No stopping zone cause for 'unjust and unfair' fines says Marian parents

They say, the fines are "unjust, unfair and a means of generating extra revenue to line councils pockets".

According to the parents who reached out to The Area News, they pull to the side of the road and move forward in a line as they wait to turn right into the school carpark to pick their children up to reduce congestion on MacArthur street during what is a peak traffic time.

However, while the cars are not parked, but rather backed up in traffic waiting to turn into the school, these cars are being fined for stopping in the no stopping zone.

Simote Tuitavake is one of countless Marian parents who has received a hefty fine while waiting to pick his daughter up from school.

"When you are trying to turn into the school carpark and pick the children up, you could stay in the line and block traffic, but parents are being courteous and pulling over to the side to line up and slowly move forward to turn into the carpark," Mr Tuitavake said.

"No one is stopping and parking their cars, we are all idling and moving forward inch by inch."

According to Mr Tuitavake, the fines and signs were "ridiculous".

"I am angry because these signs are ridiculous, this is a high traffic area and I fail to understand how parents are stopping illegally in this no stopping zone when we are backed up in traffic and waiting to turn onto school grounds," Mr Tuitavake said.

READ MORE

There are also allegations council rangers have been spotted on multiple occasions taking photos of this parking debacle on mobile devices while driving.

When The Area News reached out to Griffith City Council for comment, council didn't acknowledge the parents who had received fines in the no stopping zone had not actually stopped their vehicles.

"In the interests of public safety Council Parking Contractors enforce traffic road rules in and around school zones," council's director of sustainable development Phil Harding said.

"In particular vehicles stopping in a no stopping zone are not adhering to traffic rules.

"Vehicles blocked by a vehicle in front from entering a driveway should assess if oncoming vehicles present a danger and if not should safely continue in a forward direction."

Mr Tuitavake felt the issue was more about revenue raising rather than safety.

"This has been going on for many years, all they care about is revenue, rangers just linger about," Mr Tuitavake said.

"We want this signage changed to turning only, council should be more than willing to help their community instead of trying to tear us down."

If you have received what you believe to be an unjust parking fine, banked up in traffic as you have waited to turn right into the Marian Catholic College carpark on MacArthur street please contact lizzie.gracie@austcommunitymedia.com.au.

More to come.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: