Warning to motorists on parking fines ABC Online 10/10/2008
Consumer Affairs Victoria is warning motorists not to pay the fines handed out at free shopping centre car parks.
Motorists are being issued tickets by private operators after over-staying the allocated time for free parking.
The Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria, Claire Noone says the tickets are not legally binding.
"The private operators have no powers to issue fines or to impose penalties," she said.
"We are concerned that consumers may be misled by the nature of the methods being used by the car parks, private car parks, into thinking that it is issued by a law enforcement agency when in fact it isn't," she said.
She said they have had over 200 complaints or inquiries about such fines.
"We're not saying that the carpark does not have a right in contract and a right to make a claim for any breach of that contract."
"Certainly we can look at whether or not misrepresentations or false or misleading statements have been made to particular consumers about the nature of the demands for liquidated damages," she said.