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I received a $40 fine in the mail (no ticket on the window) for "parking" for 2min 21sec outside school while the kids got out of the car. I remained seated in the drivers seat, there were no signs, no yellow lines, and the notice does not specify a street number or even the side of the street. AT specify the offence as "parked obstructing Vehicle Entrance" which I take to mean I was stopped across someone's driveway, which happens all the time at school pick up. Is stopping (and remaining in car) for several minutes across a driveway a parking offence ? What proof do AT need to provide or can they simply mail a vague infringement notice, providing little or no information and putting the onus on me to prove otherwise ? I've seen them taking photos outside schools, but no photo was sent to me. It feels unfair to say the least...

It is an offence for a vehicle to 'obstruct entrance or exit of driveway', which would include a school entrance, whether they are marked or not. If you don't believe you parked across an entranceway, you can request a photo from AT. It doesn't matter how briefly you parked there, it can cause a hazard with vehicles trying to enter the entranceway stopped in the middle of the road. Although councils are not required to, the AA believes it would be fairer if parking wardens are present to record offences, they should first ask drivers to immediately move, and only issue infringements if they don't. If its common for parents to park across driveways or double-park near the school, you might want to approach the school and council to improve facilities for parents dropping off or picking up children.

I was a Parking Officer in 1993. Whilst I agree with the points made by the AA regarding parking obstructing a vehicle entrance, it sounds a bit unfair that the Officer wrote the ticket out whilst you were in the car, and probably ready to move before the notice was even completed, hence maybe why it was posted. If presented with this situation, my experience and common sense as the enforcement officer would be to approach the driver IF there was obstruction being caused. Possibly the ticket was posted as the offense was that petty and maybe the officer was too scared to give it to you, save an ear bashing. I wasn't there, so I can't comment on your specific incident; however, parking officers DO NOT help their image when they fail to educate & communicate with motorists - especially given that the driver, in this case you, was in the drivers seat at the time. I would personally have approached you and asked if you could have moved on, but no doubt by then your passenger would have boarded. I have no sympathy with the grief that Auckland Transport Officers bring about upon themselves. Simple PR costs nothing. I would be ashamed & embarrassed to be that officer.