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Fine time for fed-up drivers

22 Sep, 2008 03:52 PM
VINCE Monteleone received a $189 fine when he parked in a no-stopping area in the Coreen Avenue car park at Penrith railway station two weeks ago.

Now he is inviting others to set up an action group to examine the parking situation in Penrith.

Meanwhile, Penrith's mayor Greg Davies sent a letter to NSW Police Minister Tony Kelly last week asking him to waive the fines imposed on commuters at the station car park on September 11.

Mr Monteleone said on Friday if that was unsuccessful, he would seek the help of former NSW attorney-general and supreme court judge Jeff Shaw, or any other lawyer who would consider pro bono work.

Two others are joining Mr Monteleone in fighting their fines.

Penrith local area commander Superintendent Ben Feszczuk will meet Mr Davies today at the station to ``review what's there''. He said police patrolled the station to prevent crime, and issuing the infringement notices was not a ``revenue raising exercise''.

``You can't have it both ways,'' Mr Feszczuk said. ``We can't be selective in what we enforce.''

He said he could see the rationale for erecting the signs given the narrow road leading into the car park

but Mr Davies has asked Mr Kelly to reconsider the fines, issuing warnings instead.

``A few months ago council formalised part of the car park with line marking and signage, resulting in more parking spots. Council will not mark and signpost the remainder of the car park until it can get a clearer understanding of the imminent sale of the nearby Federal Government land.''

``A report will soon go to council on parking options after the sale,'' he said.

The council received a commitment from the Federal Government that when the sale of the Defence Department land went through, the owner would be obliged to provide a 1000-space car park.

But NSW Minister for Transport David Campbell said Penrith station was not earmarked for extra parking spots.

A council spokesman said the council ``constantly reviewed'' timed parking in the Penrith CBD to make sure they were getting the right balance. He said timed parking kept traffic flowing in the right places.

To join Mr Monteleone in forming an action group, call 0403857515.

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I parked in Hargrave St near Nepean Hospital and received an $84 fine. I parked in front of what use to be houses but is now a vacant block with cyclone fencing along the front and no construction work underway. Because it was not a marked bay (even though circumstances have changed since bays were marked), i received a fine for 'not parking wholly within parking bay'. It was a reasonable place to park and meant i did not have to walk streets away on my own when i finished my shift at 9:30pm in the dark (i am a nursing student working afternoon shift at the hospital and i do not get paid for my 8.5hrs work). As a student i work two days per fortnight and therefore couldnt afford to pay up to $50 to park on hospital grounds, not to mention pay what i believe is an unreasonable fine. I would never have parked there if i thought it would be considered illegal because i cant afford fines. Besides all that, i didnt even see a sign that said i must park wholly within a bay. What should i do?
Posted by Rie, 2/09/2009 8:30:38 AM, on Penrith Star

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