NSW Ticket Parking: potentially massive number of invalid fines

Depends on the sign. If it was one of these referred to on this page, you're out of luck: Free 15-minute parking trial - City of Sydney

Otherwise, it would tend to indicate you're in the right. See 6.0 of this document: http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/business-.../documents/technical-manuals/payparkingv4.pdf

 

Does that mean street sign can supersede legislation? You would think they would update the legislation accordingly? Or did they already?

 

Odds are there is some provision somewhere that covers the situation.

 

Ok, then would they would have to specify that provision on the ticket? Or at least in the rejection letter?

 

As I understand/read it, 207-3(6)(b) relates only to an exception (from receiving a fine) if the driver does not park in the bay for longer than the “free parking” period allows...i.e. it says nothing about there being any exemptions to actually having to display a valid ticket, if signage states...whether it be a free parking ticket or a paid one?

207-3(1) indicates a ticket must be displayed, 207-3(3) provides a “grace” period before a ticket needs to be displayed, 207-3(6) ensures a fine is not issued erroneously (if a vehicle is not parked for a period exceeding that of any “grace period” per the signage (if any).

Having said that...here’s a couple of interesting news article...

Parking Fine Error
Parking Fines are about to get cheaper for NSW drivers

 

@Nonfiction : Not quite. 207-3 is a parking 'rule'. 207-3(1) states you can't park unless a current parking ticket is displayed. 207-3(6) provides:

"A driver who parks in a ticket parking area does not contravene this rule if: ... (b) the driver parks for a period not exceeding the period (if any) for which no fee is payable for parking in the area..."

The rule is about the requirement to display a parking ticket. Subsection (6) says that the rule is not contravened in certain cases. Therefore it is an exemption from having to display a parking ticket.

 

@Clancy : Probably. But how many times do they just plain get it wrong? Part of the reason why 'minor' errors on tickets don't invalidate them.

 

I understand what you are saying but the rule says not exceeding (“if any”) ...”any” can easily be open to interpretation...if signage states otherwise and is clear.

On principle I would say go for it...but could end up costing you more than the fine itself