Motorists who drive petrol cars will be fined for parking at electric vehicle charging stations in South Australia
The South Australia (SA) government has introduced fines for both petrol and diesel car drivers as well as electric vehicle (EV) drivers. Those who park their vehicles in areas designated for electric cars, or park electric vehicles in signposted EV charging bays without using the charging facility, will face fines. The penalties for these offences will amount to $75 for the first instance and $111 for repeated infringements.
This move by the SA government aligns with similar initiatives in other Australian regions such as New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), and Queensland, all of which have introduced penalties for improper use of EV parking spaces. While SA’s fines are the lowest among these jurisdictions, the steepest penalty is in Canberra, where drivers blocking electric chargers could face fines of up to $3,200.
National president of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association, Chris Jones, expressed that these penalties could help improve behavior among some EV drivers by reminding them to free up charging facilities for other vehicles. Additionally, program director of the Royal Automobile Association of South Australia, Andrew Howard, emphasized the importance of effectively utilizing car-charging stations to ensure availability for all users.
The introduction of these fines follows the NSW government’s implementation of a similar law in November 2022, imposing fines of up to $2,200 on petrol and diesel vehicle drivers for parking in electric car charging bays. According to the Electric Vehicle Council, new EV sales in Australia, including both battery EVs and plug-in hybrids, increased by 120 percent in 2023, with a total of over 180,000 EVs on Australian roads.
The report also noted that the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) led in EV sales, with 21.9 percent of new vehicle sales being electric, reflecting the growing popularity of EVs in the region. With a high percentage of the ACT population working in public service, the adoption of EVs is on the rise.
Monica O’Shea contributed to this report.
