Gardener fined $750 after pulling over into a no stopping zone for ‘one minute’ to let his dog out to be sick
A tradesman was fined $750 for doing something almost anyone would do: being kind to a sick animal.
Gardener Ori Weiser was driving in the Cottesloe Beach area of Perth when he noticed his dog looked very ill, so he stopped to walk him.
It was a restricted area, but it only took a minute for the sick dog to vomit on the grass while staying within sight of his car.
Mr. Weiser parked in a “nearly empty” section of a parking lot, between two empty disabled spaces, across from the Cottesloe General Store to let his pet recuperate.
“It didn’t take more than a minute,” he told the After newspaper.
But as he walked back to his car, the gardener saw a council parking attendant watching him and taking notes.
“I asked him what he was doing, and he said he was going to write me a $500 ticket for blocking a handicapped parking space,” Mr. Weiser said.
He told the ranger that he was only there because his pet was sick, but the officer replied that he didn’t care and walked back to his colleague and laughed.
Tradie Ori Weiser (pictured) said he was fined $750 for stopping his car for a minute to let his dog out to poop
While Mr. Weiser called the council and spoke to what he thought was the “apologetic” ranger chief, he was then given another $250 fine for blocking traffic.
Furious about what had happened, he drove to the town hall, where he was told he would have to appeal because the fine could not be withdrawn.
Mr Weiser hoped the council would use its ‘common sense’ and withdraw the fine by appealing, but that did not happen.
“It’s just cowardly behavior and completely unnecessary,” he said Perth now.
“For small and struggling trading businesses, $750 is a big amount and can really make a difference.”
Mr. Weiser said he understands there need to be rules and regulations, “but there also needs to be humanity and kindness.”
“Especially in an already wealthy suburb… the punishment is disproportionate to the crimes.”
Gardener Ori Weiser was driving in the Cottesloe beach area (pictured) in Perth when he noticed his dog looked very ill, so he stopped to walk him
Cottesloe parking inspectors are expected to issue $1.34 million in fines this year, after racking up $1 million since January.
The council said the fine Mr Weiser received was for parking in one of the disabled parking spaces, known as ACROD.
A spokesperson told the Post that “Mr. Weiser’s car … was partially parked in the parking bay, preventing a permit holder from using it.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Cottesloe City Council for further comment.