A resident has been accused of using orange traffic cones to reserve a parking space on a street where it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a parking space.
In Leichhardt, in western Sydney, several traffic cones have been placed along the kerb.
A frustrated local shared a photo on Facebook, in which he rants about the lack of parking on the busy road.
“It’s been going on for months and it doesn’t appear to be a renovation,” he wrote.
There are no parking restrictions on the street, meaning residents can park there for as long as they want, as long as they can get a spot.
Social media users were quick to share their thoughts, with many suggesting that the neighbors should simply move the witch hats.
Others called the parking law “scandalous,” “spoiled,” “rude” and “selfish.”
“I’ve noticed this for months and wondered why people pay so much attention to it,” one person wrote.
A resident has used orange traffic cones to block on-street parking for at least two cars near his home in Leichardt, in the city’s west-central area
“I think you can only do it if you have the right to do it and can get away with it.”
“Remove them if they aren’t there, otherwise someone will park there anyway,” suggested another.
Some supported the law, dismissing the criticism as “grumbling,” claiming that residents have a right to reserve a parking space.
The Inner West City Council has stated that reserving on-street parking spaces in this way is prohibited. According to the council, residents are not allowed to leave objects, such as traffic cones, unattended in public spaces.
“Unfortunately, these kinds of things happen in our local government area,” said a spokesperson Yeah.
The council encourages anyone who sees someone using their property to obstruct public use of facilities to report it.
Fines for these types of violations range from $330 to $660.
However, it seems that the use of witches’ hats to secure on-street parking spaces has been a problem for years. Others have also shared their photos and stories online.
“The west of the city center summarized,” someone else wrote next to another photo of a resident closing off a space outside his home.
“This is so ridiculous. A friend of mine once got chased down the street for moving cones and parking there,” added another.