Fines For Parking Over His Own Driveway: $1000 And Counting

A Dunedin man is incensed after finding his vehicle ticketed again for parking over an unused driveway - his own.

Todd Treweek said he had been given about 10 tickets on his vehicle for parking in front of the garage outside his home in Caversham since buying the house about two years ago.

Another vehicle was stored in the garage and there were often no other parks available on the narrow and congested cul-de-sac when he finished late shifts as a chef, Mr Treweek said.

"I'm disappointed with what the [Dunedin City] Council are doing with this part of town," he said.

"Do they think it [parking over his own driveway] is hurting people? All it's hurting is my pocket."

The latest ticket was placed on his vehicle's windscreen at 7.39am last Saturday.

Mr Treweek could not understand why parking wardens could not come and speak to him about the problem, rather than issuing a ticket.

"I'm not obstructing the footpath," he said. "It's really nonsense. I just want to be left alone."

He had phoned the council to discuss the tickets, but had found staff condescending and unhelpful.

"I said 'Where do you want me to park? In South Rd?' and he said 'If that's what you have to do to stop breaking the law'."

His house was at the far end of Peter St and parking in South Rd would mean walking about 500m late at night. He was also concerned about parking his vehicle so far from his house when thefts from cars were a regular occurrence in Caversham, he said.

"I said 'can you guys not just come up and talk to me about it' and they said 'no, you are breaking the law'."

He estimated his tickets had totalled more than $1000 since moving into the street.

Council parking services team leader Daphne Griffen said council wardens would continue issuing tickets as long as he parked over the driveway.

"The law is quite clear. You can't park over any driveway, including your own," she said.

"We can't give him permission to park illegally."

The council often received complaints from residents in Peter St about the issue of parking, she said.

"We are required to respond to all complaints or requests for service."

Wardens would not enter private property to discuss issues with residents, she said.

She invited Mr Treweek to call her to discuss any health or mobility issues which might prevent him from parking further away or writing a letter of explanation when he was issued a ticket.

"Unfortunately, other than that I can't suggest anything else," she said.

- Otago Daily Times