Yahoo Finance How this Australia Post road rule could cost drivers $116
There are plenty of road rules surrounding stopping near items of public interest whether it be fire hydrants, bus stops or even post boxes.
The rules around post boxes, in particular, spark a lot of debate as many people stop momentarily to drop off mail, but sometimes find themselves unable to do so if someone else has parked there illegally.
It’s why there have been special road rules implemented around post boxes to punish anyone who illegally parks near one for some time. So how do the rules work?
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If anyone wants to park near a post box they ought to check that they aren’t stopped too close to one as road rules are designed to ensure the immediate area surrounding them is kept clear at all times.
This is highlighted by Rule 199 of the Australian Road Rules which states that drivers aren’t allowed to stop within three metres of a post box that sits on the side of the road.
Drivers are allowed to pull over next to a post box to drop off a letter or a parcel as are vans that are collecting the mail, but these are the only exceptions given to motorists stopping outside of one.
With these being such a common feature on Australian streets, it is a rule that authorities across Australia have adopted into their local road rule legislations.
Drivers copping triple-figure fines
Like many other parking offences, police will issue fines to anyone caught parked illegally outside a post-box and breaking the subsequent road rule.
Some states have direct offences for breaking this road rule with set amounts if caught by local police and these amounts range into triple figures. These penalties include:
NSW: Drivers in New South Wales face a fine of $116 from NSW Police should they be found parked within three metres of a post box without dropping off any mail.
VIC: Victoria Police will not hesitate to give motorists a fine of $109 if they catch anyone illegally parked next to a post box.
SA: In South Australia, drivers could face a combined fine of $196 if SA Police catch them stopped next to a post box for a prolonged period.
TAS: Tasmanian authorities won’t hesitate to dish out a fine of $87 if they catch any drivers illegally parking within three metres of a roadside post box.
ACT: Drivers in the ACT could get hit with a penalty of $125 if they are caught parking illegally next to any post box on the streets of Canberra.
Unlike their neighbours, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory use a penalty unit system to determine the amount someone could be fined. Some of these penalties – which change annually – includes:
QLD: Authorities in Queensland can issue drivers with 0.75 of a penalty unit if found parked illegally near a post box which is currently worth around $103.
WA: Drivers in Western Australia face a fine equating to one penalty unit – around $50 – if they are caught illegally stopped next to a post box.
NT: In the Northern Territory, parking illegally near a post box is considered a general offence and could see offenders given a fine of one penalty unit equating to $157.
Regardless of where you may be, parking illegally near a post box is a major inconvenience for anyone needing to drop off a letter and it’s not hard to see why states have implemented road rules to ensure drivers don’t block access to a key feature of Australian communities.
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