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Parking cops for strata blocks
Concerns over illegal parking in strata schemes near railway stations and office developments – and the possibility of apartment and townhouse owners taking the law into their own hands – has prompted Fair Trading NSW and local councils to investigate having parking officers allowed into strata schemes to ticket illegally parked cars.
As apartment blocks spring up around our transport hubs, empty parking spaces are proving too great a temptation for commuters looking for a safe spot to leave their cars while they are at work.
And frustrated strata owners are unable to take any action against rogue parkers who tailgate legitimate owners into their parking garages then take up visitor and even residents’ parking spaces.
Under state law, owners corporations can’t clamp the ‘parking thieves’ and are fearful of damages claims if they have them towed. And while they can get fines imposed on their own residents who park illegally, trespassing parkers are not governed by their by-laws so they get off scot free.
However, it seems Fair Trading and local councils are working on a plan whereby strata schemes can invite local council parking officers into their schemes to issue tickets against illegally parked cars.
Previously, local councils have been reluctant to get involved in strata scheme parking because of the very real likelihood of getting caught up in squabbles between residents, rather than dealing with illegal parking.
But with residents having a limited number of options to deal with rogue parking, there is an increasing concern about them taking the law into their own hands.
One Flat Chat reader has had enough of opportunist motorists grabbing visitors’ and residents’ parking in buildings where they don’t belong.
“Our complex is close to the CBD and University and some locals now realise they can park in the visitor parking spaces,” he says. “They wait until a vehicle enters or leaves and they then enter the garage and park for the day.
“We monitor the CCTV and anyone who is obviously abusing the car spaces has a notice placed on their vehicle. Can the Owners’ Corp be prosecuted for placing stick-on notices to the driver’s side window?” he asks. “Are we willfully damaging property?”
A loose note is too easily discarded but a sticker might be considered ‘criminal damage’, depending on how permanently it sticks. However, are the cops really going to race round, sirens blaring, when an illegal parker complains about glue residue?
There’s an urban myth that if your sticker on a windscreen obscures the driver’s view and they have an accident, you will be culpable. Really? More culpable than the moron who drove off with a sticker in the way?
Another popular ploy is to let miscreants’ tyres down, but there are very good reasons for not doing that. They might not notice and you would be culpable if they drove into traffic and lost control of the vehicle.
We like the idea of signs that say something like “Warning – cars parked illegally have been vandalised by angry residents.” It’s not a threat – just information for the unwelcome visitor.
But if sticker action is your preferred option, make sure it’s done without a paper trail leading to anyone in your scheme.
We’ve put together a whole raft of ‘unconventional’ tactics that have been tried in other buildings – plus a special Flat Chat parking violation notice you can download. You’ll find them HERE.
The opinions offered in these Forum posts and replies are not intended to be taken as legal advice. Readers with serious issues should consult experienced strata lawyers.
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