Council slammed after issuing hundreds of parking fines during ANZAC Day dawn service
A city council has withdrawn hundreds of parking fines that were issued to ANZAC day service attendees after receiving backlash.
Western Australia deputy Premier Roger Cook asked the City of Perth to reconsider the $200 fines that were given to drivers at Kings Park on Wednesday morning, ABC News reported.
75-year-old Alan Nelson and his 86-year-old wife, who uses a wheelchair, were horrified to find a parking fine when they returned to their parked car on Ord Street after the service.
RSLWA president Peter Aspinall said issuing the tickets was unacceptable behaviour.
“The parking opportunities around Kings Park were obviously quite difficult and to think at four o'clock in the morning people are going to be penalised, on such a day, quite frankly I think is disgraceful,” he said.
Brendan Fisher has visited the dawn service at Kings Park for six years, but it was only this year that he saw “no parking” signs up.
“There's not much I can do as I'm in the wrong, but it's pathetic to target people paying their respect to the Anzacs,” he said.
The City of Perth said in a statement that parking inspectors used discretion when giving out infringements.
“Given recent world events and Anzac Day being a mass public gathering event, security is a top priority,” the statement said.
Western Australia opposition leader Mike Nahan said the profits from the fines should be donated to the RSL.
Outraged attendees expressed their disappointment on Twitter.
“It's Anzac Day and drivers who attended Kings Park Perth Dawn Service came back to their cars and [found] $200 fines levied,” one person posted.
“Questions will be asked I'm sure. Greed reigns supreme.”
The City of Perth has since withdrawn the fines issued at the dawn service at Kings Parks.
“The City has liaised with event organiser RSLWA to ensure traffic management plans are clearer for residents and visitors attending future Anzac Day events in the city,” they said in a statement.
“It is important to note several thousand motorists were not fined for illegal parking on verges and footpaths and only those in the exclusion zones were fined as matter of safety given the traffic management plans.
“However given the circumstances fines issued will not be enforced.”