Receiving a parking fine notification under your windscreen wiper ahead of the formal fine arriving in the mail became a state government regulation this month, however Dubbo drivers will notice minimal change because Dubbo Regional Council already introduced the procedure last year.

Council has welcomed the statewide parking fine reforms introduced by the State Government on July 1, saying locals will notice minimal change due to the proactive measures it took locally last year.

Since March 2024, Council parking patrol officers have already been issuing notification cards alongside the Print and Post ticketless parking fine scheme. Revenue NSW originally rolled out the scheme in 2020, sending fines directly by mail without on-the-spot warnings.

Mayor Josh Black said council implemented the notifications early to improve transparency.

“We didn’t want people unfairly surprised by parking tickets weeks later, which is why our staff took the proactive step to issue the paper notifications alongside the Print and Post system (last year),” Cr Black said.

The state reforms mandate that councils and issuing agencies place a notification or fine directly on the vehicle, except when unsafe for the officer. Officers are also required to submit images of offences and compile data for public review.

DRC Director Development and Environment Steve Jennings said notifications detail the offence clearly and inform drivers that an official fine notice will arrive later.