Drivers annoyed by ‘spy car’ tickets
PAUL EASTON CHRIS SKELTON/Fairfax NZTHE EVIDENCE: Rafaele Abbate holds up the photo he was sent by Wellington City Council after being photographed and ticketed by the spy car for being double parked. he says he was waiting for someone to pull out of a park.
Criticism is mounting that Wellington City Council’s “spy car” is being used as a cash cow.
“It is not the intention to maintain order, it is the intention to make money,” says Wellington chef Raffaele Abbate, who was nabbed by the spy car in November for being double parked in Harris St in the city centre.
his ticket was one of more than 17,000 issued by the car since it was introduced in August 2010. Those tickets amount to revenue of more than $900,000 for the city council.
Mr Abbate said he had merely been waiting for someone to pull out of a park. “It’s silly because they just drive past you in a car. if it was a parking warden, at least they would say: `Hey, you can’t stay there.”‘
Wardens in the Toyota Yaris can photograph offences from 100 metres away.
another motorist, Richard Stephens, parked a long trailer across parallel parks outside the store he manages in Thorndon Quay in November. he was hit with a $40 fine.
he was loading and unloading outside the Floor Store. “There was no way we could angle park. Are we supposed to block the road?
“The guys on foot wouldn’t ticket you because they could see what was going on. but now we’ve got these jerks driving around in a car. There’s no provision to make a judgment call.”
Mr Stephens challenged the ticket, but was told it would not be cancelled. he says he is prepared to go to court. “It appears to be distinctly a revenue-gathering exercise.”
Automobile Association motoring affairs general manager Mike Noon said the number of tickets being issued was in danger of alienating Wellington drivers.
“If there is not a sensible approach, then the public can feel it’s being unfairly targeted. It does appear that Wellingtonians are not impressed with this vehicle.”
Wellington City Council infrastructure director Stavros Michael said tickets were warranted for both Mr Abbate and Mr Stephens.
“It would be safe to say that parking enforcement, regardless of how it is done, is always going to create a certain degree of ill will.”
At 267,552, the number of parking tickets issued in 2010-11 was down on the previous year’s total of 270,051, he said. “That lends the lie to the oft-stated claim the camera car has been put on the road to generate extra revenue.”
the camera targeted short-duration offending that could cause accidents, Mr Michael said.
“While it may be understandable that people are upset at receiving a ticket, the council is very confident that this approach is resulting in improved driver behaviour and consequently a reduction in crashes.”
– © Fairfax NZ News
