UPDATE: Perth Airport has been slammed over its new fines for express lane drivers after footage emerged of the parking situation’s harsh reality.
Perth locals on Reddit vented their frustration in response to footage shared on the platform which detailed the frustrating ordeal drop-off and pick-up drivers were experiencing.
From March 11, drivers loitering for six minutes or more at T3 and T4 have been hit with fines of at least $7 — with that figure increasing the longer their stay.
The changes were foreshadowed in 2022 when Perth Airport announced its plan to reduce congestion in the area.
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Perth Airport’s Chief Commercial Aviation Officer Kate Holsgrove called out devious parkers at the time for using the express area as a “de facto car park”.
“The Express system was introduced at T2 in 2019 and reduced the rate of overstays by 70 per cent which has significantly improved traffic flow to that terminal – we are hoping to see the same results at T3 (and) T4,” she said.
The video posted on Tuesday depicted the traffic build-up which threatened to chew up a large portion of the already slim time frame.
It was captioned: “Perth Airport this is BS! They are charging people for overstaying when you spend majority of the time stuck in traffic. I flat out refused and told them to open up the gate. Do not pay people!!!”
One user questioned the seemingly arbitrary time frame and how the decision was made.
“Six minutes is such a weird random time. Not 10 minutes; not 5 but 6 without any traffic management and two pedestrian crossings. No one is going to make it out on time during busy times,” one person said.
Another Redditor felt short-changed by the ordeal, highlighting the tall order of a short drop-off.
“They give you 6 minutes of which about 4 or more was me stuck in traffic or driving through. I spent less than 2 minutes in drop off.”
“I flat out refused and told them to open up the gate,” another claimed.
In the one-minute clip sped up of a six-minute experience, the footage highlighted how traffic can severely affect a driver’s ability to escape without a dent to the hip pocket.
The footage also showed a glimpse of a Maxi Taxi offloading passengers, suggesting large groups, or drivers dropping off passengers with mobility restraints may struggle.
Perth Airport have weighed in on the discourse, suggesting the majority of drivers have been able to exit the express lane without infringing on the allotted six minutes.
A spokesperson said: “Since it came into operation, 91% of motorists in the forecourt area have exited without being charged.”
As the person who shared the footage claimed to have refused paying the fine upon exit, it may set a precedent for other like-minded drivers at the boom gate.