In order to reduce driver distraction, there are restrictions on where vehicles can park when displaying advertising or electoral signage. Penalties apply.
Signage
Advertising on a sign attached to a vehicle cannot exceed 1.5m2 and is subject to parking restrictions. The same parking restrictions are applicable for any type of signage displaying electoral matter, regardless of the size.
Signage is defined as a board, device, plate or screen. This includes:
- fixed to a purpose-built third-party advertising structure, such as an A-frame trailer
- a digital screen displayed from a vehicle, or
- mounted to or upon a parked motor vehicle or trailer.
It does not include the bed or frame of a truck, such as permanent print or wrapping on the sides of a delivery vehicle.
Examples of vehicles with signage that is subject to parking restrictions include:
- trailers and trucks displaying billboards
- metal signs (advertising a business) attached to a trailer cage or ute tray
- trucks displaying LED screens
- bicycle trailers with billboards
- variable message displays on trailers.
Restricted parking locations
Vehicles displaying signage (as defined above) cannot park in the following locations:
- roads where the speed limit is 60 km/hr or more
- road related areas and public unleased land accessible from roads where the speed limit is 60 km/hr or more, or
- Northbourne Avenue from Vernon Circle to Gould Street, including adjacent road related areas and public unleased land.
Penalties
The following penalties apply:
- infringement notice penalty of $700 or
- maximum court penalty of 20 penalty units ($3200).
When the offence does not apply
It is not an offence to display bumper stickers, wrap a car or use signage to advertise a vehicle is for sale. Car wraps do not qualify as signage.
Vehicles may continue to display advertising or electoral matter while driving on roads in the ACT network or when parking in areas that are not declared. They are also not prohibited from displaying advertising or electoral matter on their vehicles whilst parked on private land that is not a road related area.
The requirements do not apply to Territory vehicles such as trailers that display temporary traffic management messages. These are necessary for the safety of all road users.
Electoral matter
All signage containing electoral matter is subject to the parking restrictions outlined above. Electoral matter means any matter that is intended or likely to impact voting in an election or referendum at the ACT, State, or Commonwealth level. This includes any content that explicitly or implicitly mentions an ACT, State, or Commonwealth election or referendum, as well as any subject on which voters may cast their votes in such elections or referendums.
Legislation
For more information please see:
More information
For information on where you can place movable signs including election signage see movable signs.
