QLDC waives Crux mayoral debate parking ticket

Crux readers may remember us taking a look at the QLDC’s Boundary Street car park after we were issued, along with hundreds of other people over the years, a ticket for parking in a partly invisible overnight tourist bus parking space.

We were parked there covering the QLDC sponsored Mayoral candidate election debate at the Memorial Hall.

This was the evidential image sent to Crux by the council as proof of the “clear” warning signage at the nighttime location.

Not only is the sign invisible at night but the yellow surface markings have faded into obscurity as well.

Can you see the yellow “prohibited area” lines where overnight tourist buses are supposed to park overnight?

Neither could we. We even paid for parking at the QLDC machine.

Here’s an example of the day time signage.

But this issue is not about Crux getting a ticket. When we challenged the QLDC “evidence” and said we would take the matter to court, they withdrew the ticket. If they were in the right they should have defended their case.

We suspect that the ability of the QLDC to issue tickets at this location is legally questionable, not just because of the lack of nighttime signs and the faded/invisible yellow lines, but because it’s become a cash cow for the the council and their collection agents Cougar Security - with no justification.

We even wonder if tourist buses do ever park there and more importantly - how much do the tourist bus operators pay to the QLDC?

Plus - how many other drivers have been wrongly issued tickets for this location? How much money has QLDC collected from these tickets over the years?

We’ve heard from people who have seen Cougar staff literally hiding in the car park vegetation ready to pounce and issue tickets - without taking the chance to warn drivers first that this is a “prohibited area.”

Needless to say we’ve asked the QLDC to answer all these questions - and predictably they’ve declared this an LGOIMA official information request - so we have to wait 20 working days for an answer - unless they declare the subject commercially confidential, a breach of someone’s privacy or that answering the questions will be an impediment to the ability of council staff to have free and open discussions with each other in private - without ratepayers or the media getting answers.

In the meantime - if you have been ticketed in this “prohibited area” in the evening or nighttime please get in touch - [email protected]