A driver in Sydney experienced a surprise when he returned to his vehicle after work to find it had been ticketed. Unbeknownst to him, new parking signs prohibiting all-day parking had been erected while he was away, leading to fines being issued to his car and several others.
The unnamed driver recounted to 9news.com.au that he felt targeted by the council, describing the situation as a “money grab.” He had parked his car at 7 am and returned later at 3:19 pm to discover the $140 fine, which was issued because his vehicle was now parked in a two-hour zone on Huntley Street in Alexandria. He expressed frustration, noting that he had parked in the same spot for seven years without any issues.
Compounding the driver’s distress, other motorists also received fines, with reports of one young worker visibly upset. He took to social media to share his experience, highlighting that there had been no signage warning of the new restrictions when he initially parked, and the morning’s rain further prevented visibility of any potential changes.
The driver even had photographic proof that the signs had not been present earlier, as he observed fresh installations on the opposite side of the road upon returning. After 9news.com.au reached out to the parking authority, they confirmed that all tickets issued due to this miscommunication would be rescinded. A representative from the City of Sydney acknowledged the error, stating that the ticket was mistakenly issued due to delays in the sign installation process.
The spokeswoman clarified that affected motorists could request a review through Revenue NSW if they believed a fine was issued in error.