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Ann Reeves became emotional while giving evidence in Wellington District Court. - Source: Fairfax
A former Wellington resident has lost her court battle against a $60 spy car fine.
Ann Reeves took Wellington City Council to court earlier this month contesting the $60 ticket she received after being photographed by the spy car on broken yellow lines on Sydney Street West on August 31 last year.
Reeves told the Wellington District Court she was ticketed by the spy car after pulling over to allow it to pass her in a narrow street.
In court today she was fined $60 and order to pay $132.89 court costs.
Reeves, who works as a principal analyst with the Social Development Ministry, no longer drives to work after her encounter with the dashboard camera car.
"I've shifted out of my Wellington home and now live on the Kapiti Coast where I get a ride to work with my partner every day," Reeves said.
The encounter happened when she was looking for a coupon zone car park in the no-exit Sydney St West, and the spy car entered from Bowen St.
For safety reasons, she told the court, she pulled over on to yellow lines to allow the council vehicle to pass her.
But instead the camera vehicle stopped and the driver took a photo while it was alongside her vehicle.
"He took the photo right in my face through the driver's side window."
The experience was "intimidating", she said.
"I drove off as soon as I stopped shaking."
After being ticketed for stopping on yellow lines she wrote three times to explain but on the third occasion Wellington Parking and Infringement Services wrote back refusing to waive the ticket.
Reeves said she was being considerate when she pulled over and stopped, as she did not want to force the council vehicle to have to back out on to the busy Bowen St.
Reeves argued her case in court on February 3.
The council's parking services manager, Colleen Thessman, told Reeves in an email she had thoroughly investigated the case.
"The investigation involved looking at historical data related to your vehicle in the parking system, viewing previous correspondence and looking at previous photographic evidence. The two drivers of the dash camera vehicle have also been interviewed," she wrote.
A council spokesman said it was never safe to park on yellow lines.
"Parking on a yellow line creates danger," the spokesman said.
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