How You Can Now Get Thousands Of Fines For A Completely Innocuous Parking Mistake – As Police And City Crack Down On New ‘ICE-ing’ Issue
- Huge fines for drivers who park in electric car spaces
- If a petrol or diesel car stops in the EV space, they could be fined
- ACT has the largest electric vehicle fine at $3,200
Drivers in certain Australian states and territories will now be fined thousands of dollars if they park in spaces reserved for electric cars.
With the recent surge in electric vehicles in Australia, states have decided to crack down on those who stop in bays or at charging stations specifically for cars that need electricity to drive – in a move known as ‘ICE-ing’.
The term ICE-ing refers to cars with internal combustion engines – which need fuel to run – parked in EV spaces.
Those who drive petrol or diesel cars in New South Wales and get a spot for an electric car could be fined up to $2,200.
In the ACT, the maximum penalty for stopping in an area for electric-powered cars is 20 penalty units, which equates to a hefty $3,200.
Drivers in certain Australian states and territories can be fined up to thousands of dollars if they park in spaces reserved for electric cars
In Queensland, those who park incorrectly in an EV spot face fines of up to $2,875, while Victorians face a much less severe penalty with two demerit points costing $369.
Some of the fines were only introduced at the end of last year.
Experts say the tough penalties are important to encourage adoption of electric vehicles and prevent drivers from doing the same thing as parking “in front of a fuel truck.”
The fines also apply to drivers of electric cars who stop in the parking lots without charging their vehicle.
NSW Metropolitan Roads Minister Natalie Ward said the government added the offense to “support the transition to electric vehicles on our roads.”
“To make sure we move the community forward, we want electric vehicle drivers to have access to charging stations when they are offered,” she said.
The ACT, Queensland and NSW introduced the highest fines for blocking access to charging stations, with a maximum fine of 20 penalty units.
Signage (pictured) labeling the charging stations must be displayed for the laws to apply
Australian Electric Vehicle Association national president Chris Jones said that while the penalties for blocking infrastructure were high, they were necessary to inform the public that the consequences may not have been considered.
“Nobody would like it if I parked my vehicle in front of a tanker and walked in and ordered lunch,” he said.
“There has to be an acknowledgment that there are places you can park and places you can’t and right in front of an EV charger is one where you can’t.”
There are more than 83,000 electric vehicles in Australia, according to the EV Council, with battery-powered vehicles accounting for 6.8 percent of all new car sales in February.