The respected Batemans Bay resident cares for his frail wife Marika. He said he drove Marika home from the doctors on May 24 to their home on the corner of North and Perry Streets.

"We had received bad news," he said. Marika has Parkinson's disease. More bad news came when they pulled up in the lane which runs from Perry St behind their home. His routine is to stop in the No Stopping zone, walk across the lane, open his gate, return and drive into his driveway. Mr Paschalidis believed he was in the right under the Mobility Parking Scheme.

"My wife was in the front seat," Mr Paschalidis said. "I got out to open the gate and when I got back (a ranger) was taking my picture."

He received in the mail both the photo and a Eurobodalla Shire Council official caution: "Any further breaches observed contrary to the parking regulations will result in the issue of a parking infringement. In future, if you wish to access your business, you need to utilise the parking area located on your property or the legal parking areas provided within the Batemans Bay CBD." It warned of a fine of up to $263.

Mr Paschalidis said Mobility Parking Scheme permit holders could stop for five minutes in a no-parking zone; the driver must remain within the vehicle or within three metres of it. He insists he left his vehicle only for as long as it took to cross the lane, open the gate and return.

Mr Paschalidis said both his vehicles display permits. When the Bay Post/Moruya Examiner visited in July, the plastic sleeve was mounted on the windshield of his sedan, but the permit was caught in the air-conditioning duct on the windscreen. When you are caring for your wife around the clock, paperwork ranks well below Parkinson's disease.

The Bay Post/Moruya Examiner approached the council for comment and was told Mr Paschalidis had been observed in the no-parking zone twice on the same morning: "Council has given Mr Passhalidis the benefit of the doubt and issued two cautions rather than fines, despite Mr Pashalidis parking illegally twice in different vehicles in the same morning."

Some will argue Mr Pashalidis has been let off. He feels an extra burden of stress was delivered to his back gate.