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Thread ID: 65249	2006-01-12 02:12:00	Is it an offence to park outside your own house with an expired WOF?	Billy T (70)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
420316	2006-01-12 02:12:00	Hi Team We have some new neighbours in our street and one of them has given us an unwelcome New Year's present. We have parked my wife's car on the road outside our house for the last 15 years or so, same car, same place. It failed its last warrant, so with Christmas expenses coming up we left it parked there and unused since November while we accumulated the money for the necessary repairs. It has current reg and with a personalised plate it is well known to all long-term residents of our somewhat secluded no-exit street. Last night we discovered that some kind person had reported it to the local Council, who had sent out an official who issued it with a "Stationary Vehicle" infringement notice for not having a current WOF. I was a bit gobsmacked to put it mildly, firstly that somebody would report my vehicle parked outside my own home, secondly that I would get an infringement notice when it was "at home and at rest" as opposed to having been driven somewhere and parked, and thirdly that the local Council would have the power to issue such a notice. The fine is $200, so needless to say I will be putting them through the hoops via a hearing etc before I give any thought to paying anything, and since the Council officer was only there for 1 minute I'll be expecting the complainant to front to the hearing, otherwise I'll be denying everything, like "the car was only parked there for two days". My question is this: Does anybody know if it is a local body matter to ticket a vehicle parked outside its owner's home just because it has no WOF. I always though the crime was to "operate a motor vehicle without a current WOF" with "operating" requiring it to be driven, not just parked up at home. Would the Police issue a similar ticket if they happened to see it there? Cheers Billy 8-{) :mad: To cap it all, the vehicle was actually immobile, because when I went out to move it I found that some kind soul had broken into it during the last few days and pulled the barrel out of the ignition lock. Fortunately they made such a hash of it they couldn't turn the ignition on with their screwdriver so they had to abandon it!	Billy T (70)
420317	2006-01-12 02:23:00	it is illegal for an unwarranted vehicle to be on a public road unless it is being taken to be serviced or to get a warrant. That is the letter of the law, but most officers would leave it be if they knew the situation.	Greven (91)
420318	2006-01-12 02:33:00	But most Councils will do the dirty on you. :D I don't know if they get the "Infrongement Fee". But I don't think you'll get anywhere by saying it was there for only a short time. If it was there when the ticket was written, you've committed the offence. As for neighbours like that ...	Graham L (2)
420319	2006-01-12 02:37:00	Google will show you that most city councils have bye-laws concerning issuing infringement notices for vehicles without WOFs parked on public roads. So whilst it is not uncommon to see such vehicles, it is one way of ensuring vehicles are registered and warranted, ie it is a GOOD thing. An unwarranted or unregistered vehicle should and must be parked off the road. I would grit your teeth and pay up, you do not have a case Billy.	Terry Porritt (14)
420320	2006-01-12 02:38:00	I've seen students write to council and say, "I'm broke, and really don't want a ticket, please can you waive this?" and the ticket got waived. Kinda taken aback that a excuse so flimsy had allowed someone an exemption I spoke to a friend who was a parking warden, she told me "Oh that's nothing, you'd be AMAZED at the excuses some people use that are upheld" So while I believe techinicly you are in the wrong here, write to the council, explain your situation. It's quite likely you'll get off. -Qyiet	qyiet (6730)
420321	2006-01-12 02:40:00	Somehow I dont think they take where it is, into account. They see no current WOF on it, and give you an infringement. By the looks of it (www.police.govt.nz) if it doesn't have a WOF, it's $200. Whether its going, or not. Well, whoever issued the infringement, wouldnt know that either.	Speedy Gonzales (78)
420322	2006-01-12 02:43:00	You don't own the road outside your house unfortunately. Might pay to park it in the driveway next time :)	pixeldust (6619)
420323	2006-01-12 02:56:00	the wgtn city council gave my parents a ticket a few years ago for parking in the wrong direction in there quiet cul de sac street out in the suburbs. be careful b4 you start blaming the neighbours without proof as the parking enforcemwnt officers do make random trips out to the suburbs. Yes it is illegal, you are in the wrong, but so are most car dealers that park cars for sale on the roadside with out a reg plate or warrant. good luck at the hearing although I doubt it will do much use	plod (107)
420324	2006-01-12 03:23:00	I'd write in saying that the car was (temporarily) immobilised and you couldn't remove it from the streets while getting repairs to bring it up to WOF standard. They do the same in Dunedin too (the parking officers go out to the surburbs from time to time). It is a bit odd as the LTSA website implies that you get fined if you operate an expired WOF vehicle. But Dunedin Council rules say just parking an expired WOF vehicle will get you a fine, so maybe it is a bylaw. Maybe they want your parking space :) Not that it sounds like a good place to park a car anyway..	gibler (49)
420325	2006-01-12 03:32:00	I once recieved a $200 fine for parking in town with no WOF. Getting off it was very easy, I wrote a letter and included a reciept for the WOF I obtained the following day and wrote some guff about it being an accident / WOF was only a week over due etc..etc.... They did warn next time I wouldn't be so lucky. :rolleyes:	superuser (7693)
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