28-07-2025
Aussie's cheeky stunt with parked cars prompts $750 fine warning
Aussies are being warned that a tactic to avoid parking fines can land culprits with fines as high as $750 and even jail time, after a cheeky video went viral online.
The reminder comes after a NSW resident shared footage of water being poured over the tyres of chalk-marked cars to remove the substance. Ticket inspectors, who operate as authorised officers, use chalk to mark tyres as a method of tracking how long a vehicle has been parked in a specific spot.
Some have branded the move "heroic", while others called for it to be "normalised".
But Astor Legal's leading criminal lawyer Avinash Singh told Yahoo News it could be seen as an offence in the eyes of the law. This is because removing chalk could hinder a parking ranger from carrying out their duties and prevent them from issuing fines, he explained.
"It depends on what state you're in," Singh told Yahoo.
"In South Australia, it is definitely illegal, as there is a specific act that deals with it. In other states, there is no specific act, but there are some general pieces of legislation referred to as perverting the course of justice, or attempting to pervert the course of justice."
Singh warned that anyone could be "opening themselves up to significant penalties" if caught in the act.
Footage of the moment has been viewed over a million times, with many praising the tactic to help fellow Aussies avoid parking fines.
Singh believes it's captured the public's attention because many would be wondering if it is really allowed. "The first thing you would think is 'is this even legal, and that's where the curiosity has come from," he said.
So, what does the law say?
South Australia is the only state that has a specific law that addresses this issue. Section 174AB of the Road Traffic Act 1961 makes it an offence to remove a parking inspector's chalk from a vehicle. The maximum fine for this is $750 if taken to court. According to Singh, the law was implemented because the practice of removing chalk became widespread among residents.
In NSW, Section 319 Crimes Act 1900 makes it an offence to do any act, or make any omission, intending in any way to pervert the course of justice. The maximum penalty is imprisonment for 14 years if caught.
In Queensland, Section 140 of the Criminal Code 1899 makes it an offence for a person to attempt to obstruct, prevent, pervert, or defeat the course of justice. The maximum penalty is seven years' jail.
In Western Australia, Section 143 of the Criminal Code 1899 makes it an offence for a person to attempt to obstruct, prevent, pervert, or defeat the course of justice. The maximum penalty is seven years' jail.
In Victoria, there is a common law offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice which carries a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment.
Despite the laws, Singh explained it would be hard to prove an offence had taken place.
"Unless [the parking inspector] directly saw you or had some sort of footage, it would be almost impossible to prove beyond a reasonable doubt," he explained.
He adds that chalking isn't the best way for inspectors to catch out drivers who have overstayed their welcome, and drivers can contest fines by asking for evidence they were correctly timed.
"Chalking itself isn't the best method to use because there are some holes to exploit to get out of fines. What is better evidence these days is a time-stamped photograph," he said.
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