No way out. THEY'RE the bane of every city motorist - parking pirates who steal spaces, block roads and flout the law to find the ideal spot. Councils and police have collected a staggering $840 million in parking fines from NSW motorists over the past five years, yet countless motorists still think they can get away with leaving their cars, vans, trucks motorbikes or mopeds wherever they please. Sign? What sign? And it drives law-abiding road users batty. Among the worst offenders; drivers who take up two or more spaces with one car, spatially-challenged motorists who treat tight parallel parks like a carnival bumper-car ride and selfish motorists double-parking on busy streets or cruising at a snail's pace trying to find a park. No way through. NRMA Motoring and Services spokesman Peter Khoury said the No.1 frustration for most drivers was the behaviour of other people on the road, and parking played a big part in that. "It can be very frustrating when people are double-parked, particularly on busy city streets, but one of the biggest issues people face is when someone is driving around the CBD area trying to find a street park, and they crawl along looking for one," he said. Dozy and dangerous. Things like that can be countered - some local councils have started to use variable messaging signs that tell people in real time where parking is available, and we would encourage more councils to do that. Close, but not quite. But overwhelmingly it comes down to courtesy and bad driving behaviour. People have to remember that by doing these things they're just creating frustration for everyone around them. However, the blame might not rest solely on motorists. One seriously greedy parker. Mr Khoury said some councils were dragging the chain when it came to parking reforms, neglecting the fact that cars were getting bigger and therefore needed larger spaces to park. "It's common sense stuff like that, and it's about making sure councils provide adequate free parking around shopping areas," he said. A space of one's own. Sydney isn't the only place where people abandon common sense in the search for a parking space. Newcastle City Council compliance services manager Adam Gilligan said the most common problem was motorists parking without a ticket or staying longer than they should. But a bigger concern was motorists who parked in no standing zones, obstructing views for other vehicles and pedestrians. Two spaces are better than one. "In many cases it's just a laziness factor," Mr Gilligan said. We see many people park in locations illegally where there are perfectly legal spaces nearby. Parking on footpaths and nature strips is a perfect example of that. Poor parking practices are a headache for almost everyone on the road, but for some they have greater repercussions. Missed it by THAT much. People With Disability Australia president Craig Wallace said able-bodied motorists who stole disabled parking spaces were a serious problem. "I use a wheelchair myself so I know the situation, and some people don't realise there is actually a reason why those parks are longer and wider," he said. A Penrith City Council ranger books cars, a daily occurrence. It's so they can accommodate a wheelchair hoist and the extra room people need to be able to get into their wheelchair, so if people don't have access to those spots they can go out, park somewhere and then be parked in and be unable to get back into their car. Some road users are so fed up they're turning to social media to name and shame culprits. The No Permit No Park Facebook page and website feature photos of cars parked illegally in disabled spaces throughout Australia. Founder Alicia Wright, who has Parkinson's disease, said she had been abused and threatened after confronting people face-to-face about why they park illegally. "I stop and try to talk to people and ask them whether they realise they've parked there," she said. "The majority of people say: "Oh yeah I'm only going to be a minute, there are plenty of other spaces." There have been occasions where we have gone home because there has been no disabled parking - it just makes the excursion too hard.