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From: Rachel Graham, Communication Team, Christchurch City Council Date: 24th June 2008

CHRISTCHURCH CITY COUNCIL MEDIA RELEASE

Unfair Parking Fines Can Be Reimbursed

People who believe they are eligible for a reimbursement from the Christchurch City Council for certain parking fines issued in error can now contact the Council's customer call centre to apply for a refund.

Last week the Council voted to reimburse motorists who were incorrectly fined since February 2005 for a variety of offences where there were no signs advising them their actions would be illegal.

The fines largely relate to parking on grass berms and verges.

Government regulations which came into force on 27 February 2005 say that where a Council is imposing parking, standing, or stopping regulations it must have prescribed signs to inform people.

Council records show that 1946 fines have been paid since that requirement for signage came in.

To apply for a refund people need to contact the customer call centre with the full name and address of the person seeking the refund, a contact day and night phone number, and the registration number for the vehicle which received the infringement notice.

Those details will then be forwarded to the parking administration team, who will check the Council's records.

It its expected that it may take up to three weeks for refund requests to be processed, due to the potential volume of requests and the need to check historical records to determine if the particular tickets was issued in error.

Since February 2008 the Council's enforcement staff have only been issuing tickets in relation to vehicles parked in those areas of Hagley Park which have permanent no stopping signs.

Last weekend Council enforcement staff initiated an education campaign in those areas re-enforcing to people that stopping on the grass berms and verges covered by the no-stopping signage is an offence, contrary to the Christchurch City Council's Traffic and Parking Bylaw.

Gary Lennan, the inspections and enforcement manager, says motorists who park on the grass area in contravention of the no stopping signs cause damage to the city's infrastructure, and can be fined.

"In particular around Hagley Park, the stopping and subsequent movement of the vehicles back into the traffic lanes poses a significant safety hazard for all road users and visitors to the Hagley park area."

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