A Canberra woman has spent hours fighting an erroneous parking fine, sparked by a simple typo made by a parking inspector. Lauren Edney's frustrating saga highlights a broader issue within the territory's infringement system.
The Puzzling Payment Reminder
Lauren Edney, a 47-year-old resident of Tuggeranong, was baffled when she received a text message from Access Canberra on December 9. The SMS was a payment reminder for a pending parking infringement.
The notice related to her Holden Commodore, which had a significant alibi: it had been located with her daughter in Boorowa, NSW, for over six months—more than 114 kilometres from Canberra.
"I was like, 'did she come to the airport to drop someone on November 13 and park it for long?'" Ms Edney recounted. She had not received any prior email about the fine, only the SMS urging payment to avoid an extra $34 fee.
Uncovering the Administrative Error
Ms Edney visited the Access Canberra service centre in Tuggeranong, where she was given a printout of the infringement. It showed a $141 fine for parking continuously for longer than permitted at Canberra Airport on November 13.
After a frantic call to airport security, she realised the ticket was actually for parking near the Majura Shopping Centre. A security guard then asked a crucial question: had she seen the infringement photograph?
Access Canberra had not provided the photo during her initial visit. Forced to return, Ms Edney requested the image, which revealed the root of the problem.
The photograph showed a red Honda Civic with ACT plates, not her white Holden Commodore. The parking inspector had entered an 'X' instead of a 'Z' when recording the number plate.
"The whole thing was two hours of my life which I will never get back," Ms Edney said. "I understand people make mistakes, but it can't be that hard entering six correct letters or double-checking it actually matches the vehicle."
A Widespread Issue in the ACT
Ms Edney's case is not isolated. According to ACT government statistics, 2,125 parking infringements were withdrawn in the territory up to December 2, 2025.
Furthermore, 1,556 parking fines were disputed in court by motorists up to December 12. The government notes that withdrawals can be for various reasons, including a good driving record or emergency situations, and do not always indicate an incorrectly issued fine.
A government spokesperson stated, "If the individual's withdrawal application is unsuccessful, they can apply to dispute it. This means the matter will be heard in court." Access Canberra does not hold data on successfully disputed infringements, as they remain court matters.
Overall parking fine data for 2025 reveals:
- Total parking fines issued in the ACT: 59,785
- Total amount collected from motorists up to December 14: $3,848,019
- Penalty amounts range from $137 to $700.
Ms Edney lodged a formal withdrawal notice on December 10 and is awaiting confirmation that the $141 penalty will be cleared. Her experience serves as a cautionary tale about the human error that can creep into automated systems, costing citizens time and stress.
