Almost 400 fines totalling more than $100,000 have been issued for offences in Queanbeyan school zones over the past year.
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The fines were issued between June 2015 and June 2016, according to Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council, which patrols each local school zone at least once per week.
The statistics come in response to a letter to the editor, printed in last week's Queanbeyan Age, which expressed concerns QPRC were targeting parents in school zones for "revenue raising purposes".
Mother of Queanbeyan Public School students, who asked for her name to remain anonymous, said she had parked in an approved parking zone near the pedestrian crossing at the front of the school. However, when she reversed out of that carpark she was required to stop near the pedestrian crossing to wait for traffic. At this time that she believes a council car drove past and photographed her, without stopping to inform her of what she did wrong.
The letter to the editor said she received a $425 fine in the mail from council for stopping on or near a pedestrian crossing. When objected, she said she was told she would have to go court.
The woman said council should be educating parents on where they were going wrong, rather than "preying" on them.
A spokesman for QPRC said council had been working closely with Queanbeyan Public School and P&C about the issue.
Of the 383 fines issued in the past year, 82 per cent of these were made up of parking infringements. The three main offences were; disobeying a no stopping sign, which results in a $319 fine and two demerit points; disobeying no parking signs, which results in a $177 fine and two demerit points; and stopping in a bus zone which comes with a $319 fine and two demerit points.
NSW Legislation states that parking fines within school zones are up to three times higher than for offences outside of school zones and include loss of demerit points.
A spokesman for council said ensuring safety of students and their parents and carers was one of the highest priorities of council's parking officers.
The spokesman said as the term progressed, fines issued around school zones had reduced.
"The majority of parents/carers are doing the right thing at drop off and pick-up times," the spokesman said.
Residents unsure about school zones parking or have a school-specific question are asked to contact relevant schools or Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council for further information.