Penalties for ICEing EV charging bays starts at AUD 63 (Northern Territory) and max out at AUD 3,200 (Australian Capital Territory) for EV charging bays. Other states also issue fines for ICEing EV charging bays, such as Queensland (up to AUD 2,875), New South Wales (up to AUD 2,200), and Victoria (AUD 370).
Bigger fines for ICEing EV charging bays are also recorded in South Australia (up to AUD 250), Western Australia (up to AUD 100), and Tasmania (up to AUD 63).
Why These Penalties Are So Strict?
As Australia increases its EV charging network, these penalties ensure petrol and diesel vehicles do not occupy these scarce and charged parking spots. These penalties also discourage EV drivers from staying at charging bays unnecessarily to improve turnover and accessibility for other EV drivers.
Legislative and Social Impact
The law doesn’t only target petrol vehicles blocking charging bays and charging EVs that are. The cases prevent effective use of chargers and the enforcement of the fines are backed by relevant road traffic legislation within the States. Pertaining EV infrastructure and its use legally obliges public awareness and education within signage and road traffic legislation across the States, and the relevant public road behavior is mostly responsible and socially accepted.
Practical Advice for Drivers
For all drivers, guidance for the public is to not stop in EV charging bays unless the vehicle is actively charging. EV owners are encouraged to continue moving as soon as their vehicle is done charging. Petrol car drivers are reminded to legally use the public road and avoid EV chargers to minimize their time in the charging bays to avoid fines. Unauthorised drivers parking at EV chargers is and expected Identify Measures to Reduce.
In conclusion, petrol car charging bays are enforced to reflect Australia’s strong focus area of using $2,200 plus fines.
