A controversial parking trick filmed by a couple on Australia's Gold Coast has sparked a fierce national debate, with opinions split between those calling it 'genius' and others condemning it as irresponsible.
The Viral Beach Car Park Stunt
On Tuesday, Gold Coast residents Bonnie and Kodi filmed themselves at a car park at Coolangatta beach. In a now-viral TikTok video, they were seen covering a continuous yellow line with sand. The video was captioned 'What yellow line?', with Bonnie later adding that the ploy 'actually worked'. In Queensland, parking on a continuous yellow line carries a $333 fine.
Public Reaction: From Praise to Outrage
The hack, which garnered almost 20 million views online, received a polarised response. Many social media users applauded the couple's ingenuity, particularly those frustrated by a lack of parking near popular beaches. 'Honestly genius, the amount of times I can never find a park in Australia,' one person wrote. Another labelled them 'Entrepreneur right there'.
However, a significant number of commenters were quick to criticise. They pointed out that yellow lines are typically in place for safety and access reasons. One critic suggested the space was for emergency vehicles, writing: 'I'm sure that was a yellow line for no reason. Probably not safety or emergencies or anything like that.' Others branded the act as 'entitled' behaviour that flouted clear rules.
Sunrise Appearance and ADHD Defence
The couple's newfound notoriety led to 27-year-old Kodi appearing on Channel Seven's Sunrise programme on Wednesday. During the interview, he credited their 'real bad ADHD' for the impulsive idea. He explained that his girlfriend didn't want to walk far, saying: 'She's a bit of a princess, so she goes "Nope, get on the yellow line, let's do it, we'll work out a way around it".'
Remarkably, the couple avoided a parking fine despite leaving their vehicle in the spot for nearly two hours. When asked if he thought the hack would catch on, Kodi joked that he might start selling cups of sand for $5. The incident highlights the ongoing tension between public regulation and individual ingenuity, leaving Australians divided on where to draw the line.
