Get caught queuing across an intersection in a school zone and you’ll now be hit with a $457 fine. Changes by the NSW Government will see seven parking-based offences with harsher punishments when committed in a school zone, with fines increasing by up to 200 per cent.
As of 1 February 2018 the offences include obstructing access to a ramp/path/passageway, stop on or too closely to children's crossings or general pedestrian crossings and stopping within 10 metres of an intersection without traffic lights.
The biggest change is for stopping over a pedestrian crossing or otherwise obstructing access to a ramp, path or passageway. Which normally incur a $110 fine but in a school zone it will sting motorists $344.
On top of this, not parking your car in the direction of travel or parking too closely, the dividing line in the middle of the road will also see you lose $344.
The heftiest fines of the seven changes are for stopping within 20m of an intersection with traffic lights, stopping within 10m of one without lights or stopping near bicycle lights – each attracting a $457 fine.
None of the seven offences attract demerit points when committed elsewhere on the road but in a school zone they each come with two points.
The changes
1. Stopping in intersection - Under the recent changes, if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a penalty of $457 and 2 demerit points.
2. Stop within 20m of intersection (traffic lights) - Under the changes, if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a penalty of $457 and 2 demerit points.
3. Stop within 10m of intersection (no traffic lights) - Under the changes, if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a penalty of $457 and 2 demerit points.
4. Stop near bicycle crossing lights - Under the changes, if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a penalty of $457 and 2 demerit points.
5. Obstruct access to ramp/path/passageway - Under the changes, if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a penalty of $344 and 2 demerit points.
6. Not parallel park in the direction of travel - Under the changes, if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a $344 fine and 2 demerit points.
7. Parallel park close to dividing line - Under the changes, if a driver commits this offence in a school zone they will receive a $344 fine and 2 demerit points.
