'Sneaky' parking officer emerges from behind tree to secretly fine driver

A dad who was issued a $200 fine while watching his son’s football game has taken aim at the parking officer’s apparently underhanded approach.

Dashcam footage from Michael Pape’s car shows the Blackburn dad arrive at Victoria Park on Sunday, June 25.

Unable to find a parking spot inside the busy sportsground, he decided to park under a tree, unaware he was doing so illegally.

With his kids talking in the background, the young dad can be heard hopping out of the car.

But what the Dashcam captured moments later had Mr Pape scratching his head.

A parking officer can be seen emerging from behind a tree and taking note of his number plate.

“I couldn’t work out what had happened, there’s no signage and there was no one around, so I thought,” he told News Corp.

“So I checked the dashboard cam on my car and as soon as I’d left the car a man dressed in black and carrying a notebook stepped out from behind a tree.

“I knew it happened at that time because the fine said I was illegally parked at 9.21am.”

Not disputing he was parked illegally, Mr Pape said he was more disappointed that the parking officer didn’t approach him and tell him to move his car.

“He obviously saw me get out of the car, so he should have approached me and handed me the infringement notice, or if he knew I was illegally parked, asked me to move the car,” Mr Pape said.

“Perhaps if he had have approached me, though, he would have missed the opportunity to fine the next sucker.”

Mr Pape said he would not challenge the fine.

Boroondara acting director of city planning Fiona Banks said the surprise method was “often used at events to minimise potential conflicts”.

Boroondara Council last year reaped in $10.3 million in parking fines.