Parking meters off duty Author: GR Date: 20/04/2006 Publication: Newcastle Herald
A NUMBER of city parking meters have been out of service for extended periods, Newcastle City Council general manager Janet Dore revealed yesterday.
Ms Dore said parking meters were regularly vandalised and it was difficult in some cases to obtain replacement parts.
She said this meant some meters had been out of service for longer than the council would have liked.
The Herald reported yesterday that almost all motorists who pursued parking fines in court claiming faulty parking meters had won their cases.
Ms Dore said parking fees applied even if meters were damaged or inoperable.
According to the draft list of council fees and charges for 2006-07, which goes on display tomorrow, the fine for parking at an expired parking meter is set to rise from $75 to $78.