Over 250 drivers received a parking fine during the four-month COVID-19 lockdown period - despite Tamworth Regional Council making parking free.
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Data issued by Revenue NSW show Tamworth motorists continued to break the law during lockdown.
Dozens of Tamworth drivers were pinged for speeding over the four-month lockdown period, despite the vast majority of locals working from home.
Bars and restaurants closed overnight on March 23. The strictest lockdown rules lasted until July, with an end to the 50-person rule on July 1.
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In March, the Tamworth council made car parking free as part of an economic stimulus designed to make it easier for business to reopen after hibernation.
But the council still issued 267 parking tickets during that period, with the unlucky drivers left with a combined $37,496 bill.
March was the second-most expensive month of 2020 so far, with 121 fines worth $14,639 issued. Only February was more costly for drivers, with 155 parking fines issued.
But coronavirus does seem to have reduced the number of parking tickets issued, compared to an average year.
During the same four month period in 2019, council parking inspectors left some 603 parking fines worth $81,648 in penalties.
The coronavirus crisis barely made a dent in the measured rate of bad driving in the city.
Tamworth drivers continued to speed and run red lights despite lockdown.
Some 20 Tamworth motorists were caught on camera speeding or running a red light during the four-month lockdown period. It cost them $3098.
That's barely a reduction on 2019, with cameras catching 23 motorists breaking the rules at a cost of $4613.
Cameras caught nine leadfoots in March, and six more in June.
Police also caught nine people speeding in March and one in June, issuing fines worth $3,403.
The council switched off every parking meter in Tamworth in April, but motorists could still be fined for stopping too long at a time-limited car park.
Tamworth council started charging for car parking once again at the end of August.
The NSW lockdown began on March 23, escalated to its most severe stage on March 31 and then gradually loosened as COVID-19 case numbers declined. Pubs and restaurants reopened on July 1 after 70 days.
Andrew Messenger
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Politics, environment and energy journalist at the Northern Daily Leader. I also write about health, bushfires and occasionally music. I'm a Brisbane boy by way of Charleville and Hobart who now lives in in beautiful New England. Get me at andrew.messenger@austcommunitymedia.com.au
