Mobile speed camera nearly gets towed in Australia after parking illegally – and now its operator has been forced to retract all fines
- Speed camera parked in a temporary clearway in Wollongong was almost towed
- The clearway has been set up for the World Road Cycling Championships in NSW
- All fines issued by the camera on Cabbage Tree Lane on Wednesday are invalid
- NSW deputy secretary for Transport Tara McCarthy said the car moved voluntarily
A mobile speed camera was forced to retract all fines after parking illegally and almost getting towed.
The camera was parked in a temporary clearway on Cabbage Tree Lane in Wollongong’s Fairy Meadow, about 80km south of Sydney, last Wednesday.
Footage shared online shows a tow truck backing up to the camera as its sign reading ‘your speed has been checked’ slowly lowers.
However, Transport for NSW said the mobile camera driver voluntarily moved from the spot after realizing they were illegally parked.
‘The driver moved the vehicle once they became aware the temporary clearway was in place as part of the World Road Cycling Championships,’ deputy secretary Tara McCarthy told Nine News.
‘As a result, the enforcement session has been deemed invalid and fines will not be issued.’
‘Transport for NSW is working with the vendor to investigate the incident.’
Cabbage Tree Lane is one of several streets closed for the World Road Cycling Championships, running from September 18 to September 25.
The lane will be closed from about 7am to 6pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the elite women’s and men’s road races.
A speed camera parked in a temporary clearway was forced to move and retract all fines for parking illegally (pictured, a tow truck preparing to move the car)
Social media users say the speed camera operators should not be above the law.
One user on Facebook said: ‘Government revenue raising as usual. It’s a disgrace.’
A second said: ‘The operator can’t even read so how can they enforce the law?’
While a third added: ‘Did the driver get fine for illegal parking?’
Another also called for the driver to be fined: ‘The driver of the vehicle should be slapped with a fine for parking in a clearway, like anyone else would be. Regardless of his vehicle, he decided to park the vehicle there where he can accept the fine.
Another added: ‘You’re not above the law.’
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