A UTE incorrectly parked in lower George Street yesterday morning became what is believed to be the first victim of Bathurst’s new mobile licence plate recognition camera patrol.
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However, it was not the camera that nabbed the offender: it was the eagle-eyed rangers who spotted the vehicle as part of their inaugural patrol of the central business district.
One of two council rangers on patrol was on hand to issue the infringement notice for the vehicle which had been parked nose-in outside the Bathurst Community Club.
He took photographs of the offending car as well as the rules and regulation sign posted in the vicinity – designed to give proof of the infringement should an appeal be made against the fine.
From there it was back into action and the ranger returned to his colleague in the light blue Hyundai Santa Fe patrol car which had parked outside Mark Ireland Lawyers while the sting was made.
The Western Advocate asked the ranger why the ute had been booked and several other questions, only to be told a firm: “No comment.”
Day one of the well-publicised council initiative resulted in a scramble for all-day car parking. By 10.30am yesterday there were only a handful of spare spaces in the RSL Club and the car park behind Beck’s Bakery.
However, there was plenty of room in the McDonald’s car park off Elizabeth Street.
The all-day car park near the library in Keppel Street was also a hot spot: it had only a handful of spaces left.
A popular area for parking was in Howick Street, below Bentinck Street, heading down towards the sportsground, where there was not one spot available. There was also a line-up of cars parked roadside further down the next block between Seymour and Havannah streets.
Denise Forester from Hill End was standing out the front of Jenny Dutton Physiotherapy at 166 Howick Street yesterday.
She said she was waiting to get picked up by her husband because they couldn’t get a car park anywhere in the street.
“I told him I would give him a phone call when I was ready,” Mrs Forester said. “Luckily this is my last visit, so we won’t have to do that again.”
As for the new technology, Mrs Forester said Australia had turned into a nanny state because there was so much over-regulation.
Jenny Dutton told the Western Advocate yesterday’s parking situation wasn’t anything unusual.
“It’s been busy ever since I have been here and that’s six years,” she said.
“It’s the closest untimed parking to town on this side. A lot of people park down here.”
