Mon. Dec 23rd, 2024
alert-–-gold-coast-mum-fined-$200-for-parking-in-her-own-driveway-–-how-a-little-known-road-rule-has-left-aussies-outragedAlert – Gold Coast mum fined $200 for parking in her own driveway – how a little-known road rule has left Aussies outraged

A Gold Coast mum was fined $193 for blocking access to her own driveway.

Megan Pass copped the fine earlier this month for allegedly obstructing the council-owned strip in front of her Pimpama home on Coomera Heights Dr, in the city’s north.

‘This doesn’t make sense,’ she told 7News.

Rangers alleged Ms Pass’s car blocked other vehicles from accessing council land – even though she has parked the same way in her driveway for seven years without issue. 

‘I’m not parking across a footpath … that I would’ve understood,’ she said.

Gold Coast mum was fined $193 for blocking council access to her own driveway earlier this year (pictured, the photo submitted with ms Pass' fine)

Gold Coast mum was fined $193 for blocking council access to her own driveway earlier this year (pictured, the photo submitted with ms Pass’ fine)

Ms Pass (pictured with her car) has lived in her home for seven years and said she's always parked similarly on her driveway without issue

Ms Pass (pictured with her car) has lived in her home for seven years and said she’s always parked similarly on her driveway without issue

However, city mayor Tom Tate defended the fine and recommended Ms Pass ‘park in the street or inside the house’.

‘It’s a safety issue … that’s why they’ve issued it, and it’s part of the local law,’ he said. 

Local legislation prohibits drivers from blocking access to paths or driveways, including their own.

The council website explains a resident’s driveway ends at their boundary line, the rest of the driveway is considered a ‘vehicle crossing’, which is owned by council.

‘You must not stop for more than two minutes across a driveway or across any other access for vehicles,’ the council website states. 

The explanation did little to satisfy annoyed netizens who accused the council of ‘revenue raising’. 

Ms Pass is planning to fight the fine (above) but city mayor Tom Tate insisted her parking was 'a safety issue' and recommended she 'park in the street or inside the house'

Ms Pass is planning to fight the fine (above) but city mayor Tom Tate insisted her parking was ‘a safety issue’ and recommended she ‘park in the street or inside the house’

The council website explains a resident's driveway ends at their boundary line, the rest of the driveway is considered a 'vehicle crossing' (above)

The council website explains a resident’s driveway ends at their boundary line, the rest of the driveway is considered a ‘vehicle crossing’ (above)

‘What a joke – revenue raising at its best,’ one user wrote on X.

‘Yip I got one of those fines lol. Just paid it. Don’t have time spare to go court to be told… you broke the law… pay the fine,’ another said.

‘Will the mayor mow the footpath once a week and water it? That bloke’s a goose,’ one wrote.

Ms Pass said she plans to fight the fine.

READ MORE: Hundreds take to popular Gold Coast swimming hole to beat the searing heat despite major sewage spill

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