Park employee taking a video (of my car) while driving, should I report?

isidore12 on 16/05/2016 - 14:38

Hi all

On Sunday, we went to the park for a picnic. While I was parking (badly, I had to try few times), an employee of the Park stopped her car, and started taking a video of my car with her phone.

She was very aggressive (you would have thought I was committing a crime), and clearly she will try to get me a fine (although I am not sure on what basis).

She was holding her phone and made the video while driving. This is strictly forbidden, and such she committed a road offense.

So I thought to contact the Park and report the offense as pre-emptive strike. On the other hand maybe nothing will happen, and I will just make things worse.

Any suggestion?

Thanks

Automotive

Comments

  • ESEMCE on 16/05/2016 - 14:56
    +51

    Honestly, there's a fair chance she was making a video of your terrible parking skills to have a laugh with her colleagues/partner/friends!
    But this is NSW, so there's also a chance that the park was a reverse 45 and you were parking front first.. which would not only have made the park difficult to achieve (hence your bad parking), it could also be fine-worthy..

    Not sure how anyone can be "aggressive" whilst filming a video from inside a stationary car?

    • isidore12 on 16/05/2016 - 15:20
      +10

      by making an ugly face!

      • airzone on 16/05/2016 - 17:52
        +62

        Some people are just born with one.

        • Hirolol on 17/05/2016 - 14:08
          +5

          AKA resting bitch face

        • cameldownunder on 18/05/2016 - 17:07

          All the time angry?

      • QW3RTY on 19/05/2016 - 13:36
        +2

        She was probably just grimacing at your terrible parking.

        Making a grimace with your face is not "very aggressive" behaviour. It's not even aggressive behaviour. Methinks you just over reacted.Check your face privilege.

    • Elppa8 on 16/05/2016 - 18:58

      But this is NSW, so there's also a chance that the park was a reverse 45 and you were parking front first.

      Certainly got to read the signs in NSW, near us there are two lots of council car parking within 20 meters on the same street only seperate do by a footpath, one is front to kerb and the other rear to kerb whilst the street parking is parallel.

      • Spending2Much on 17/05/2016 - 09:51

        From WA, so not too familiar with the reverse parking.
        With the front parking, do you drive into the spot, ie, left turn 45deg frontwards and reverse parking are the spots 45 deg left rear, where you drive past the spot and then back into it left hand down?
        (described terrible, but interested to understand if it's quite clear when on the road, which way to park)??

        • Elppa8 on 17/05/2016 - 11:07

          In this case it as you described with line marking, however you wouldn't know by the way people park particularly the reverse parking which I think is a skill that some are unable to perform confidently.

          In towns were angle parking is in the streets a lot of it is unmarked. I haven't been everywhere but most towns I have been with angle parking is rear to kerb.

  • Nutrino on 16/05/2016 - 15:05
    +25

    Maybe you'll make one of those fail YouTube videos?

    • rmamila on 19/05/2016 - 13:53

      If so you'll be popular in social media over night.

  • gomertose on 16/05/2016 - 15:09
    +12

    "an employee of the Park stopped her car, and started taking a video of my car with her phone"

    "She was holding her phone and made the video while driving."

    So you mean she stopped, got out her phone, started recording, then continued to record while she drove off and did doughnuts around your car?

    • isidore12 on 16/05/2016 - 15:19
      +7

      Unless you parked and stopped the engine, you are not supposed to hold your phone (Road rules).

      • fruit on 16/05/2016 - 15:33
        -6

        she drove off and did doughnuts around your car

        kek'd

        Fairly sure you can have the car running and parked and use your phone.

        • Clear on 16/05/2016 - 15:49

          That rule is iffy. Depends on the police officer from my experience.

        • quietsarcasm on 16/05/2016 - 17:15
          +10

          kek'd

        • alizzan on 17/05/2016 - 13:47
          +8

          In Victoria you can't. You must turn off the engine, it's not enough to just be parked. I'd suggest reading the Learner's rulebook if you're not sure of the road rules.

        • StewBalls on 17/05/2016 - 19:52
          +1

          @alizzan: IIRC NSW is still the same, engine off & keys out last time I heard any mention of it.

        • Rusty4 on 18/05/2016 - 11:09
          +1

          Engine can't be running in NSW.

        • liquid metal on 18/05/2016 - 22:53

          @StewBalls:

          WTF? Keys out? This is retarded. Engine off is already stupid but keys out

        • Oliver on 19/05/2016 - 00:19

          That is incorrect fruit

        • psy on 19/05/2016 - 09:54

          @StewBalls:

          What happens if you have a keyless ignition? ;)

        • syousef on 19/05/2016 - 12:46

          @psy:

          You have to have a friend tie your wrists the rear vision mirror so that you can't press the ignition button.

        • StewBalls on 19/05/2016 - 15:47

          @psy: Or throw the transponder out the window! ;)

    • resisting the urge on 17/05/2016 - 16:52
      +3

      Our OP still getting their story straight, obviously. Maybe they hit another car whilst getting their own car straightened up.

      But perhaps the alleged inquisition member was taking the evidence as it was looking likely. After all, there is no limit to community-minded uses for such toys, and certainly no shortage of interesting uses to put video content to, once its uploaded to the Internet of Weird Contexts.

      Seriously, aggressive Paparazzi are everywhere these days. Imagine being a celebrity, you won't be able to put the rubbish out without being 'flashed'. Most of them are probably are (or soon will be) employed by the State until our own children are fully-engaged with the Great Effort.

      Try doing anything interesting in China without a multitude of minders watching and recording.

      Time to get used to it, or tell your local MP you care about Privacy and would like a few laws enshrining your rights rather than the (un)regulated free-for-all that will allow our glorious rulers are using to enslave the next generation.

  • pantsparty on 16/05/2016 - 15:18
    +5

    I don't really understand this story. Are you trolling us?

    • isidore12 on 16/05/2016 - 15:21
      +1

      no I expected the video will be used to report me, and I was wondering if I should report first.

      • tomleonhart on 16/05/2016 - 15:24
        +6

        report you for what ?

      • StewBalls on 16/05/2016 - 15:25
        +23

        Isidore, you know by tattling on your friends, you're really just tattling on yourself. By tattling on your friends, you're just telling them that you're a tattletale. Now is that the tale you want to tell?

      • [Deactivated] on 18/05/2016 - 01:58
        +1

        Nope, absolutely do not report first. Probably nothing will come off it, and if it something does, then her evidence would incriminate herself too.

      • Ughhh on 19/05/2016 - 14:00

        So who ever dobs the other first wins?

  • altomic on 16/05/2016 - 15:27
    +22

    what do you want ozbargain to do?

    • mskeggs on 16/05/2016 - 16:39
      +5

      Send bikies?
      Kickstart a legal defence fund?
      Pile on?

      • ronnknee on 18/05/2016 - 19:09
        +2

        Report him.

    • bdl on 16/05/2016 - 16:54
      +15

      buy Eneloops

    • lainey13 on 17/05/2016 - 11:04
      +1

      Make Dick jokes

      • mishrael on 17/05/2016 - 20:33
        -1

        Make Dick Smith Jokes?

  • fruit on 16/05/2016 - 15:32
    +5

    an employee of the Park stopped her car, and started taking a video of my car with her phone.

    She was holding her phone and made the video while driving.

    Which one was it?

  • piggyfund on 16/05/2016 - 15:33
    +12

    Some people like to record everything and seeing you didn't hit a car etc I don't think it will be used against you. If I were you I'd let sleeping dogs lie. You don't want to bring attention to the situation if nothing is going to happen. If you get contacted then you can deal with it then but for now try to forget about it.

    • isidore12 on 16/05/2016 - 15:35

      Thanks, that's the kind of advise I am looking for :)

      I am just not sure what to do.

      • piggyfund on 16/05/2016 - 15:37
        +5

        For now you don't need to do anything, in a few days you will forget about it. It is not illegal to park badly as long as you don't damage others property. She sounds like a bit of a power trip bully so try not to take it too personally.

      • luckydan on 17/05/2016 - 14:32

        Do nothing, unless they put a ticket on your car while your parking there you can't get fined. It's on a Sunday nothing will happen, unless the place was packed but by then you would of had a fine on a windscreen.

        When I was working in a Supermarket early in the morning you always see people drive in take 4 carparks and leave after 15 minutes until it hits the peak hour.

  • fruit on 16/05/2016 - 15:36
    +2

    Which park was it OP? I wonder if we can request a copy of the video to upload to Youtube?

  • grog on 16/05/2016 - 15:37

    Do you live in north america?

    "offense" is an american word not used here.

    • isidore12 on 16/05/2016 - 15:43

      good catch, English is not my mother tongue

    • whooah1979 on 16/05/2016 - 16:21
      -1

      Do you live in north america?

      which of the 23 countries are you referring to?

      • fruit on 16/05/2016 - 20:12

        Isn't there just Canada + USA?

        • whooah1979 on 16/05/2016 - 20:24

          Isn't there just Canada + USA?

          north america is a continent that includes canada, the usa and 21 other countries.

        • Baysew on 17/05/2016 - 11:54
          +1

          I would have bet the the house on just Canada & USA, BUT I would have be wrong.

          North America Countries, Territories & Dependencies

        • mooboy on 17/05/2016 - 15:21
          +1

          You need some Mexican friends. Just imply that Mexico is part of South America once and see what happens…

        • mooboy on 17/05/2016 - 15:22

          Isn't there just Canada + USA?

          If that were true, Trump wouldn't need a wall :o

        • frewer on 18/05/2016 - 16:03

          @mooboy: A wall he shall build

  • isidore12 on 16/05/2016 - 15:45

    Ok, guys, thanks piggyfund for his advise. I'll wait and see if any comes. If not, well I don't have anything to do, otherwise, I'll have to defend myself.

    Thanks, talking about it helped me to process it.

  • GameChanger on 16/05/2016 - 16:01
    +6

    Thanks for sharing OP.

    Another cracker of a post to help me enjoy my day.

  • whooah1979 on 16/05/2016 - 16:11
    +1

    an employee of the Park stopped her car, and started taking a video of my car with her phone.

    hmm, could you please provide more details? was this a national park or a park on council property? if so, then was this employee a ranger?

    • isidore12 on 16/05/2016 - 16:24

      Public park. She didn't identify herself, and she was wearing any jacket (like a Ranger), but she was driving one of utility car and was dressed like an employee of the park. She could have been Ranger, but in that case I presume she would have given me the fine on the spot, or just a gardener.

      • whooah1979 on 16/05/2016 - 16:35

        so she could've been a ranger.

        road rules reg 300 does allow drivers to operate mobile phones in a moving vehicle. however, i don't know if this applies to council ranger.

        http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_reg/rr2014104/…
        (d) the driver is exempt from this rule under another law of this jurisdiction.

        • isidore12 on 16/05/2016 - 17:10

          Road rules forbid holding a mobile phone even if the car is stopped at a traffic light. You can use your phone for audio.

        • whooah1979 on 16/05/2016 - 17:14
          +3

          @isidore12:

          Road rules forbid holding a mobile phone even if the car is stopped at a traffic light. You can use your phone for audio.

          your understand of the reg 300 is incorrect. you need to read the link i gave you.

        • isidore12 on 16/05/2016 - 17:20

          @whooah1979:

          Not that I want to start a debate:
          http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/mobilepho…

          Overall it doesn't matter.

        • Parentheses on 18/05/2016 - 07:29
          +1

          @isidore12: You're missing the point. Police can operate mobile phones, as can firies, EMTs, etc. Maybe park rangers are also part of the exempt category, maybe not - but the overall law allows for exemptions.

  • Sage on 16/05/2016 - 16:27

    Well yeah her behaviour was rude and unnecessary, maybe OP can get revenge by reporting her.

  • aboabo on 16/05/2016 - 16:35

    What video?

  • Mumbles on 16/05/2016 - 20:39

    Most rangers prefer taking photos instead of video. Video works against them for this situation. A photo is usually preferable as it has higher pixel count and won't tell the whole story, that your car engine was on and vehicle was constantly moving.

    I wouldn't get too fussed at seeing an unhappy ranger. How many happy rangers with a cheerful disposition have you seen? Issuing parking fines is one of the most unpopular jobs and they receive a lot of verbal + physical abuse.

    You haven't received a fine yet. Why do you want to worry about something that hasn't happened? When a fine arrives you can still post on OzBargain for advice. If it's a video used incorrectly or inappropriately you can post a question on OzBargain about its illegality and how to sue the ranger or council.

    Today, everybody has a camera phone and legally able to use it in public. Eg. Police, parking rangers, journalists, bloggers, artists, tourists, bored teens. HEAPS of people have boring lives. I used to get filmed a lot + cheers + thumbs up from car fulls of P plate driving teens cause I cycled on the road faster than cars in 50km/h urban streets. To me there is absolutely no need for strangers to dangerously speed to chase me down, tailgate or have their camera phones in my face.

    No need to feel embarrassed about strangers noticing you. You should feel embarrassed for them because they live such boring lives that they don't have anything better to do.

  • Usher9387 on 16/05/2016 - 21:02

    aren't you tossing or something on the park ?, She might took picture for "Hey Tosser" proof.

  • alxr0101 on 17/05/2016 - 09:26
    +5

    Any suggestions???

    1. Practice your parking until it doesn't inspire someone to stop and make a documentary about it.

    2. Maybe your car was mistaken for being dumped or abandoned.

  • andy19363 on 17/05/2016 - 11:33
    +2

    If you committed an offence, and get fined, reporting her, (pre or post fine), won't make any difference….
    You will still get fined.
    What she did or didn't do is pretty much irrelevant….

  • fenetic on 17/05/2016 - 12:30
    -1

    How about you learn to park?

  • Davo1111 on 17/05/2016 - 14:05

    Yeah, cops don't GAF about videos of bad parkers. comeon.

  • Hirolol on 17/05/2016 - 14:10
    +1

    What kind of car bdo you drive?
    If i see it on failarmy ill let you know!!

  • Gravy on 17/05/2016 - 15:19

    Dont suppose you were in a disabled spot or something and didnt realise? Or perhaps she assumed you were under the influence of something given the bad parking and was collecting evidence in case you did something else.

  • isidore12 on 17/05/2016 - 15:26
    -2

    The parking spot was on the other side of a narrow road, so I couldn't get-in in one go, I had to go front car first then reverse to put the car straight, then finally do a normal reverse.

    The Ranger (I assume she was ranger) arrived in the middle of it.

    As for @andy19363, "you still get fined", well it depends of the object of the infringement. I'll know when I get it.

    The point is that a Ranger is not above the road rules, and what she did was so much worse than me trying to park (if I was doing any wrong).

    If I get the fine, I'll know the Ranger, I'll report her.

    It goes both ways.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/05/2016 - 16:05
      +1

      What infringement do you think you made???

      I don't understand why you think you made an infringement in the first place. Taking a long time to park is not an infringement.

    • andy19363 on 17/05/2016 - 17:10
      +2

      If I get the fine, I'll know the Ranger, I'll report her.

      Won't make any difference to the fine….
      Might make you feel a little better…… might also make you feel petty and childish

      • syousef on 19/05/2016 - 12:49

        Now if that was likely would OP be continuing to post now?

  • Kempe on 17/05/2016 - 17:10

    op should take a couple of aspirin and go and lie down in a darkened room for a while.

    How can anyone be "very aggressive" in taking a video and whats with the talk of pre-emptive strikes?

    Breath deeply and go and lie down

    • McFly on 17/05/2016 - 17:28

      whats with the talk of pre-emptive strikes

      Nuke the park from orbit - it's the only way to be sure (that nobody else is aggressively video'd.)

    • OzzyOzbourne on 18/05/2016 - 12:35

      She was snarling whilst taking the video.

  • cnrmlj on 17/05/2016 - 17:13
    +3

    Ozbargain. Come for the bargains, stay for the stupid people complaining about themselves doing stupid things and looking for someone else to blame.

  • isidore12 on 17/05/2016 - 17:22
    -4

    Last post.

    Sorry I didn't want to start a debate. I'll pay the fine, if it about a U-turn as I could have been against the road rules.

    If the fine is about parking (the only kind of fin Ranger can give you), I wasn't parked and I'll dispute the fine.

    Regarding the aggressive attitude, you were not there so you will have to take my word for it. but I invite to think about, a Ranger stops her car, blocks the traffic, doesn't identify herself, use her phone while driving, just to give a fine? how aggressive it that?

    Thanks guys

    • McFly on 17/05/2016 - 17:33

      Why do you think she needs to identify herself? She needs to identify herself to you as much as you need to identify yourself to her.
      Definitely agree she should not be blocking traffic or using phone while driving. If the worst happens tell her bosses about that, but I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill for now.

    • alxr0101 on 17/05/2016 - 21:31

      " While I was parking (badly, I had to try few times),…"

      then… " If the fine is about parking (the only kind of fin Ranger can give you), I wasn't parked and I'll dispute the fine. "

      So you were parking (badly) but not parked. Maybe she didn't have ten minutes to hang around filming you park badly.

      Or it will be featuring on youtube shortly.

    • luckydan on 18/05/2016 - 17:02

      Again, if the fine wasn't on your car when she left you didn't receive a fine. It's private parking they have to give you a fine while your car is there and since the park was empty the ranger wouldn't of gave a shit which you are giving.

      Since it was on a "Sunday" this is what happened. You parked there on a Sunday she took a photo in case you left the car or was checking to see if the "car" itself was stolen since there might be many cars parked in that park that has been dumped in that area.

      You assume she was giving a fine but a fine must be given on that time but it's more or less a CAR REGO check to see if it was stolen or a photo in case your car was left there for the next day staying over the limit. That is all your worried about 1 thing when there are 10 things that could of happened. Don't be so narrowed minded and hyperactive over something you didn't receive.

  • cDNA on 17/05/2016 - 17:35

    You sound like a softy.

    Boohooo….throw the fine in the bin if you get it.

  • grimo82 on 17/05/2016 - 18:10

    You 'assume she was a ranger ' & 'didn't identify herself' —- marked car/uniform or what???

    And what park? - if national / state, may be subject to different road/parking rules - stupidity is stupidity though and should be recorded for all to see so let's hope that vid surfaces ;) …jokes…

  • chriskq on 17/05/2016 - 21:28

    Did you ask why she was filming you…… this thread is making my brain hurt a little.

  • alxr0101 on 17/05/2016 - 21:34

    This reminds me of a pair of blonde Shire bimbo's, out shopping one Saturday, that foolishly posted a picture of a No Parking street sign, which clearly stated what hours and days you could park there and for how long, asking their Facebook group friends if they can park there or not.

    I fear for education in this country…

  • J6 on 17/05/2016 - 21:37
    -1

    you want to report a park employee because youre worried that they will report you for bad parking? I can Just imagine how that phone conversation would go….nowhere.

  • Randxyz123 on 17/05/2016 - 23:42

    Bloody hell OP take a chill pill… What road rule were you breaking exactly? fa

    Ever heard of snap chat? That's all it would have been.

    When you say using her phone and driving… If she was stopped and in park technically she isn't driving.

    She was very aggressive

    In what way?

    While I was parking (badly, I had to try few times)

    Serves you right lol

    • luckydan on 18/05/2016 - 17:08

      OP is assuming things that hasn't happened.

      She was very aggressive and was filming… In other words no conversation has happened.

      He/She/it is projecting and worried about a storm in a teacup… maybe he should take some valium or get his hyperactive thyroid removed or nuked.

  • DarkOz on 18/05/2016 - 07:42

    I think the park ranger was filming you just in case you hit a few other parked cars while trying to park your own car.

    If you have done nothing wrong there is nothing to worry about. If you have breached some park rules just wait for the fine. Accusing the park ranger of some driving breach is irrelevant.

    You reminded me of a local traffic rule somewhere in America where the fire trucks are not allowed to speed when responding to a fire rescue.

  • frostman on 18/05/2016 - 12:29

    Which suburb did you get your P license from? lol

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