Council implemented the 'Print and Post' system in June 2022 to issue fines through Revenue NSW.
This system provides you with more information about the fine as well as options available to you.
For parking offences, a notification advising the recipient that a fine has been issued will be displayed on the vehicle windscreen when possible. Fines for other offences are no longer posted in the mail from Council. Revenue NSW will post the fine to the recipient on Council’s behalf.
Under the 'Print and Post' system, a clear and informative penalty notice letter is mailed to you by Revenue NSW. This will apply to all offences relating to parking, companion animals, health, building or environmental regulations.
Authorised council officers are equipped with handheld devices that record the details of the offence, as well as any relevant photos, which are then sent to Revenue NSW.
The following day, Revenue NSW will create the penalty notice and send it to the recipient within two (2) to three (3) days. The letter will detail how recipients can access further information, including photos, via the Revenue NSW website.
For parking offences, the handheld devices will note whether a vehicle has already been issued a penalty notice (on the same day, at the same location, for the same offence), to avoid the same notice being sent twice.
Drivers in the Shoalhaven must follow the rules and regulations of the Australian Road Rules and NSW Road Rules Act 2014.
These rules and restrictions exist to promote safe driving and parking practices, help traffic flow freely, and encourage fair and equal use of limited parking spaces.
Parking restrictions may be of a 'statutory' type (laws which apply universally, without specific signage being in place), or posted on signs in the area of the parking space.
All drivers have to follow the statutory rules and regulations regardless of location, but drivers must also follow all sign-posted parking restrictions for the area they are currently parking in.
If Council's authorised officer identifies a breach of a particular road rule or parking restriction, they will issue a 'penalty notice' for the offence, in accordance with relevant regulations, rules and procedures.
Below are some things to keep in mind to avoid parking fines:
- Always check the area for parking signs.
- Signs are clearly displayed to advise drivers of the parking requirements for a particular area.
- Be careful where there are changes of parking restrictions throughout the day – e.g. some zones may become a school zone, clearway, etc. Pay particular attention to parking signs around schools; they are there to keep children safe.
- No stopping, clearway or bus zone restrictions mean you are not permitted to stop at any time unless traffic conditions require it.
- Only park in a loading zone if your vehicle is permitted. In NSW, sedans are not permitted in loading zones at any time.
- Do not park in a mobility impaired person's parking space (MIPPS) unless you are the holder of an RMS mobility parking scheme permit (MPS) or you are driving a person with a MPS permit which is correctly displayed on the vehicle. Heavy penalties apply for breaching this rule.
- Timed parking applies to car parks enforced by Council and on-street parking, in accordance with the signs in place. The timed parking applies from when the driver parks the vehicle to when the vehicle leaves the area defined by the signs. For example, if you want to continue to park in a car park and the time is up, you must first drive out of the car park and re-enter. If you want to continue to park on-street and the time is up, you must move to another area outside of that signed area.
- A ten-minute grace period is applied for overtime offences.
- Do not park within ten (10) metres of an intersection unless parking signage advises otherwise.
- Parking restrictions apply on public holidays in two instances:
- When parking signs do not state any days of the week.
- When a sign states 'and public holidays' (or words to that effect).