Woman cops hefty fine after "checking out surf"
A woman has lashed out at her local council after she copped a fine for $136 for a five-minute stop at a popular beach to assess the surf conditions.
Amy Sloane stopped her car at The Esplanade at NSW's Caves Beach to get a sense of the surf conditions on July 6th, and was unknowingly being watched by a parking inspector.
Ms Sloane was shocked to receive the fine in the post a few weeks later, arguing that her actions didn't justify the fine.
"How do I feel? P***ed off," she told Yahoo News. "Rangers can't fine people who don't pick up after their dogs on our beaches, but can secretly fine you without you knowing for just checking out the surf for five minutes."
She also called the council workers "cowards", saying the area she stopped in is often used by locals and tourists to get a look at the surf, and even whale watch occasionally during migration season.
As she continued to defend her actions, Lake Macquarie City Council clarified that the infringement stated the driver parallel parked in the opposite direction of travel, which is a known "safety offence under Australia Road Rules".
It is illegal in all Australian states and territories to park your car in the opposite direction of traffic on any road.
"The fine at hand was issued for not parallel parking in the direction of travel, which is a safety offence under Australian Road Rules. The driver's vehicle crossed double white lines and was parked near a bend, facing oncoming traffic, which further heightened safety concerns," a council spokesperson said.
After expressing her annoyance on social media, many agreed the fine was warranted, saying she had done the wrong thing, regardless of how long she was there for.
Other locals chimed in and said "it happens all the time" despite it being a fineable offence.
"If you think the fine is wrong, fight it. If you were parked incorrectly, wear the fine," another said.
Sloane confirmed to Yahoo News she will begrudgingly pay the fine.
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