Motorists in Monash have figured out how to beat parking fines. Picture: David Hill

Driver Suzanne Johnson told the Monash Leader she has seen drivers make a mockery of the parking overstay detection system that operates in 1417 parking bays across the municipality, particularly at Oakleigh’s Chester St carpark.

“You drive out of the parking spot, wait a few seconds (holding up traffic) then return to the same spot,” she states.

“This was very frustrating when you’re looking for a parking spot to sit there seeing three cars doing the ‘motor car shuffle’ at the same time.”

Monash Mayor Rebecca Paterson said many councils battled patrons trying to outsmart the system, or drivers rubbing off tyre marks to shuffle in and out of bays.

Monash Council parking inspectors dish out a fine on Kingsway, Glen Waverley. Picture: Nathan DyerSource:News Corp Australia

“This behaviour is disappointing because it holds up traffic and denies other motorists the chance of parking near where they need to go,” Cr Paterson said.

“As an additional measure, parking officers have been asked to mark tyres with chalk in PODs areas, on an occasional basis.

“We think that using both these enforcement methods may cause motorists to change this behaviour.”

The council has issued $3 million worth of fines since the systems were installed in Oakleigh, Glen Waverley, Mt Waverley and Clayton’s last year.

But 1850 motorists appealed the fines with 348 being withdrawn between July 1 to June 30 this year, and 865 appeals with 118 withdrawn in the year to November 30.

Ms Johnson hopes the council shelves the parking system in the Atkinson St carpark, under construction in Oakleigh.

But Cr Paterson said the carpark had been using the system prior to its upgrade and it was likely to reintroduce the system when works were completed next year.

Originally published asDrivers find sneaky parking hack