Driver fined $132 for parking in his own driveway gets surprise response: 'About time'

Street parking nowadays has become a real problem with it getting harder and harder to find a spot in some built-up Aussie suburbs. An easy solution some might say is to park in your driveway, but even then you could be facing hefty fines.

One man found out the hard way when he copped a $132 fine for parking outside his Canberra home. Photos show the Nissan Patrol Warrior tucked in nicely behind another vehicle in their driveway — but there's a glaring issue.

The back of the vehicle hangs over the boundary line, ultimately "blocking the footpath". This part of the driveway is public property and does not belong to the residents, therefore making the park illegal.

Seemingly unaware of the parking rule, the man, who lives in Conder, criticised the ACT Government after copping the fine detailing his offence which was "stopping on a path/strip in a built-up area".

"Is the ACT Government really that hard up for money that they are trying to fine people $132 for parking in their own driveway for 'blocking the path'," he raged on social media. But the response he got was rather divided.

Aussies conflicted on parking rule

While some agreed it was simply "revenue raising", dubbing the fine "unfair", others agreed he had every right to be fined.

"Pretty entitled to assume that the path isn’t required by other users. Fine should be doubled," one person said. "Some ACT people just whinge and whinge. Don’t park illegally, inconveniencing other people, and you won’t get fined. Simple."

"It's about time. What about the walkers, especially those with prams or even those people who use a wheelchair. Have some consideration. The paths are there for pedestrians, not cars" another said.

But some remain torn with one admitting, "I get the reason for the fine but your car seems far enough in that someone could barely cross the edge and go across your driveway still.

"Obstructing sure but not blocking it," they added.

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Illegal parking move incurs hefty fines across the country

While it might come as a shock to some, the same rule applies across the country. The rule applies to parking in your driveway obstructing the footpath, or simply parking on the road with part of the vehicle blocking the driveway. The front section of the driveway is considered to be council land.

In Queensland, offenders can be fined up to $200. In Victoria, those found obstructing access to pathways will be issued with a fine of $109. While in Western Australia and Tasmania fines are less than $100.

And while the infringement amount may vary between councils, in NSW the fine can reach up to $302.

"Drivers may only stop or park across a driveway if they are dropping off or picking up passengers, do not leave the vehicle unattended (or) complete the dropping off or picking up and resume driving within two minutes of stopping," a Transport NSW spokesperson previously told Yahoo News Australia

Drivers are instead encouraged to park in their garage or on the street.

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