A driver in New Zealand was shocked to return to her car to discover that a parking lot had been built and she had been fined NZ$85 ($77).
Josephine Williams parked in an empty gravel clearing in Westgate, an Auckland regional centre, on Monday.
Williams had been using the car park for months with between 50 and 100 other travelers before taking a bus to the CBD.
But after returning to his car this week, he was surprised to see a Wilson Parking ticket on his windshield.
“To my unfortunate surprise, and many others, I was greeted with a parking fine of NZ$85 (A$77) for one violation and a flyer from Wilson Parking stating that paid parking had started that day,” said the Mrs. Williams. Stuff.
—But what violation was committed exactly? How was she to know that paid parking started that day when there was nothing at all in the parking lot?
After returning to her car, Ms Williams was stunned to see a Wilson Parking ticket on her windscreen.
By 6 p.m. Monday, a large red and white Wilson sign had been posted at the entrance to the parking lot that read “12 hours for $4.”
“Wilson deliberately put up his sign shortly after 9am and then took it upon himself to ticket all the cars that had already been parked there since the morning,” Ms Williams said.
Wilson Parking refutes this, stating that the car park was initially installed with “clear signage” on April 22.
“It was not installed around parked cars on April 29 as suggested,” a Wilson spokesman said.
Williams said dash cam footage of his arrival at the parking lot at 7:45 a.m. Monday shows no paid parking and no sign of Wilson.
After contacting Wilson Parking’s parent company, Ms Williams had her fine waived.
Williams said dash cam footage of his arrival at the parking lot at 7:45 a.m. Monday shows no paid parking and no sign of Wilson.
Wilson Parking said more signs were added to all parking lot entry points on April 29.
He is concerned that other drivers fined will not have the same luck.
‘I’m lucky I know the law and my rights, but other people may not. What about students, older people, or people who don’t know English well?
“$85 ($A77) is a lot of money, for me it would have been two weeks of shopping,” Ms Williams said.
Wilson Parking said more signs were added to all parking lot entry points on April 29.
“In recognition of the increased signage added on the 29th at the entrance, we have made the decision to refund all payments made up to April 30 and waive any default notices issued up to this date,” a spokesperson said.
The company denied issuing notices of non-compliance before the signs were posted.
“Payment options were available and signed for as of April 22, but no infringement notices were issued before the 29th,” a spokesperson said.
