How to Report Illegal Parking – QLD

Overstays, abandoned vehicles, double-parking, dangerous positioning… we’ve seen countless parking infractions across the city streets and unpaved roads of Queensland.

Ever found a stranger’s vehicle parked outside your driveway or returned to your car to find someone has blocked you in? Our handy guide covers everything you need to know about reporting illegal parking in QLD.

In this article, we discuss how to recognise and report illegal parking from Brisbane to Cairns. We show you exactly what details to record and how to contact the police and local council. We also help you stop illegal parking on your business’s property with PriPark’s expert car park management solutions.

What is Illegal Parking in QLD?

Illegal parking comes in many forms. You should report a car parked illegally if it falls under one of the following criteria:

• Obstruction – Vehicles that obstruct access to public pathways should be reported. It’s also cause for concern if a vehicle is blocking the flow of traffic, such as by being parked in the middle of a road or double-parked against another car.

• Trespassing – Vehicles parked on private land are parked illegally. The same is true for cars parked in public places where parking is restricted. Is there a car parked in the ambulance bays at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital? Then you should report illegal parking in Brisbane.

• Dangerous Parking – Is the vehicle parked in a dangerous position? Does it pose risks to passers-by? You should report unsafe parking positions to the police immediately.

• Overstays – Many parking zones have time restrictions, only allowing vehicles to park at certain times or on certain days. If a vehicle exceeds this, report it right away.

Car park enforcement solutions prevent illegal parking in public and private car parks. PriPark is Australia’s leading parking specialist, and we work with you to implement tailored enhancements that keep drivers accountable and reduce violations.

Reporting Illegal Parking in QLD

Now you know how to recognise illegal parking. The next time you spot a parking violation, you should collect evidence and notify the authorities. In this section, we explain how to report a car parked illegally in QLD.

What Evidence Do I Need to Report Illegal Parking in QLD?

Reporting illegal parking in Queensland requires you to first gather some important information. Use this exhaustive list for all the details you need to record:

• Date
• Time of Day
• Exact Location
• Vehicle Colour
• Vehicle Make & Model
• Licence Plate
• Reason for Reporting

You can also include any extra information that will help the authorities. For instance, you might include more details about the location and positioning of the vehicle. Or, you may note if this is a regular occurrence and record the times and days of the repeated infraction.

It helps to have a phone with you to take photos of the incident. You’ll need proof to report illegally parked cars in QLD, and photos are great for that.

Download the Snap Send Solve app if you haven’t already. It allows you to easily take and upload photos of parking violations to your local Queensland council.

Reporting Illegal Parking to the Authorities

Should you call the police or contact your local council? The answer depends on the urgency of the situation. Thankfully, you’ve already determined this in Step 2.

You should call the police for urgent matters, such as vehicles that are blocking a busy road or parked on train tracks. Dial 000 for emergencies or 131 444 if the situation isn’t urgent. You can also use Policelink to report illegal parking.

Contact your local Queensland council for non-emergencies and non-life-threatening situations. You can report illegal parking in the major Queensland cities and towns using the following links:

Brisbane City Council
Cairns Regional Council
City of Ipswich
City of Gold Coast

How to Report Abandoned Vehicles in QLD

You can report an abandoned vehicle on the Queensland Government website. As they rightly point out, registered vehicles parked safely will not be towed or considered abandoned (unless they are infringing on private property).

Run a licence plate through an online vehicle registration checker to check the owner of the car. If you suspect a vehicle is abandoned, contact the police.

So, can you park an unregistered vehicle on the street in QLD? No. All unregistered vehicles must be kept off the road in garages or on private land. Unregistered vehicles on the street are considered illegally parked and abandoned.

Fines for Illegal Parking in Queensland

Parking fine fees vary on account of your local council. The most common parking fines issued in QLD are for the following illegal parking cases:

• Parking or stopping where there is a continuous yellow line painted along the edge of the road.

• Parking or stopping within 20m of any intersecting road where there are traffic lights at the intersection.

• Parking or stopping on a bicycle path, footpath, shared path, dividing strip, nature strip, or painted island unless signs tell you otherwise.

• Parking or stopping on a road in a way that blocks access to a path or driveway

• Parking or stopping where there is a wheelchair sign or marking (unless you have a permit).

• Failing to leave 1m of space in front of and behind your vehicle when you parallel park.

If you have a fine that needs paying, you can look up and contact your local council using the local government directory.

Let Us Help You Stop Illegal Parking

PriPark has decades of experience servicing some of Australia’s biggest companies in their car parking needs. We have helped thousands of businesses:

• Improve car park safety
• Increase revenue
• Control and restrict access
• Reduce illegal parking

Keep drivers accountable with our high-tech car park equipment. We can install boom gates and licence plate recognition software that prevents parking infringements in your car park.

Contact us today to discuss how we can create a tailored solution to fit your needs and budget.

FAQs

Can you stop someone parking outside your house?

As long as the car is parked safely and legally, anyone in the community is free to park on the street outside your house, as long as they are not blocking your driveway and there are no parking restrictions like required permits.

Is it illegal to park across a driveway in QLD?

The law states that you cannot park in a way that blocks access to a path or driveway, and this even includes your own driveway. You can only pause there for up to two minutes to drop off or pick up passengers.

Is it legal to park a caravan on the street in Queensland?

Yes, you can legally park your caravan or motorhome on any public road. However, if you do not have permission from the landowner, then this is an offence and may result in fines of up to $11,000.

How close can you park to a driveway in QLD?

The law states, “A driver shall not stop a vehicle so that any portion of the vehicle is in front of a path, in a position that obstructs access by vehicles or pedestrians to or from that path”. This means you can park close to a driveway as long as you are not obstructing it.