If you’ve been driving in a city with a lack of parking and hunting for a spot for hours, you might think to yourself, “I’m going to drop into the Loading Zone, it’ll only take me 10 minutes!”.
- Loading Zones are not designed to be parking spots
- Only certain vehicles are allowed to park there
- Time limits apply to different uses of these areas
But there are rules around Loading Zones, and yes – you guessed it – they are primarily for loading and unloading vehicles that are built to carry stuff.
So can you park a wagon or a hatchback or an SUV in the Queue Area? If you’re carrying cargo, you can imagine that.
But there are some words you should keep in mind when it comes to these areas, these areas always look like prime real estate… but like the hottest spots, you can end up paying a hefty price in the end. to get privileges.
NSW:
In New South Wales, motorists are allowed to park in the Queuing Zone under certain conditions.
The City of Sydney phrased around this theme as: “Vehicles primarily built to carry cargo can stop at the stowage area for up to 30 minutes to drop or pick up. Any vehicle may stop briefly to pick up or drop off passengers. Public buses can stop for up to 30 minutes to pick up or drop off passengers.“
Meanwhile, Transport NSW adds a bit more to that, including an important definition of what types of vehicles can park at these timing points: “Types of freight vehicles include: trucks, vans, and gas carriers used to transport goods.”
Furthermore, it is stated that: Loading zones are primarily intended to assist businesses that do not have access to loading facilities or off-street parking in areas with limited roadside parking. . Drivers may park in the queue area if:
- They are driving a vehicle built to carry goods and they are engaged in taking or returning goods (maximum 30 minutes). For example, a driver delivering musical equipment at a location; or
- They are driving a public bus and they are picking up or dropping off passengers (maximum 30 minutes)
- Drivers of other vehicles can also use the queuing area to drop off or pick up passengers, but only during the time when people are boarding or disembarking.
Fines apply for non-compliance with the rules in the loading area. You could be fined up to $196.
Victoria
The laws are similar in Melbourne for Loading Areas, with VicRoads stating: “Loading zones are provided to allow pick-up or delivery of goods or people near their destination. They are not provided for short-term parking.”
In Victoria, there are different time limits for these spots (like signs – 30 minutes by default), but there are a few differences from the NSW rules:
- The carrier must drive: the cargo vehicle; courier or consignment delivery vehicle; Truck is loading or unloading.
- Passengers must drive: a bus or vehicle with seats for 10, 11, or 12 adults (including the driver) being used to carry rental or reward passengers
- Public buses; licensed commercial passenger vehicles such as taxis, rental cars or other specialized vehicles.
- Other drivers must not stop in the loading area, even when loading or unloading.”
Victoria issued “a friendly warning to business sedan and station wagon drivers”, that they must ensure their vehicle has enough signs to be identified as a business vehicle, company or courier.”
If your signage isn’t the right size — or you don’t have it at all — then you run the risk of being booked. If you don’t have a sign on your sedan or station wagon, use 1/4 hour or other standard parking areas for pick up or delivery.”
If you don’t follow the rules in Victoria, you could be fined $110.
Queensland
In QLD, there are rules that – if violated – can result in a $117 fine (or double if it’s a designated commercial vehicle space).
QLD Transport states that motorists may not stop in a Queuing Area unless you:
- Pick-up and drop-off (stop for no more than 2 minutes)
- Dropping or picking up passengers with disabilities (stop for no more than 5 minutes)
- Returning goods, picking up goods (stop for no more than 20 minutes)
- Have a commercial vehicle identification label (issued by the local authority for that area)
- Driving a bus, truck or commercial vehicle (stopping for no more than 30 minutes)
As with other states, time limits may vary by region.
South Australia
The South Australian Driving Manual states that you must not stop or park your vehicle in a Queuing Area, unless you:
- Driving a commercial vehicle loading and unloading goods (and then no later than 30 minutes or according to the time indicated on the sign)
- Driving another type of vehicle and loading or unloading cargo that is difficult to handle due to its weight or size (and then no later than 30 minutes or as directed by the sign)
- Drivers of public buses or taxis (and then only to get off or pick up passengers immediately) are allowed to park, as directed by the sign
Interestingly, the South Australian local government parking regulations (1991) also state that a Queuing Area can be used if “vehicle is parked solely for the purpose of disembarking or picking up passengers or cargo immediately.” instantly”.
Western Australia
In the West, there are also rules around parking in the Loading Zone. But depending on that
Model Local Authority Regulation (Parking Facility) No 19, states that a person may not stand a vehicle in the loading area unless it is:
- Commercial vehicles involved in loading and unloading goods; or
- Motor vehicles pick up and drop off passengers; and then only if it doesn’t have a trailer attached.
And that is the definition of “commercial medium” as “a medium appearing in
description of motor wagons as set forth in the Second Schedule of the Traffic Act”. Check your rego papers, then?
The City of Perth’s Street Parking Guidelines state that the Loading Area may only be used by “commercial vehicles as determined under the City’s Parking Local Law”. And then, they can only do so when “picking up goods, returning goods”.
That definition, according to the Guidelines, is “a motor vehicle: (a) built, modified or equipped to carry goods; and (b) used primarily for the carriage of goods, but excluding vehicles constructed for the transport of materials used in any commercial, business, industrial or any other something else.”
“Taxis, buses, commercial vehicles, repair/service vehicles, custom vehicles or general passenger vehicles must not stop in the loading area, even while loading or unloading.”
It may seem like the rules in Western Australia are explainable, but if you’re found to be in violation, you could be fined $100.
Northern Territory
In the Northern Territory, there doesn’t appear to be any strict enforcement of parking fines in Queue Areas, but there are some common sense rules outlined in the Road users handbook. :
“Only drivers of vehicles designed primarily for the carriage of goods may park in the loading area. These vehicles can stop for up to 30 minutes if loading or unloading.
“If you are driving any other type of vehicle, you can simply stop to pick up or drop off passengers at the curb. Exceptions may apply to disabled parking permit holders.”
ACT
In our country’s capital, there are a number of different ways you can be fined if you are found to have done something wrong in the Queuing Zone.
According to Access Canberra, the following rules may apply “unless you have a parking permit in the Loading Area or the vehicle is specifically authorized to use the Loading Area”.
Vehicles permitted to do so, under the ACT Road Rules Regulation, 2017, include: public buses that are picking up or dropping off passengers; or trucks are unloading, picking up goods; or a motor vehicle built primarily for the transport of cargo and is loading or unloading; or a vehicle displaying a current loading area permit and complying with the conditions of the permit; or a taxi, carpool or rental car, and the driver is picking up or dropping off passengers; and leave the vehicle unattended, in addition to complying with a request for passenger assistance.
According to the rules, the following fines may apply:
- (1) stop at the queue area – $172
- (2) (a) longer than hour in loading area – $172
- (2) (b) stop at designated queue area – $172
- (2) (c) longer than time allowed in loading area – $172
- (2) (d) (i) taxi/carpool/hire car stops longer than 2 minutes in line – $170
- (2) (d) (ii) taxi/carpool/hire vehicle stops at the loading area longer than necessary to assist passengers – $170
tasmania
This may be one of the less populated areas in the country, but Tasmanian law can penalize you more than anywhere else for abusing a Loading Area.
According to the Tasmania Road Rules 2019: A motorist may not stop in a queue unless the driver is driving:
- (a) a public bus is dropping or picking up passengers; or
- (b) a truck or service vehicle, together with any trailer from which it may be towed, dropped or loaded in the course of business; or
- (c) a vehicle is permitted to stop in a queuing area under other laws of this jurisdiction.
The state maintains that Loading Areas are “available only to commercial vehicles loading or unloading, for a maximum of 30 minutes (other conditions may also apply)”, and notes that vehicles must displays “registered operator’s full name and address”.
And note: “Vehicles must not stop in the loading area, even when loading or unloading”.
Under the Offenses Code: Stopping at a Loading Area or Overtime at a Loading Area, motorists can be fined up to $362 for wrongdoing.
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant road authority in your state or territory.
