The Fines Amendment (Parking Fines) Bill 2024, passed through the NSW parliament in November 2024, requires councils to attach an on-the-spot notification to vehicles found infringing parking rules.
The changes end the ticketless system introduced by the previous Liberal-National Government in 2020. Under the ticketless system, instead of leaving the infringement notice on the vehicle, the fine was sent by post, sometimes not being received until weeks after the incident.
The NSW State Government is of the view that the Fines Amendment (Parking Fines) Bill 2024 restores fairness and transparency to the parking fine system by:
- Requiring councils to attach an on-the-spot notification to the vehicle.
- Requiring councils to take photos of offences and make them available for Revenue NSW to provide to drivers.
- Providing limited exceptions where an on-the-spot notification is not required, for example where it may be unsafe or hazardous for a ranger to do so.
- Invalidating ‘repeat’ ticketless parking fines, where drivers can be fined multiple times for the same offence before they even become aware of the first infringement.
- Introducing data reporting rules to evaluate if further reforms are necessary.
A working group, which has representatives from stakeholders including Local Government NSW, has been established by Revenue NSW to inform the drafting of regulations and assist with implementation.
Even before the bill passed, a number of councils began proactively providing on-the-spot notifications to drivers. Lane Cove Council was not one of those councils.
Minister for Finance Courtney Houssos said
“The community feedback on this issue has been clear, and dates all the way back to when ticketless parking was first introduced in 2020.
“No one likes getting a parking fine. Finding out about it two weeks later stings even more.
“Bringing back on-the-spot notification for parking fines is a common-sense reform and restores fairness and integrity to the parking fine system.
“I want to thank the councils which have already started issuing on-the-spot notifications again. There is nothing stopping other councils from joining them. It is clearly in the interest of drivers and the community.”
NRMA spokesperson Peter Khoury said:
“Since some councils began introducing the ticketless parking system four years ago it was clear the system was broken and needed to be fixed – for this reason the NRMA commends the NSW Government on today’s announcement.
Ticketless parking leaves motorists in the dark and robs them of the chance to contest their fine if they believe they have a legitimate case, the NRMA has been against this approach from day one.”
Lane Cove Council uses the ticketless parking infringement system for on-street parking infringements and was among the top 15 Councils that used ticketless parking infringement notices to generate revenue from parking fines in 2023.
Does This Letter Impact Council Operated Car Parks (like The Canopy and Lane Cove Market Square)?
The new system only relates to on-street parking fines and does not impact the ticketless parking systems used in council-operated car parks (like The Canopy or Lane Cove Market Square).
Manage Your Fines Online
With your MyServiceNSW account, you can view, pay, or query fines online. Fine records with due dates, amounts owing, and statuses are all in one convenient location.
Managing your fines online is quicker and easier, as your details will be pre-filled. You can securely:
- pay your fine(s)
- apply for a payment plan
- request a review
- nominate the person responsible
- view images of the offence
- apply to go to court.
Find out more here.
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