WHAT’S WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE
Chef challenges parking fine over dodgy bus zone
GARETH Keenan is fighting the Gold Coast City Council to overturn a $189 fine he received for parking his car in Broadbeach during the Commonwealth Games last month.
Council officers slugged 950 motorists in the two weeks of the city’s biggest-ever event, many for the same offence that stung Mr Keenan. The Gold Coast chef took this photo after finding the ticket on his windscreen. He says he is still gobsmacked at the reason why.
A GOLD Coast chef is fighting the council to have a $189 fine quashed for parking in a temporary bus zone during the Commonwealth Games.
Gareth Keenan was one of 950 motorists fined for parking in bus zones during the city’s biggest-ever event.
In the same two-week period last year, when normal bus zones with in operation, 85 fines were issued.
Mr Keenan said dozens of motorists were stung on Old Burleigh Rd near Bruce Fox Oval on April 8.
Mr Keenan said he saw no indication that the space was a temporary bus zone and neither had the row of cars that lined the street – all of which had been ticketed.
He said the only signage at the space, usually reserved for car parks, read:
“No Stopping tow away zone 14 April (6:00pm to 11:59pm) 15 April (12:00am to 1:00pm)” “There was a sign next to us warning us about April 14-15. If you parked here your car would be towed due to a marathon,” Mr Keenan said.
“We knew this didn’t apply to us because it was only the 8th. We had parked there before the Games and had no trouble.”
When the ticket was issued, Mr Keenan said the lined car parks had not been painted over. “Boxes were painted on the ground, and none of the signs said anything.
“It was only after further investigation, we found all the way at the end of the street there was a small red sign saying bus zone,” Mr Keenan said.
“I could not see this when I parked and it is blatantly obvious that neither did the 20 other cars or they would not have parked there,” he said.
A Gold Coast City Council spokesperson said the bus zone signage was in place and “enforceable for the duration of the Games”.
“The corflute sign (above) is not a regulatory sign. It is a road closure advisory sign that was erected for the marathon.
“This sign has no relevance to the operation or enforceability of the bus zone.”