Parking fines and appealing parking fines

Current as at 1 July 2025

Offence type

• Park longer than permitted time - $83
• Stop contrary to 'NO PARKING' sign - $133
• Stop contrary to 'NO STOPPING' sign - $133
• Park not wholly within marked space - $50
• Authorised vehicle stop in loading zone for longer than signed - $66
• Stop near obstruction on road so as to obstruct traffic - $133
• Other parking offences and restrictions on stopping - $50
• Angle parking - failing to properly position the vehicle - $50
• Park improperly in parking bay - $50
• Stop unauthorised vehicle in bus zone - $133
• Double park - $66
• Exceed maximum indicated time - $83
• Fail to comply with requirements of authorised system (30 minutes free) - $66
• Fail to pay parking fee (meter) - $66
• Stop heavy/long vehicle not in a built-up area other than on shoulder of the road - $333
• Stop heavy/long vehicle on length of road longer than 1 hour in a built-up area - $834
• Authorised vehicle stop in loading zone more than 30 minutes - $66
• Stop unauthorised vehicle in mailzone - $66
• Stop within 3m of postbox - $66
• Park on a one way road other than parallel - $50
• Park on a two way road other than left and parallel - $50
• Stop unauthorised vehicle in permit zone - $66
• Stop contrary to 'CLEARWAY' sign - $133
• Stop contrary to disabled parking sign - $333
• Stop across driveway - $66
• Stop at intersection $133
• Stop within 20m of intersection with traffic lights - $133
• Stop within 10m of intersection without traffic lights - $133
• Stop contrary to motorbike parking sign - $50
• Stop on bicycle path/footpath/shared path or dividing strip/nature strip in built-up area - $66
• Stop unauthorised vehicle in taxi zone - $133
• Stop within 20m before or 10m after pedestrian crossing - $133
• Stop unauthorised vehicle in work zone - $66
• Park another vehicle in allocated space - $66
• Stop unauthorised vehicle in loading zone - $83
• Stop at bus stop - $66
• Stop within 20m before or 10m after bus stop - $66
• Park within 3m of continuous dividing line or strip - $50
• Stop contrary to continuous yellow edge line - $133

Time limited parking

Time limited parking is indicated by signage which specifies the maximum time limit. The letter “P” alone means there is no time limit. Where you are only permitted to park for a limited time, that time is shown by the number beside the letter “P”. For example “2P” means you can park in the area for a maximum of 2 hours.

Paid parking

Paid parking is indicated by signage which stipulates if payment is required. This will be indicated under the time limit of the sign affiliated with the location your vehicle is in by stating “Pay Meter”.

Parking on a footpath/nature strip

A driver must not stop on a bicycle path, footpath, shared path or dividing strip, or a nature strip adjacent to a length of road in a built-up area.

Disability parking

A driver must not stop in a parking area for people with disabilities unless the driver’s vehicle displays a current parking permit for people with disabilities. The driver must either be the permit holder or be parking the vehicle for the convenience of a permit holder who needs to enter or leave the vehicle. The permit must be displayed so that the expiry date, permit number and coloured logo are clearly visible from outside the vehicle.

No stopping

Nationally ‘No stopping’ areas are implemented for reasons such as safety for the motorist and pedestrian, as well as for easy access and egress of traffic. Signage indicating ‘No Stopping’ comes in the form of either signs erected on posts or road markings. A driver must not stop on a length of road or in an area to which a ‘No Stopping’ sign applies.

Yellow edge lines

A yellow edged line means no stopping is permitted on that section of the road as well as the adjacent road reserve. The yellow edge line is a recognised Australian Standard and is referred to in the Queensland Transport ‘Learn to Drive’ booklet.

No parking

‘No parking’ signs mean that you can stop your car in this area for up to 2 minutes with the driver remaining in the car whilst picking up and dropping off passengers or goods.

Taxi zones

A driver must not stop in a taxi zone, unless the driver is driving a taxi. Council does not consider ride share vehicles taxi’s and as such may not utilise taxi zones.

School zones

Children’s safety comes first so parents or visitors to schools’ zones should be aware of the parking regulations existing in school zones and surrounding streets. Parking unlawfully in these areas may obstruct the pedestrian and/or motorist’s vision putting children at risk. Particular attention and vigilance when parking and driving a vehicle in and around school zones is required.

Please be aware of any signs and restrictions in your children’s school zone.

Loading zones - unspecified

Unspecified loading zones have time limits of 30 mins max for commercially identified vehicles loading/unloading of goods. A max of 20 mins for other vehicles loading/unloading of goods and 2 minutes for the loading/unloading of passengers, or as otherwise indicated on the sign.

What is the Licence Plate Recognition Vehicle?

The Licence Plate Recognition (LPR) vehicle is equipped with technology to monitor parked vehicles and issue infringements.

Where is the vehicle used?

The vehicle is used to monitor parking compliance in all areas of the Toowoomba Regional Council.

How does the LPR vehicle work?

The LPR vehicle captures images of parked vehicles and records:

• vehicle location (GPS coordinates)
• registration number
• the time when the vehicle was parked

This information can be used to issue an infringement notice for unlawful parking to the registered owner via post.

Why has council introduced this system?

Parking is an important issue for our community. Effective parking management supports:

• traffic flow around our city
• safety of our community
• access to businesses.

The LPR vehicle allows parking officers to monitor clearways, schools, loading and bus zones without compromising the safety of themselves or other road users.

Why are school zones monitored with the LPR vehicle?

It is our priority to manage traffic congestion and safety around our schools.

We work to ensure motorists comply with parking regulations around schools to achieve a safer environment for children, parents, teachers and other road users.

How is privacy managed?

Information privacy is a priority for Toowoomba Regional Council and personal identifiable information is not used for other purposes or shared with other parties.

Licence plate information is used to determine the registered owner of a vehicle, for the purpose of issuing an infringement notice.

Photo masking technology is used to protect the identity of individuals (and other vehicles) which are unintentionally captured in photographs.

How are infringement notices issued?

Infringement notices are issued by mail to the registered owner of the vehicle. All correspondence is clearly marked as official correspondence from Toowoomba Regional Council and will contain all the relevant information, including photographs relating to the offence.

How long does it take to receive an infringement notice?

It may take up to a week or longer to receive an infringement notice in the mail, depending on the address of the registered owner. The time to make payment, or select another option is 28 days from the date of the infringement being issued, not the date of the offence.

How will I know if the LPR vehicle has detected my vehicle?

Should your vehicle be parked unlawfully, a notice will be posted to the registered owner. There is no information or correspondence left on the vehicle.

Will the LPR vehicle know if I have moved my vehicle?

Yes, the system uses GPS and photographic equipment to determine if a vehicle has moved.

What happens if I have a disability permit displayed?

There will be no change to parking regulations for disability permit holders. Please ensure you park lawfully and display your permit on the windscreen or dash so that it is clearly visible from outside the vehicle.

Council will only consider withdrawing an infringement notice under extraordinary circumstances and reserves the right to enforce all penalty infringement notices at its discretion.

The following circumstances may constitute reasonable grounds for council to withdraw the infringement notice:

• you have a valid legal defence
• you have an exemption from the law
• there is an error on the infringement notice
• there are exceptional circumstances.

To assist our decision making, it is important you provide sufficient supporting evidence when you lodge a request for review. The grounds of your application may will be considered with the supporting documentation or evidence supplied.

Depending on the type of offence indicated on the infringement notice, you should try to include (where applicable):

• the grounds of any legal defence, exemption from the law, exception circumstances, or error on the infringement notice
• photographs or diagrams showing the exact location of the incident
• vehicle repair invoice, spare parts or towing receipt
• a copy of a valid parking permit or disability parking permit
• a copy of a parking ticket or receipt
• a bank statement showing date and time of purchase of a parking ticket
• Statutory Declaration from a witness
• written advice or crime report from the Queensland Police Service
• a reference number for reporting a meter fault
• a letter from a medical specialist
• any other supporting documentation or evidence which may be used.

Invalid reasons for requesting to appeal include but are not limited to:

• Good behaviour/first time receiving a fine
• Weather issues
• Not noting or only partially reading a parking sign
• Not having change for the meter or leaving to find coins
• Not noticing a change in restrictions
• Being delayed or running late
• Being new to the area
• Incorrectly displaying a paid parking ticket or permit
• Financial hardship

If your fine is enforced after the appeal, your options will be:

• pay the penalty in full to finalise the matter
• apply to make payments by instalments (for an infringement notice penalty of $200 or more)
• elect to have a Magistrates Court hearing.