A magistrate has ruled in favour of Frida Theodorakis, a Carlton resident who was fined by City of Melbourne parking officers when she stopped her car in a loading zone to report a traffic accident.
After witnessing a collision at the intersection of Elgin and Rathdowne streets in Carlton in November last year, Ms Theodorakis pulled over and parked in a loading zone to call police.
She briefly left her parked car unattended, after the police operator asked her to get the car’s registration details. In the meantime, parking officers didn’t waste any time and gave her a ticket.
Ms Theodorakis contested the fine in writing, explaining that one of the drivers “could barely stand on his feet” and that she felt she needed to do something “to try and help get this person off the road.”
She also provided the council with a statutory declaration as well as audio from the triple-0 call, but the council upheld the penalty due to “insufficient evidence”.
Last week Ms Theodorakis pleaded guilty to the traffic offence and broke down in tears as she spoke before the court.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Dan Muling found the charge proved, but dismissed it and ruled that Ms Theodorakis would not have to pay the $141 fine.
Source: Melbourne Times Weekly Review