AFTER taking her daughter for a school holiday treat at a Lords Place restaurant Deanna Delaitamana says she was gobsmacked to discover she had been fined for parking in a disabled car space and vowed to prove her innocence.
“When I saw the fine I thought, you’re kidding me,” she said.
“I work with disabled people and that’s just not something I would do.”
Ms Delaitamana said she had parked adjacent to the disabled car spot on October 2 but was careful to park within her own lines.
Once she realised she had been fined, Ms Delaitamana took photos of her car, which she intends to use to dispute the fine.
Ms Delaitamana says she is at a loss to explain how the incident happened and wants an explanation.
“I really don’t think this is fair, there are not enough disabled car spots around town, I wouldn’t do this.”
Ms Delaitamana said she would not pay the $496 fine and would fight for as long as it took.
She has already contacted Orange City Council and sent a letter with details of the incident to general manager Garry Styles.
In the letter she asked Mr Sykes for the fine to “be reviewed and the outcome seen in my favour”.
“I have provided eight photos along with my request to show the position of my vehicle on all angles, prior to (it) being moved from where it was parked,” the letter states.
“They in no way indicate that I was committing the offence that I have been fined for.”
Council spokesman Allan Reeder said all parking fine disputes were referred to the State Debt Recovery Office (SDRO) unless the dispute was regarding local infrastructure.
An SDRO spokeswoman confirmed the office handled requests for reviews of parking infringements issued by Orange City Council.
“The requests are considered in accordance with the guidelines that are published on SDRO’s website, www.sdro.nsw. gov.au,” she said.
“As Ms Delaitamana wrote to Orange council yesterday (October 11) to dispute her fine, the council will now refer the matter to SDRO for review.
“To expedite this process, I will also forward a copy of her letter and its attachments to SDRO.”
The spokeswoman said she could not comment further on the matter until the SDRO had the opportunity to consider the issues raised and respond to Ms Delaitamana.
“If she is unhappy with the outcome of the review, she has the right to elect to have the matter heard in court,” the spokeswoman said.
The spokeswoman said Ms Delaitamana could discuss the review process by contacting the SDRO directly.
tracey.prisk@ruralpress.com