Sign this petition to get local councils to change the administration and cost of parking and speeding fines.

Speeding and parking fines in and around Greater Melbourne are used as cheap, but lucrative revenue for local governments. Parking is next to impossible in residential areas unless you live on the designated streets and own a permit for that street. Travelling professionals cannot find parking spaces in and around suburbs. When fines are issued, appeals are made with genuine reason; but not actually considered by councils. Aggressive, and somewhat inconsiderate replies from council transport departments are then received by civilians demanding large payments. Any pleas from what are highly-taxed days in 2015 Victoria are not actually considered by councils, who then reap financial benefits from lack of parking space and automatically and electronically-run speeding cameras. If we live in a democracy, then surely we as people must have fair hearings and not dictatorship and draconian types of governing.

Granted, there are individuals who would intentionally mock laws and take liberties on our roads. This should not be a punishment for all others. People are being charge over $300 for a car bonnet being slightly over a line at lights when they endeavour to stop at the lights in some areas, with their justified reasons completely vetoed by transport departments in councils. The language used in replies from these councils is laughable, as the words "the circumstances outlined in your letter have been carefully considered" show that no matter how extreme the circumstances outlined in any letter - you shall not be pardoned. 

We all want safe roads. Even if some laws are right and proper and do consider local residents' safety, these outlandish fines in public places e.g. Orrong Park, where crowds gather regularly for sporting events but has limited number of parking spaces within a kilometre's radius; or local schools which are only near high streets thus making parking next-to-impossible for visitors - are not for safety, but for easy revenue and gives motorists no parking options. No parking in certain places is fully-justified. Not to the point of no parking anywhere without cost. The pictured letter; a standard reply from Glen Eira Council quotes that laws are "strongly enforced for the safety and convenience of all motorists". How can this possibly and reasonably be?

Last year, having received a "speeding" fine for driving at 47 kph (which is below 25mph) on Fitzroy Street, at 7am while trying to reach Punt Road before the rush, I noticed there were no pedestrians in sight at that time and generally there are none or very few on that journey at that time of day, as on many high streets. There is no school in immediate proximity either. I took time to ask Ted Teo, Chief of transport in Port Phillip Council; why the speed limits are enforced before 8am. During the conversation, I was told "we want to make driving as difficult as possible for people". This gives people an idea of what we face. I asked for a recording of the phone conversation and was duly told the council does not record conversations. 

Please sign this petition so that safety can be upheld but drivers are not caged in a "guilty-until-proven-otherwise" mentality from the councils. Councils like Maribyrnong have proved that it is possible to have safe roads without forcing everyone to pay through their noses for driving and parking everywhere. There are openly-available slots in which cars can be parked by homes and buildings, with no cost-related requirements. We need to alter the nanny state. If we can collect enough signatories, the councils will have to reconsider their ways. We pay enough to the state as things are, without being forced in every other financial way possible. Please councils, can you listen to people and their appeals, as opposed to having an aggressive and insensitive demanding letter when we take time to appeal? Also check whether roads really do need such ridiculous speed limits at all times of day. We aren't all reckless idiots.