Gold Coast resident fined for parking in her own driveaway

Queensland resident Megan Pass was left in disbelief after she received a $193 fine for parking in her own driveway in Pimpama – a suburb approximately 30km north of the Gold Coast.

The mother of three had allegedly been parking in the same spot for seven years and had no run-ins with local authorities before receiving the infringement notice.

Ms Pass reportedly believed parking on her driveway was completely legal as she wasn’t blocking public access.

“This doesn’t make sense. Everybody I’ve shared this with is going, ‘What the hell?'

“I’m not parking across a footpath … that I would’ve understood,” she told 7 News.

However, while most Australian residents believe the driveways at their residences are their property, that part of the driveway is beyond the property boundary and is technically on council land.

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate made it clear when he told 7 News: “The driveaway is actually on council land. It’s a safety issue … that’s why they’ve issued it and it’s part of the local law.”

Cr Tate recommended parking local vehicles in secure garages or on the street to avoid further council fines.

According to local Gold Coast road rules, stopping on a driveway for more than two minutes is considered illegal unless dropping off or picking up passengers, vehicles must not be left unattended and/or the car gets moved within the two-minute timeframe suggested by authorities.