FORMER POLICE PROSECUTOR CHALLENGING CASEY COUNCIL OVER FINE FOR PARKING ON NATURE STRIP

Julian Kennedy, From: Berwick Leader April 08, 2013 

Philip Bibby is taking Casey council to court to fight a parking fine outside his home Picture: Tanya Fry Leader

CASEY'S on-street parking woes will be put in the legal spotlight when former police prosecutor Philip Bibby takes the council to court over an $86 fine for parking on his nature strip.

Mr Bibby said he was proceeding to court because the fine was a farce.
HAVE YOUR SAY: Do you think people should be fined for parking on their nature strip? Tell us below or email julian.kennedy@news.com.au

He said eight other cars were parked on the nature strip in Butterwick Terrace, Cranbourne East when he was fined in late February but they escaped a penalty.
"I'd like to get the by-laws officer on the witness stand and I'll be asking him a set of questions," he said.
"There's got to be some sort of discretion.
"This is an $86 fine but it's not the money, it's about the way it's being handled."
Drivers who parallel park must leave 3m of road space between their own vehicles and the other side of the road to allow other vehicles to pass.
Mr Bibby said it was physically impossible to comply with the regulations outside his home in Butterwick Terrace because his car was 1.5m wide and the road was only 3.5m wide.
Cr Gary Rowe, whose ward includes Butterwick Terrace, acknowledged narrow roads in new estates had created a situation that left residents with nowhere to hide.
"If everyone parked in the street in the manner which is set down in the regulations, you couldn't get a bicycle let alone an ambulance through," Cr Rowe said.
"It's unacceptable and it has to be addressed."
The council is preparing a report in response to Cr Rowe's concerns.
Casey Council manager of community safety Caroline Bell said grounds for reviewing an infringement included "exceptional circumstances".
The council issued 5325 parking fines in 2011-12 but couldn't say how many fines were issued for parking on nature strips or the amount of revenue collected.
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/south-east/former-police-prosecutor-challenging-casey-council-over-fine-for-parking-on-nature-strip/story-fngnvmhm-1226613422362 
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