Our favourite people, parking inspectors, have just been given more power to make our lives miserable. As well as a hefty fine, some parking violations will now come with demerit points, so be careful where you park in NSW. Here’s everything you need to know about the new demerit point laws.
Thankfully it isn’t every parking violation that will now include a handful of demerit points, otherwise half of Sydney would lose its license. The new punishments instead focus on infractions that have the potential to cause a road hazard or obstruct traffic.
While parking inspectors could always hand out fines for parking infractions, they now have the ability to give up to 2 demerit points for bad parking jobs. Here are the violations that will incur demerits from now on:
- Stop in intersection: $337 fine and 2 demerit points
- Rule 170 (2) Stop within 20m of intersection (traffic lights): $337 fine and 2 demerit points
- Rule 170 (3) Stop within 10 m of intersection (no traffic lights): $337 fine and 2 demerit points
- Rule 171 (1) Stop on/near children’s crossing: $337 fine and 2 demerit points
- Rule 172 (1) Stop on/near pedestrian crossing: $337 fine and 2 demerit points
- Rule 173 (1) Stop on/near marked foot crossing: $337 fine and 2 demerit points
- Rule 174 (2) Stop near bicycle crossing lights: $337 fine and 2 demerit points
- Rule 175 (1) Stop on/near level crossing: $337 fine and 1 demerit points
- Stop in parking area for disabled: $561 fine and 1 demerit points
- Stand vehicle in disabled persons parking space without authority: $561 fine and 1 demerit points
The changes were actually introduced from July this year, but until now it was up to the parking inspectors’ discretion to hand out demerits. Now, demerits are coming whether you like it or not.
Predictably Aussies have taken to social media to complain, but also parking on pedestrian crossings and in disabled parking spots is kind of a dick move even without the demerit points. So next time you need to park in a hurry – be careful!
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