Parking fines earn $90k weekly Thomas Chamberlin Monday, December 1, 2008 © The Cairns Post
MOTORISTS are being slugged about $90,000 a week in parking fines and fees in Cairns.
Cairns Regional Council figures reveal its coffers were topped up by about $2 million through parking meters and off-street car parks between March and October.
The team of nine parking inspectors working the city beat have handed out more than 35,000 parking fines this year, adding at least an extra $700,000 to the council’s books.
Fines range from $20 for an expired meter to $100 for parking in a designated disabled parking space or bus zone.
Edmonton resident Taysha Boakes was astounded to hear how much motorists had forked out.
"That is a lot of money. It’s too expensive all ready.
"I got a $20 fine in January and forgot to pay and it ended up costing me $98."
Council figures for 2006-07 show Cairns motorists spent more than $3.5 million on parking.
Last year in a five-month period, $1.8 million was raised in parking fees and fines, between July and November.
Cairns council has issued almost double the amount of fines as Townsville this year – 35,268 fines compared with 19,124.
Tablelands Regional Council has received just $2600 revenue from parking fines since March.
Local Government Minister Warren Pitt has urged councils to follow the State Government by increasing all fines by 33 per cent.
It will raise the price of a basic penalty unit from $75 to $100 from January 1.
Brisbane City Council says it plans to raise its fines for parking, misuse of water, defecating dogs and for people wrongly planting trees.
Cairns Regional Council general manager of corporate services Brett Grosser said the council reviewed rates and charges every year but said there had not yet been a discussion about raising fines.
"If we have to proportion a dollar value to it then it might not be considered until next year," he said.
Councils have the choice to adopt the same penalty increase as the State Government from March 1 or seek an exemption.
The last time parking fees were increased was 2005/06.
On-street parking costs 80c an hour, while off-street parking facilities charges range between 60c an hour and $2 a day.