General News
12 June, 2023
High Street loading zone enforcement to begin
Police will begin clamping down on drivers parked in High Street’s loading zones following a number of complaints from commercial drivers. There are several loading zones in High Street’s central business district which police say drivers are...
Police will begin clamping down on drivers parked in High Street’s loading zones following a number of complaints from commercial drivers.
There are several loading zones in High Street’s central business district which police say drivers are using to short-term park while visiting businesses, in turn impacting commercial drivers who are unable to safely unload and collect goods.
Central Goldfields Highway Patrol Sergeant Paul Martin said police will be conducting monitoring and enforcement activities within loading zones and wish to place anybody considering using a loading zone on notice to ensure they are authorised to do so.
“The reality is those spaces are often convenient for people to park in because they’re free of cars, but they’re free of cars for a reason,” he said.
“Drivers might think it’s okay to pull into those loading zone spaces for just a couple of minutes while they duck into a shop but while they’re doing that, there’s a delivery van doing laps of the street trying to find somewhere they can pull in and safely unload their cargo.
“It is impacting on commercial drivers and we’re trying to bring that to the attention of drivers.”
There are a number of categories of vehicles that can lawfully use a loading zone, but a non-commercial passenger sedan or station wagon cannot use the zone for private parking while shopping.
The fine for being stopped in a loading zone carries a penalty of $185.
Sgt Martin said police are also enforcing the no stopping zones at the Napier and Nolan streets intersection.
“Vehicles cannot be parked in an area delineated by a No Stopping sign or in an area that has a continuous yellow edge line. Napier Street has both,” he said.
“The Napier and Nolan streets intersection is one that is probably over-represented in terms of collision statistics.
“It’s a stop sign on both sides from Nolan Street and vehicles parked near that intersection in the no stopping areas obscure driver vision and can lead to reduced reaction times and this certainly could lead to a collision occurring.”
The Central Goldfields Shire Council, which can also enforce parking rules, is reminding residents of the importance of loading zones.
“Loading zones play an important role in allowing the pick up or delivery of goods or people near our businesses and key community assets,” council’s general manager infrastructure, assets and planning Matthew Irving said.
“Without them many of our local businesses and organisations would struggle to provide the efficient services they do for the community of Central Goldfields.
“Parking in these areas is not permitted unless undertaking the loading activity and to ensure they can be used effectively, it is requested that people refrain from parking in these zones.”