Drivers caught in no-go zones Author: By MARIO CHRISTODOULOU Date: 11/01/2008 Publication: Illawarra Mercury
ALMOST 900 people have been nabbed for illegally parking in disabled and school zones after rangers clamped down on motorists abusing parking spots last year.
Wollongong City Council raked in almost $1 million in parking infringements after parking rangers targeted disabled and school zones.
Rangers wrote 257 disabled parking and 628 school zone infringements in a year when almost 8000 motorists were fined.
Motorists made more than 750 parking-related complaints, which the council said were all responded to within five days.
Spinal Cord Injuries Australia southern manger Alex Traill welcomed the crackdown but said more needed to be done to stop motorists abusing the system.
"Anything that tidies up the illegal use or abuse of parking in the city would be magnificent," he said.
"But the (portion of disabled parking) is 1 per cent of overall parking and I think the percentage could be increased."
A shortage of parking rangers meant the number of infringements was down on the previous year.
The statistics come in a year when the council has struggled to meet the city's parking needs.
According to a 2005 council report, Wollongong's population will grow 31 per cent by 2026, while demand for parking will jump 44 per cent.
In April the council released details of a plan aimed at bringing 6000 extra parking spots to the city with developers footing the construction and administration costs for five new mega stations.
HOW MUCH YOU PAID
Year Fines Money raised
2006-07 7954 $987,256
2005-06 9276 $1,192,280
2004-05 10,725 $1,250,000
2003-04 14,317 $816,000