Parking infringement
 

Is anybody got a parking ticket before while travelling in Australia? I got one recently in a trip to Melbourne. And the ticket is for the rented car.

My friend told me I do not need to pay, is that alright?

I've received many parking tickets while travelling in Australia - but then, I'm Australian.

The answer is no, it's not all right, or even right. You should end up wearing it anyway - the rental car company will debit it to your credit card. Do the crime, do the time.

I'm always amazed when this question comes up - why wouldn't you pay a ticket you earned? You'd pay a parking ticket in your own country, right? So why would you even consider not paying one you got during your travels?

I think the point to remember about this is that Australian law says that the driver of the car is responsible for the fine, but, in the case of an overseas visitor who has "flown the coop", the government (bless its mercenary little heart) is quite willing to accept the fine from the rental company rather than go to all the trouble of chasing you up on the other side of the world. Somebody has to pay, and it doesn't seem quite right for you to saddle the rental company with the results of your folly, does it? For that reason, I am surprised at the advice you received from your friend -- from what ethical standpoint is he talking? Remind me not to lend him my car when he visits Australia next!

Now, this next point is only hearsay -- in fact, I learned it from this forum about a year ago when the subject came up (might be worthwhile doing a search above) -- but, if it is true, you might wish to take this into account when making your decision: the previous post mentioned that while the Australian government won't and can't chase you up in your own country, it will record your default and keep it on file with the Immigration and Tourism people. Next time you decide to visit us, and apply for a visa, you may well find that your old sin will come back to haunt you. Remember, paying a duly-earned fine is the LAW.

You should pay the ticket, as you were the one that parked illegally. If you don't pay within the allotted time the fine plus any late penalties will be assessed against the car rental company. Under your rental contract the rental companyy will, in turn, charge your credit for the fine, the late penalties and more than likely a processing fee. The point is you are responsible and you will either "pay them now or pay them later".

We got a fine in Ballarat for parking outside the visitor centre ( nice hi, welcome) We did not even notice it until the next day crammed down so far the engine almost ate it. We thought maybe someone else may have put their fine on our car as it held no vehicle rego or any information to suggest it belonged to us.

So I ignored because how can you get fined parking under a huge "P" sign?

Anyways we were talking to someone that told us that street is all meter parking but that fact was not noticeable being first timers when trying to find the visitor centre in town and apparently the meter is like a ticket machine for 10 cars so not like the old ones you actually see.

I think it is foul and so typical of recent government fund raising methods that I refuse point blank to ever step foot in Ballarat again .

Besides all Ballarat has in some nice old buildings, drive around for 10 minutes and you have seen all it has, no need to park then leave town!

As mentioned above, rental agencies will debit you if they receive a fine that was charged to your car when you were driving it. We got a parking ticket in Sydney (YOU try finding a long-term parking space in The Rocks!), and that's what happened to us.

tassietwister, they've recently stuck those sneaky little ticket machines around parts of Cairns too, so beware. Just a small, easy to miss blue sign, I've been caught twice already in areas which were previously meterless.

I'm now pretty sure this was a troll post, but it's been a useful discussion anyway.

Pat

Thanks for that tip as we are back again in September and no doubt we would have been oblivious. I find there are so many signs you filter out so many and miss the fine print. Yes reading road signs these days is like reading through a 20 page contract lol And they reckon talking on a mobile is dangerous whilst driving !

Okay, I am just about past the point of driving into Sydney any more, so I guess I can share my little secret with this forum.... a few posts above, someone mentioned "just try to find a long-term park in the Rocks". Well, I know one, and it's a treasure. There's a dead-end street with a "no entry" sign at the end down the back of the Rocks called "Pottinger Street" (practically under the bridge). It has no meters, and the signs that say "4-hour limit" are routinely ignored by the handful of people who know about it; it doean't seem to ever be policed, so no one gets a ticket. You can ignore the "no entry" sign, which has been there for years for no apparent reason. There's only room for about thirty cars, but every time I wlak down that way there are several vacant spaces. Just up the road, in Kent St, people are paying $15 for a day's park.

Wonder if Cinnamon paid his/her fine?