It’s an issue that has in the past bitterly divided Australians, and now, one major council on the east coast has vowed to take drastic action to stop cars from parking over driveways. While some argue that homeowners should be allowed to park across their own driveways, others warn that such allowances could make it harder to enforce penalties against drivers who block access illegally.
Under road rules across much of Australia, it is illegal to stop or park across any part of a driveway — even your own — as it is considered to obstruct public access. Driveways are considered part of the road reserve, and in most cases, councils and transport authorities have the power to issue fines to vehicles parked in breach of the rules.
In Sydney this week, the Inner West Council said it had received an incredible 4,393 complaints concerning the contentious act in just a year. In response, it will now order tow trucks to remove vehicles obstructing driveways and will raise fines for offending drivers from $320 to $660.
Yahoo News Australia has reported previously on the controversy, with several incidents occurring in just the last few months alone. A tradie in January challenged a $320 fine he received for parking across his driveway while opening the gate to drive in. Speaking to Yahoo News, Mark branded the fine “unfair”.
A driver was branded ‘arrogant’ for blocking a public footpath while parking on their Sydney driveway. Source: Reddit
Contenious parking act under the spotlight in NSW
While some residents see briefly stopping across their own driveway as harmless, the law is designed to ensure safe and fair use of public pathways.
This technicality is part of what fuels the controversy, with many believing that common sense should override the rule in cases where a driver is clearly using their own driveway. Others argue that allowing exemptions would open the door to confusion and make enforcement of genuine offences more difficult.
In December, debate was sparked after another vehicle was snapped over a driveway in Sydney’s east.
In June, a Lake Macquarie couple told Yahoo how they believed they were “screwed over” by their council, after copping a $362 parking fine for parking across their driveway — despite doing the same thing for the past 12 years.
Back in June, a Canberra man copped a $132 fine for parking outside his home. Photos show the Nissan tucked in nicely behind another vehicle in their driveway, but the back of the vehicle hung 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.
Inner West Council will now tow vehicles blocking driveways to nearby parking spots and notify police to inform the owners of their car’s new location, The Daily Telegraph reported. This marks a change from the current process, where rangers first try to contact the owner before issuing a $330 fine. The council is believed to be the first inner-city local government to implement such towing measures.
Councillor Chloe Smith said she had heard distressing stories from residents impacted by illegal driveway parking, including missed medical appointments and childcare drop-offs. She stressed the need for stricter action in the densely populated inner west. “It can be a really frustrating and galling experience for people,” Smith said.
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