A driver who drove into a prohibited zone because he could not see the sign behind a tree has been given a large fine.
Juan was spotted by a City of Sydney council warden as he stopped to drop off a friend just on William St, in Sydney’s CBD, in February.
The ranger determined that he had stopped just feet short of a stop zone sign and fined him $300.
Juan’s attempt to challenge the fine was unsuccessful and he was told that the ‘issuing officer had noted that the signals were clear’.
Juan was spotted by a City of Sydney council warden in February when he stopped to drop off a friend just on William St (pictured), in Sydney’s CBD.
But the stop sign was covered by a tree (photo: the stop sign behind the tree)
Juan said the last sign he saw before passing the obstructed sign indicated legal parking, adding: “Of course you would think it would be possible to stop after that.”
‘How are drivers supposed to know that we can’t do anything when the sign is completely out of sight, in this case by a tree planted by the council?’ he told 9News.
Photos taken of the sign show that it is almost completely obscured from view by the tree, even when standing next to it.
The tree and sign were installed in June 2021 after roadworks on the street were completed.
A spokesperson for the City of Sydney said it was up to council rangers to ‘proactively report signs obstructed by vegetation so that maintenance can be carried out’.
“It is a motorist’s responsibility to always park legally,” the spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia.
“If motorists believe a mistake has been made, they can apply for a review of the fine through Revenue NSW or choose to have the matter heard in court.”
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the City of Sydney for comment.