- Woman slapped with $242 parking fine while she says she was asking advice from a Burwood ranger
- By LISA HERBERTSON
- 28/07/2015 Make a Comment (1)
- Contributed by: Robbo ( 1 article in 2015 )
Marian Tonkin says she has been
A WOMAN who says she asked a council ranger for help has been slapped with a $242 parking infringement notice and refused any leniency by Burwood Council.
“I feel a grave injustice has taken place and that the council has acted totally inappropriately and inhumanely with a solid focus on revenue raising,” Marian Tonkin said.
“I was taking my elderly and disabled mother, who at the time was experiencing a significant level of pain, to her doctor’s on Burwood Rd.
“I could not park anywhere in front of the medical practice.
“I drove around looking for somewhere close and safe to drop her off — the medical centre staff were waiting to assist as she cannot walk by herself.”
Ms Tonkin said on April 16, at 1.56pm, she turned on to John St, a lane which runs behind Burwood Rd Medical Centre, hoping to drop her mother off at the back entrance.
Ms Tonkin said she saw a council ranger, so pulled off the road in front of a closed secure car park at 16-24 John St.
“There was a car in the space, so I pulled into a driveway, noticed a parking officer on the corner and called for his assistance or advice.
“He took a photo of my car and, on asking what he was doing, he informed me that he was booking me for stopping in a no stopping zone.
“I pointed out that I was in a driveway and was asking for help and he could see my elderly mother and her distressed state.”
Ms Tonkin said the ranger told her to “go and park properly”.
“I pleaded with him further but his attitude and advice remained the same,” she said.
“I later found a 15 minute park(ing) space and with great difficulty and distress and potential danger to my mother I managed to get her to her doctor. The doctor was very angry about the situation and wrote a note to council.”
A Burwood Council spokesman said the council was aware of Ms Tonkin’s complaint and had spoken with her about it on numerous occasions.
“Parking in no stopping areas is one of the most serious parking offences, as no stopping areas are created where parking could compromise vehicular and pedestrian safety,” the spokesman said.
Ms Tonkin said she immediately contacted the council to explain the situation, where an officer told her there was nothing they could do, as it was out of the council’s hands.
“I wrote to the State Debt Recovery Office who upheld the fine,” she said.
The council spokesman said: “The driver admits that her mother has attended the medical premises for many years, so she would be aware of access points and parking restrictions to the area. Enforcement of parking restrictions follow the provisions of Council’s Parking Strategy, aimed at ensuring parking and vehicular movements in the area are safe and smooth.”
Ms Tonkin said she reluctantly paid the fine and was upset that this infringement was the first she had ever received.
Ms Tonkin said she thought that Burwood Council should look at making allowances and consider providing reasonable access for patients to medical facilities in the suburb’s centre.
“There was a suggestion that (my mum) should go to a new doctor/medical practice — but why should she? She has been attending the practice for many years and her doctor has detailed information about her conditions and past history,” Ms Tonkin said.
Ms Tonkin received a letter from the Office of Revenue about the fine.
“We considered the circumstances you presented,” it read.
“We also consulted the Caution/Review Guidelines, legislation and information provided by the issuing authority.
“Our investigations conclude the penalty still applies. We acknowledge your comments indicating due to you mother’s mobility you stopped to allow her to enter the medical centre, however we are unable to cancel the penalty based on these circumstances.
“No stopping zones are often in areas where it is unsafe for vehicles to stop or park, such as where they may cause a hazard to other vehicles or pedestrians.
“It is important to keep these areas clear to ensure the safety of road users’.”
In the 2014-2015 financial year, Burwood Council:
■ Issued 24,031 parking offence notices.
■ Brought in $3,250,542 in revenue from parking offences.
■ Issued the 15th highest number of penalty notices.
■ Was the 15th highest revenue raising council from penalty notices.
“I feel a grave injustice has taken place and that the council has acted totally inappropriately and inhumanely with a solid focus on revenue raising,” Marian Tonkin said.
“I was taking my elderly and disabled mother, who at the time was experiencing a significant level of pain, to her doctor’s on Burwood Rd.
“I could not park anywhere in front of the medical practice.
“I drove around looking for somewhere close and safe to drop her off — the medical centre staff were waiting to assist as she cannot walk by herself.”
Ms Tonkin said on April 16, at 1.56pm, she turned on to John St, a lane which runs behind Burwood Rd Medical Centre, hoping to drop her mother off at the back entrance.
Ms Tonkin said she saw a council ranger, so pulled off the road in front of a closed secure car park at 16-24 John St.
“There was a car in the space, so I pulled into a driveway, noticed a parking officer on the corner and called for his assistance or advice.
“He took a photo of my car and, on asking what he was doing, he informed me that he was booking me for stopping in a no stopping zone.
“I pointed out that I was in a driveway and was asking for help and he could see my elderly mother and her distressed state.”
Ms Tonkin said the ranger told her to “go and park properly”.
“I pleaded with him further but his attitude and advice remained the same,” she said.
“I later found a 15 minute park(ing) space and with great difficulty and distress and potential danger to my mother I managed to get her to her doctor. The doctor was very angry about the situation and wrote a note to council.”
A Burwood Council spokesman said the council was aware of Ms Tonkin’s complaint and had spoken with her about it on numerous occasions.
“Parking in no stopping areas is one of the most serious parking offences, as no stopping areas are created where parking could compromise vehicular and pedestrian safety,” the spokesman said.
Ms Tonkin said she immediately contacted the council to explain the situation, where an officer told her there was nothing they could do, as it was out of the council’s hands.
“I wrote to the State Debt Recovery Office who upheld the fine,” she said.
The council spokesman said: “The driver admits that her mother has attended the medical premises for many years, so she would be aware of access points and parking restrictions to the area. Enforcement of parking restrictions follow the provisions of Council’s Parking Strategy, aimed at ensuring parking and vehicular movements in the area are safe and smooth.”
Ms Tonkin said she reluctantly paid the fine and was upset that this infringement was the first she had ever received.
Ms Tonkin said she thought that Burwood Council should look at making allowances and consider providing reasonable access for patients to medical facilities in the suburb’s centre.
“There was a suggestion that (my mum) should go to a new doctor/medical practice — but why should she? She has been attending the practice for many years and her doctor has detailed information about her conditions and past history,” Ms Tonkin said.
Ms Tonkin received a letter from the Office of Revenue about the fine.
“We considered the circumstances you presented,” it read.
“We also consulted the Caution/Review Guidelines, legislation and information provided by the issuing authority.
“Our investigations conclude the penalty still applies. We acknowledge your comments indicating due to you mother’s mobility you stopped to allow her to enter the medical centre, however we are unable to cancel the penalty based on these circumstances.
“No stopping zones are often in areas where it is unsafe for vehicles to stop or park, such as where they may cause a hazard to other vehicles or pedestrians.
“It is important to keep these areas clear to ensure the safety of road users’.”
STATISTICS
In the 2014-2015 financial year, Burwood Council:
■ Issued 24,031 parking offence notices.
■ Brought in $3,250,542 in revenue from parking offences.
■ Issued the 15th highest number of penalty notices.
■ Was the 15th highest revenue raising council from penalty notices.
Source: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/inner-west/woman-slapped-with-242-parking-fine-while-she-says-she-was-asking-advice-from-a-burwood-ranger/story-fngr8h4f-1227458613105
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