From Newsgroup: comp.misc

Rotorua Lakes Council contracted its paid parking to an Auckland-based
company with a smartphone app called i-Park. Unfortunately, the app
was plagued with problems. In this incident, it started affecting cops
trying to park next to their workplace at the Rotorua Police Station <https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/rotorua-policeman-wins-court-battle-over-70-fine-following-i-park-app-frustrations/DZJJYACJOFFCFO44DFHLGUBHWE/>.

Like the methodical person he was, this particular cop carefully
collected evidence of his attempts to pay. And then, when he was
issued a parking ticket, his attempts to dispute that, and how he was
fobbed off by the Council who told him to talk to the parking
contractor, which was no help at all.

He took the dispute to court as a private citizen, not as a police
officer:

O’Sullivan told the court he had no choice but to bring the
“frustrations” to court “on behalf of his colleagues, friends and
the public of Rotorua”, as he said the same problem had happened
“multiple times”.

He sent a whole dossier of evidence to the council over the issue, but
it seems they neglected to pass that on to either the i-Park manager
or the JPs who heard the case. Did they not care about putting up a
proper defence?

In any case, the court ruled in his favour, citing the “critical
element” was that he did try to pay the parking fee. Therefore the non-payment could not be seen as his fault.

Oh, and another happy outcome:

Rotorua Lakes Council voted in May not to renew its contract with
i-Park.

I should mention one thing more: the amusing misspelling of “meter” as “metre” throughout. Seems someone cannot distinguish between the two different words ...
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