Article: Big parking fines fund footpaths

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Big parking fines fund footpaths

Big parking fines fund footpaths
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Bruce McMahon

June 13, 2009 12:00am

BRISBANE motorists will be hit by skyrocketing parking fines in next week's council budget.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said drivers who clogged city streets, put others at risk and inconvenienced residents would be slugged with fines as high as $500.

The penalty for parking across a driveway jumps from $50 to $100, parking in a disabled spot rises from $60 to $200, and clogging an intersection from $50 to $150. Bus and taxi zones and clearways also will be targeted.

The extra $6 million in revenue will be directed to a $23 million footpath program across the city in the new financial year.

More than 7000 fines were issued in the nine months to April for motorists breaching bus zones. The fine for that offence jumps from $100 to $150.

The cost of parking in a clearway will increase from $120 to $200, while some fines, like expired meter parking, stay at $50.

Parking a long and heavy vehicle within 100m of a residential area is up from $375 to $500.

Most council parking penalties have not changed for eight years, but Cr Newman said fines would not increase for infringements that do not clog traffic or endanger others.

"Traffic congestion in Brisbane is tough enough without people blocking traffic lanes, and risking the safety of our children by parking illegally outside schools," Cr Newman said.

"The message is simple: If you do the wrong thing and you risk public safety or cause traffic congestion you will be fined. If you deny disabled people their parking spots you deserve to be fined."

Footpath construction and maintenance funds will be allocated in Wednesday's Budget, allowing local councillors to determine which areas in their wards need attention.

Recent reports suggest Brisbane has 2294km of footpaths that are beginning to crack and 411km verging on dangerous to pedestrians.

Cr Newman said the community also needed resources for road congestion.

"The fact is we don't have a footpath crisis at the moment, we have a traffic congestion crisis which council is determined to address while maintaining footpath expenditure," he said earlier this year.