Common parking practice thousands of Australians do every day without knowing it could cost them a $275 fine
- Sydney driver has issued a warning to other motorists after copping a $275 fine
- He pulled over next to parked cars in a parking lot while waiting for a free bay
- The man shared photos of his fine and car position in a local Facebook group
- Another driver reported getting hit with the same penalty twice within minutes
Unsuspecting motorists are copping hundreds of dollars in fines over a common parking practice few know is illegal.
A Sydney driver vented on a local Facebook group after he was slapped with a $275 ticket for waiting in a Cronulla carpark for an empty spot.
While standing by as a car left, he pulled over to the left of the road, in front of vehicles parked in allocated bays, to allow traffic to pass by.
A Sydney driver has issued a warning to other motorists after copping a $275 fine (pictured) for pulling over in front of parked cars
The man shared a photo of his parking ticket, which listed the offence as ‘double park’
But he was spotted by a parking ranger who issued him a ticket for illegally ‘double parking’ – even though he was still in the car with the ignition on.
Many were shocked to discover the little-known parking rule could see them hit with a hefty penalty.
One commenter, who was also from the Sutherland Shire, said he got stung twice by parking inspectors in the same area.
‘I got two [fines] within four minutes of each other,’ he said.
‘They watched me pick up a passenger (less then five seconds) and they even waited for me to leave then proceeded to follow me 2km down the road… got me again dropping them off (again stopped for five seconds).’
In NSW, it is illegal to stop your vehicle – regardless of whether you are inside – on or across a driveway.
Another motorist said he was stung twice within minutes after his car (pictured) was followed by a parking ranger
He said the parking inspector handed him a penalty both for picking up and dropping off a passenger
The only exception applies to dropping off or picking up passenger, under which circumstances the driver can only pause for two minutes.
Drivers are also banned from stopping within one metre of another parked vehicle, both in front or behind, or within three metres of any double centred lines.
It is also against the law to stop 20m before or 10m after bus stops and pedestrian crossing, 10m before or after a safety zone, or within three metres of an Australia Post letter box (unless dropping off or picking up passengers or mail).