The NSW Government has announced plans to ban ticketless parking fines, where rangers can issue fines without a printed ticket.
Under the draft legislation, rangers would be required to attach an immediate, printed ticket on the vehicle.
The Government says this would enhance transparency and provide drivers with a clearer opportunity to contest their fine if they have a valid reason.
The change addresses years of complaints from drivers who argue they only became aware of parking fines when it was too late to contest them.
Background
The former NSW Coalition Government first introduced ticketless parking fines in May 2020.
This system means drivers in some councils don’t receive physical infringement notices on their cars.
Instead, council rangers send details of the fine and car registration to the state’s tax collector.
Then, a penalty notice is mailed to the driver, or issued via the Service NSW app.
Last year, councils across NSW issued over 820,000 ticketless parking fines, up 49% from 2022.
Opponents of the measure have argued ticketless fines make it harder for drivers to challenge a fine.
With no immediate indication of the ticket, a fine recipient may have driven away before taking a photo or noting any details needed to dispute an infringement.
NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos said that while no one “likes” receiving a fine, “the idea you only find out about [it] weeks later doesn’t pass the common sense test.”
Reforms
The NSW Government is planning on introducing new requirements for council rangers to attach an “on-the-spot notification” to a vehicle.
This could take the form of the fine itself, or a short description of the infringement with a notice that the driver will soon be sent a fine.
Rangers will also need to take photos of the offence as proof.
Under the proposed legislation, drivers can’t be fined multiple times for the same offence before they are made aware of the first infringement.
The changes will not apply to police officers issuing fines.
The NSW Labor Party holds a minority Government, meaning it will need the support of independents in both houses of Parliament to pass the bill.
Criticism
Peak body Local Government NSW (LGNSW) criticised the State Government for a “lack of detailed consultation” over the proposal.
LGNSW President Darriea Turley said, “one of the main reasons” many councils introduced ticketless fines was to reduce “verbal and physical abuse” against rangers.
TDA reached out to the Opposition for comment but did not receive a response at the time of posting.
