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Sellers cop parking fines

Australian Road Rules clearly stated cars must be parked parallel to the kerb and facing the direction of traffic.

Central Coast motorists had best brush up on their road rules or face fines for illegal parking.

That is the clear message from Wyong Council after 35 infringements were issued on January 8 to the owners of cars for sale illegally parked along the Central Coast Highway at Bateau Bay.

Outraged motorists have accused the council of a "cash grab", but senior ranger Ben Rosen said the incident was part of the council's regular parking patrols throughout the LGA.

"The fact is we have had complaints about cars illegally parked in this area in the past and we have issued warning notices several times over the past couple of years," Mr Rosen said.
"But different cars are parked there at various times.

Several car owners are incensed at receiving $104 fines for parking their cars in a way they did not know was illegal.

"We regularly conduct patrols in a variety of areas including school zones, town centres and known problem spots." Mr Rosen said it was not illegal to display cars for sale on the side of the road, but Australian Road Rules clearly stated cars must be parked parallel to the kerb and facing the direction in which the traffic is flowing unless signposts indicate otherwise.

"Any holder of a drivers licence should be aware of the road rules," he said. 'It is a reasonable expectation that licensed drivers would have knowledge of these and we are not obliged to put signage up to reinforce the rules." Cars which attracted the fines last week were parked across the grass verge at a 90 degree angle to the kerb.

"Parking that way can create a hazard to cyclists and pedestrians," Mr Rosen said. "Several vehicles were jutting out over the cycleway."

Why are there no signs: angry owners

Several car owners are incensed at receiving $104 fines for parking their cars in a way they did not know was illegal.

Kylie Moir, of Bateau Bay, had been parking her car in the same spot for about a week, alongside a lot of other cars. "I have lived on the coast most of my life and cars for sale have been parked that way at that spot for years," Mrs Moir said.

"My mum has sold three cars there over the years with never a warning. "I couldn't believe it when I saw the infringement." Husband Eric Moir said it inflamed him when people blatantly flouted parking laws but he felt this was a little known rule.

"I feel the council waited until after Christmas when everyone was moneyed out," Mr Moir said. "If they want community respect surely they could have put a warning note on the cars." Mick Tattam, of Bateau Bay, was also stung.

"These areas have been used safely for many years, using angle parking," Mr Tattam said.

"There is no signage erected in this area to indicate what the regulations are. "Common sense would indicate that the vehicles are parked well off the road and the bicycle lane.'There is ample space for buyers to pull well off the road without causing any risk to road safety."