UPDATED: Council tackles parking problems

The Council, last night, resolved to suspend the use of the Mobile Parking Camera until the review is completed.

Council is concerned that the Licence Plate Recognition Technology is creating uncertainty in the community.

There were 407 infringements issued in the May to July period and five appeals were lodged.

Council staff have been instructed from the introduction of this technology to be conservative in their approach and give the benefit of the doubt where possible.

The system was returned to the supplier last week and is undergoing some work to establish better clarity of the photographs used to determine whether a vehicle had left a parking space within the allowed time.

Staff are also preparing a report to Council and a Fact sheet to inform the community on the most common parking rules.

PREVIOUSLY - July 25:

The Number-Plate Recognition Parking System has changed driver behaviour but there are teething problems that are being addressed, according to Orange City Council Manager of Corporate and Community Relations, Nick Redmond.

Mr Redmond said since the new Number Plate Recognition (NPR) system was introduced in February this year, there’s been a number of preliminary indications that it’s been a success in terms of changing parking behaviour in Orange.

"Drivers are noting the high-profile NPR car doing its rounds and are responding by sharing the available parking spaces more fairly," Mr Redmond said.

"Analysis of parking availability in the main Orange shopping area indicates that short term parking spaces are becoming available more often in more convenient locations within the CBD."

There were a handful of cases where drivers have received an infringement notice after claiming they had returned to park again in same spot after leaving that location Mr Redmond said.

"Orange City Council recognises there are a small number of teething problems with the new system and staff are continuing to fine-tune procedures to minimise the chances of an infringement notice being incorrectly issued," he said.

"Once a fine has been issued, it’s up to the State Debt Recovery Office to manage that process, so if a driver wants to challenge the fine they should approach the SDRO directly."

Mr Redmond said the SDRO can contact Orange City Council to ask for the photographic evidence if they have been approached by a driver.

"Any system will always depend on an assessment of the available evidence about whether or not a car has left, and re-parked in a similar location," he said.

"The most sensible way forward would be to prevent any chance of an infringement, by parking in a very different location."

Common misunderstandings around timed parking zones, debunked

There have been some common misunderstandings about how timed parking zones work, Mr Redmond said.

"Drivers should make sure they leave a timed parking space before the time allowed.

"As long as they leave that section of the road, drivers can return later on the same day to park again in the same general area where they parked previously," Mr Redmond said.

"If drivers choose to park in exactly the same parking space again, they run the risk of that the NPR car will use its technology and identify their car for a parking fine."