can be even worse. But what if there was a way to avoid parking fines altogether?
In this article, we’ll explore the ways to avoid parking fines. From using technology to your advantage to simply being more mindful of your surroundings, we’ll show you how you can keep your wallet safe and avoid getting a parking ticket. So whether you have experience with driving, or if you are just starting, read on for some helpful tips on how you can avoid parking fines.
10 Tips To Avoid NSW Parking Fines
- Read the signs carefully: Make sure you know where you can and can’t park. Signs will typically indicate the time limits, restrictions, and fines for parking in a particular area.
- Be aware of the time limits: Don’t park in a spot where you can only park for a certain amount of time. If you’re not sure how long you’ll be, it’s best to err on the side of caution and find a spot with no time limit.
- Don’t park in loading zones or disabled parking spots: These spots are reserved for people who need them. If you park in one of these spots, you could be fined heavily.
- Be mindful of your surroundings: If you see a parking inspector, don’t risk it. Move your car to a legal spot.
- Use a parking app: There are a number of parking apps available that can help you find legal parking spots and pay for parking. These apps can also help you avoid parking fines by sending you notifications when your parking time is about to expire.
- Consider using public transportation: If you’re going to be in an area where parking is difficult or expensive, consider using public transportation instead. This can save you money and hassle.
- Park in a designated parking area: This is the most obvious way to avoid getting parking tickets. Make sure you park in a designated parking area and not on the street or in a loading zone.
- Pay for parking: If you need to park in a metered area, make sure you pay for parking. You can pay for parking with coins (a parking meter), a credit card, or a parking app.
- Display your parking receipt: If you pay for parking, make sure you display your parking receipt in your car. This will show that you have paid for parking and will help to avoid getting a paper ticket.
- Be aware of the rules: Make sure you are aware of the parking rules in the area where you are parking. These rules can vary from city to city, so it is important to do your research.
What Should You Do if You Received a Fine?
If you receive a fine (fine notice, fine reminder notice or overdue fine), such as a vehicle-related fine, you can pay it or:
- Apply for a payment plan
- Request a review
- Nominate the person responsible
- View images of the offence
- Apply to go to court.
Apply For a Payment Plan
Establishing a payment plan will allow you to spread out your payments if you are unable to pay your fine or outstanding fine in full by the due date. You need to do the following:
- Call 1300 138 118.
- Complete the plan application form and post it to the address on the form.
Request a Review
If you believe that you did nothing wrong and there was a mistake or a special circumstance that caused the offence, you can request a review of a fine. Revenue NSW will take into account your individual circumstances and any unique situations that led to you getting the fine.
You may be eligible for a caution for various offences if you have had your driver’s licence for more than ten years and have a spotless driving record. A caution will be automatically added during the review process if you are qualified. Serious crimes are exempt from warnings.
Nominate the Person Responsible
If you were not the driver or the person accountable for the offence but you received a fine (fine notice, fine reminder notice, or overdue fine), you can transfer the fine by designating the responsible party.
You are required by law to name the individual guilty for some offences, such as camera-detected offences and parking in a school zone, which will result in demerit points being added to a driver’s licence. Even if you were the driver at the time, you should still identify the individual accountable for offences like littering from a moving car.
Moreover, an authorised representative from your firm must name the driver or person accountable if the fine is in your company’s name.
View Images of the Offence
To view images of the offence, you need your:
- Fine number
- Date of the offence
- Proof of identity
Apply to Go to Court
You can ask for a court hearing and decision if you’ve received a fine (fine notice, fine reminder notice, or overdue fine).
Apply before the deadline specified on your fine reminder notification. You have 90 days from the date the fine was issued to appear in court if you paid your fine before it became past due.
However, before you resort to this remedy, you should consider:
- Requesting a review or
- Nominating the person responsible for the offence.
How to Pay NSW Parking Fine?
There are several ways to pay your NSW parking fine:
- You can pay through Revenue NSW website. Click here to view the website.
- For overdue fines, you can pay through this portal.
- You can BPAY through your bank or financial institution.
- Call 1300 130 112 to pay securely by credit card (MasterCard or Visa payments).
- You can pay at any Australia Post Office or Service NSW Service Centre.
- You can send a cheque or money order payable to the Chief Commissioner of State Revenue through mail.
Contact a Traffic Offence Lawyer in the City of Sydney
If you have received a parking fine in NSW, you may be considering hiring a traffic offence lawyer to help you contest the fine. Here are some of the services that JB Solicitors can provide for NSW parking fine issues:
- Review the fine to see if it was issued correctly. We can also help you understand the reasons for the fine and the options available to you.
- Negotiate with the NSW government on your behalf to try to get the fine reduced or waived.
- Represent you in a local court and argue for a favourable outcome.
Contact us today.
