Tempted to park in that disabled parking spot for just a few minutes while you nip into the shops? And you happen to be abled-bodied?
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
If you get caught in the ACT, you're now going to be fined a whopping $600.
That's a $241 or 67 per cent increase on the current $359 fine. It's a move that has been welcomed by disability advocates in the ACT sick of abled-bodied drivers taking their parking spots.
An Access Canberra spokesperson said between June last year and May this year, a total of 2500 parking fines were issued across the ACT for illegal parking in "mobility parking spaces".
People with Disabilities executive officer Robert Altamore said the new $600 fine was "very welcome" as a deterrent. He said there was a shortage of disabled parking spaces in Canberra, especially in the city and Barton. People with disabilities often had to park a long way away from their destination when spots were not available.
"The worst case is people missing out on appointments, especially doctor's appointments," Mr Altamore said.
The ACT Budget unveiled a whole raft of tax and fee increases, putting extra pressure on the average Canberran. But parking fines, at least, are an extra charge you can avoid.
* Most general parking fines - including staying for staying over the expired time - increase by $6 from $108 to $114.
* Fully registering a car in the ACT increases by 5 per cent to about $1141.70, including CTP with the lowest cost provider. But that's only if you pay the full 12 months' rego up front. If you pay by instalments you can add another 2 per cent to the total cost.
* The fee for a five-year driver's licence will increase $3.60 from $180 to $183.60. A 25 per cent safe driver discount is applied where a driver had a clean driving record in the previous five years, which would make the five-year driver licence $137.70.
An ACT Government spokesperson said the increases to road transport fees and fines would take effect from mid-August.
"The delayed commencement will give motorists adequate notice of the fee changes," a statement read.
Rego costs will ultimately depend on the vehicle.
The spokesperson said the total cost to register a motor vehicle in the ACT was "made up of multiple components including a registration fee, Compulsory Third Party (CTP) insurance, CTP regulator levy, a road rescue fee and a lifetime care and support levy and a road safety contribution. The registration fee is a government charge to register and renew the registration of a vehicle in the ACT'.
"The registration fee for a typical family vehicle will increase $25.80 from $517.50 to $543.30," the statement said.
"The total cost of registration for 12 months for a passenger vehicle with a tare mass of 1505kg to 2504kgs (including CTP with the lowest cost provider) will increase to $1141.70 (the amount of $1140.70 includes a 2% discount for paying 12 months up front).
"To support families and low-income earners, the Government provides a range of concessions and 'short term' registration which gives motorists the option of paying for three or six months registration.
"A 100 per cent discount on the registration fee is provided to people with a Department of Veterans Affairs Gold Card or Centrelink pension concession card. ACT Seniors get a 10 per cent discount on the registration fee."
