parents parking on school crossings

I really had no idea where to put this but thought this may be the right spot, if not please feel free to move it somewhere more appropriate.

July last year we moved to Terrigal and DS goes to Terrigal primary. The school has two crossings one at the main entrance and a second on the ‘top road’ behind the school. Without exaggerating every signal morning and afternoon I see 4 parents cars parked on all four corners of both crossing. Its really starting to tick me off, it clearly stats NO PARKING, NO STANDING, in other words move your bloody cars for the safety of everyones kids, including your own!

I spoke to the office ladies about this yesterday and they said they had been trying to fix it for years and its getting worse every year. They suggested I draft a letter to the principal and to the local police.

I’m determined to do something about it, so who else would it be worth sending something to? local government? the council? It is a busy little school but theres also plenty of packing only a few hundred meters down the road!

Also what should I include in the letter? what to leave out? I don’t want it to come arcoss as just have a whinge I want them to know I serious about pushing this until something is done.

As an adult some mornings its impossible to see past the large four wheel drives that park on the crossings.

Thanks for any help you can give.

I would see if the school can put it in a school newsletter (if they have one) or make a special note to go home. We had something similiar where the school made mention of it in a few newsletters, then stated that anyone caught doing the wrong thing, would have their rego number taken down and the police called..
I hate how the police 'patrol' our school just after 9am! They're not going to catch anyone doing anything wrong at that time! They need to be there a bit earlier than that, around 8.30ish i reckon..maybe if you write a letter, suggest a time that would be ideal, and maybe if they walk around as opposed to doing a drive by?

What a pain in the bum!
I would definantly contact the local police and tell them whats been going on, they'll most likely be down there booking people the next morning because theyh love booking people!
I think if you let the princepl know, then maybe they could put it in the newsletter to let everybody know about the dangers of parking there and to tell people to please be aware as the police are watching the area now.. give em a little scare!
Sorry not much help. But surely it cant go on forever?

Can you take down the number plates and give these to the police? A warning from the police or council may make people think twice about where they are parking. When laws aren't enforced, it is easy for people to start ignoring them.

good on you for taking action

We had a similar problem at our school and also parents parking in the staff car park. Our crossing lady has a pen and paper ready handy to take number plates down and occasionally parking officers from the council will come down too.

Regards,
Dianne

I'd start with the council, at DD's school years ago they sent out a parking officer for a few days and it sorted everyone out.

I am also a fan of passive agressive notes left on the windshield :rofl:

:rofl: love the notes idea Lulu.

Regards,
Dianne

Apparently the fine for crossing near school crossings is huge... something upwards of $500 (or so I have been told)

I live in front of a school crossing and thankfully no one here has the nerve to park on it, but it doesn't stop them from standing thei car in my driveway at times.

I agree with calling the police and giving them a heads up, and then contact your local council and see what they can do.

You need to call the council and the police yourself if the school isn't. If enough people complain then something will be done! That is downright dangerous!

They had a blitz at our school last year and there was tickets being written all over the place. I walk every day due to the congestion at our school (that and I live a 5 min walk away so I'd be super lazy to drive lol) and see some parents dropping their kids off in the worst places and if they only went 20 metres up the road it would be much safer.

Yep, all of the above, I would be calling the council, the police and also maybe your local paper? Get them to run a story on it... that might stir the local council / police station etc to act ....

thanks everyone! I was feeling a like I was making something outta nothing when I gave someone a dirty look yesterday afternoon :redface: but its good to know others feel this is the wrong thing for them to be doing!

Been busy today so will write something up tonight and will be sending it to everyone I can think of!

As a teacher this is one of our pet peeves and it happens all the time. We were constantly trying to get something done and last year eventually got council to send a ranger out and book people which has helped for a while. At one school I taught at the principal put the numberplates of those illegally parked in the newsletter each week LOL Not many principals have the balls to do that sadly!!

Yeah it happens at our school at the start of the year (prep parents) except they park in the drop kiss area. Which is supposed to be continually moving. So about March every year after many notices have gone out the Principal gets a parking officer to come out and guess what everyone starts obeying the signs ;)