Dear Editor,

While visiting Darwin recently I paid $6.30 for parking in the city through the Pay Stay app.

Unfortunately, I inadvertently put in the wrong rego number.

When we received a parking infringement, we asked the Darwin Council to review it and supplied evidence of the parking payment, including my credit-card transaction.

There was never any attempt to avoid paying – I had paid the required fee, at the correct location and time.

Council’s explanation was that “due to high instances of fraudulent behaviour, user error is not grounds for withdrawal” of the fine.

Invoking “fraud concerns” in a case where a visitor has produced clear evidence of payment. Surely the purpose of parking enforcement is to ensure people pay for the parking they use.

Upholding a fine despite proof of payment risks looking less like fraud prevention and more like someone else is the fraudster.