Sydney residents are uncovering significant numbers of unpaid traffic fines allegedly left behind by overseas visitors who have departed the country. Residents report finding stacks of final notices outside apartments used for short-term rentals, such as those on Airbnb. One Sydney resident, identified only as Linda, told radio host Ben Fordham that over 300 infringement notices had been discovered across apartment buildings in the Ultimo and Pyrmont areas. These fines reportedly cover offenses including speeding, running red lights, illegal parking, and seatbelt violations.
Linda stated that new envelopes containing these notices arrive every few weeks, often coinciding with the departure of short-term tenants. She described one instance where a neighbor collected a "a whole Coles shopping bag full" of unpaid fines, while others had accumulated more than 60 notices. Many of the abandoned envelopes are marked as final notices and are found discarded on mailboxes or on the ground.
One example of a single notice cited by 2GB detailed over $2,300 in penalties for various offenses. Another notice reportedly sought almost $3,000 for allegedly exceeding the speed limit by more than 70 km/h in Sydney's Cross City Tunnel. Linda suggested that the problem has persisted for some time, with local residents expressing frustration and attempting to address the issue with authorities.
Initial assumptions by residents that the fines were related to rental cars have been challenged, as many of the vehicles involved were described as older and poorly maintained. Linda also shared an account of a man who allegedly returned to France after accumulating over $100,000 in fines and registering eight vehicles in his name. The situation raises questions about the efficacy of authorities in recovering fines issued to international visitors who leave the country.