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Car park crackdown for VIC non-commuters

Public transport station car parks in Victoria will be limited to those using public transport

The Victorian Government has gazetted new regulations effective from 2015 to crack down on non-commuters using station car parks.

The regulations will be initially trialled at Box Hill, Burwood, Camberwell, Heidelberg, Highett and Murrumbeena stations, where commuters have experienced non-commuters taking free commuter car parking spaces.

Minister for Public Transport Terry Mulder says car parks are there for public transport users who directly contribute to the cost of running, maintaining and upgrading Melbourne’s trains, trams and buses by paying a fare.

“These free commuter car park spaces should not be used by retailers, local employees, tradies or shoppers who are not catching public transport,” he says.

From January 1, 2015, the use of these station car parks on weekdays between 6am and 7pm will be limited to drivers or passengers of motor vehicles who use public transport while the vehicle is parked.

A person may, however, park in a station car park for up to one hour provided he or she remains in the station car park area.

“Local MPs have received complaints that those car parks are being used by non-public transport users,” Mulder says.

“We’ve listened to the community and we will trial this solution.”

The new regulations will be enforced by authorised officers conducting random checks at car park exits.

If drivers or passengers in the vehicle do not have a valid ticket that shows public transport was used while the vehicle was parked, they risk an $89 fine.

If successful, the trial will be extended to other free commuter car parks in 2015.

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