PARKING fines in Ballarat could soon be a thing of the past, thanks to the ever-evolving iPhone.ParkPatrol, a recently developed application, enables users to monitor the location of parking inspectors around town.With a simple click of a button, users can report exactly where the dreaded inspectors are lurking to a network of colleagues.Creator of the application Joe Darling, said it was designed to help people in the community steer clear of any fines."We want people to avoid fines at any cost, but we're finding a lot of councils are opposed to it," he said.About 22,000 people already use the application, with the vast majority located in Australia, but Mr Darling said it still has some trouble with reliability."We find people are still trialling it so sometimes it isn't completely reliable, but in metropolitan areas it is effective 95 per cent of the time."The application requires a broad range of users constantly updating inspector locations.The information is then relayed back to the user, with minute-by-minute updates. Although effectiveness in Ballarat is still limited, the rate of growth in bigger cities suggests it will soon catch on.Local user Nick Sculley said that it is a great idea and is hopeful more local people will get involved to help avoid getting stung in the pocket."I think it could prove very handy, hopefully other people around Ballarat start using it and it catches on," he said. Mr Darling denied it was an aid in helping people escape the law."I don't believe it's a bad thing, people are happy to pay $2 for parking but its the fines that hurt." The City of Ballarat declined to comment.
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