Jumping the boom gate in a car park

Over the weekend I did some shopping at Birkenhead point and realised I had gone over the 3 hr free parking. I was trying to rush out of the car park but there was a queue. I was going to pay however the car infront of me was trying to turn right but there was traffic so the car sat under the gate for a bit and so the machine wouldn't take my ticket, it just said "Thank you, have a good day"

I tried jamming my ticket in more but when the car infront of me went I followed out too because I was impatient and that I could save $7. Of course I didn't think about it until 2 minutes later that I could be sent a fine. The boom gate was half way down when I went through and I did not hit it.

"Jumping" is the only verb I can think of to describe what I've done.

Will the car park send me a letter or something?

Poll Options expired

  • 9
    Yes
  • 15
    No

Comments

  • +3

    No they won't send you a fine.

  • TL;DR: Yes they can send you a letter for breach of contract (since private entities cannot issue 'fines') and claim liquidated damages (lump sum amount: usually the fee you did not pay + admin charges + a penalty amount).

    A simple google search turn up these:
    http://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/motor-cars/parking-payment-no…
    http://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/publications/factsheets-and-r…
    http://www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au/ftw/Consumers/Buying_servi…

    Edit: I would not worry too much about it until you do get it, if you do. Considering it is only $7. Unlikely they will go through the effort to do so.

  • +4

    You will probably be going to prison. Hopefully the throw away the key.

  • +9

    Murderers, rapist and boom gate jumpers. Same, same.

    • That escalation

  • +1

    Keep us updated, I'd like to know if u get some letter in the mail.

    • no letter as of today

  • It is not your fault by any means.

  • I was just wondering if anyone had any experiences with this car park in particular - if it's sophisticated or not. I've heard the car park at West Ryde Woolies isnt and workers do it all the time there.

    • Are there cameras near the boomgate?
      I had to "jump" a boomgate once/tailgate a car once, because it was at 11:45pm at night, there was a boomgate and a roller door. When I inserted my card (debit), it opened the boomgate and the roller door… and then the boomgate closed while the roller door was still opening!
      Reinsertion of my card came up with - no parking entry was found and hence it wouldn't let me get out of the carpark -_-
      No one answered the intercom button.
      Wrote a disappointed email to wilson parking and the recipient fobbed it off with "this has been forwarded to blah blah manager".

      • +3

        I once got to a carpark 4min after it closed for the evening.

        I'd paid my evening fee and couldn't raise anyone on the intercom. I avoided waiting any longer and a $75 callout fee by following the cable conduits in the ceiling back to an unlocked panel box with the gate controls.

        • Nice. There was a camera there facing the cars exiting though :|
          Will keep it in my mind to do that if it happens :)

      • I can't remember if there were cameras.

  • If your a pretty boy, prison is not for you. Get a good lawyer and don't plea guilty.

    Just saying.

  • Now that, you aren't in a rush, go back and pay for it.

    You have realised what you did is wrong, and your excuses/justifications aren't really valid.

    You were obviously putting the ticket into the machine, when it wasn't ready.

    Another verb, could be stealing.

    • yeah in the real world try to explain to a cashier what you are trying to do

  • It's people like you that are destroying… my ASX shares in shopping centres.

  • u'll be fine

  • +4
    • lol that's gold

  • They may have issues getting your address from road authority but depends on privacy polices in your state

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