A Sydney woman has sparked a heated debate after revealing she uses her ADHD diagnosis to have parking fines and late fees waived, even enlisting her doctor to back her up.
Designer Advocates for Leniency
Designer Zoe Sheehan argues that her medical condition means she should not be penalised for genuine lapses in memory, insisting she is 'not a criminal, just confused.' Ms Sheehan, who was diagnosed with ADHD in recent years, said even her psychiatrist agrees and has written her a 'leniency letter' to support any appeals. She added that she is starting a petition to make such accommodations mandatory.
'It's not just being forgetful, ADHD is clinically impairing. It impacts executive function, memory, time blindness, organisation and impulse control, which are the exact things our systems rely on to avoid fines, late fees, missed payments and subscriptions slipping through,' Ms Sheehan told the Daily Mail.
'People with ADHD can end up paying thousands a year just trying to function on top of therapy costs, medication etc. We're actively trying to manage it but the system still penalises us for key symptoms of the condition.'
The 'ADHD Tax'
It is estimated that one in 20 Australians live with ADHD, and avoidable financial obligations related to the condition have been dubbed the 'ADHD tax'. This includes leaving cars in zones past their time, forgetting to transfer money and incurring overdraft fees, and missing paper bills for car registration or insurance renewal.
Recalling one incident, Ms Sheehan explained how she drove to a shopping centre, parked in a 30-minute zone, and went inside for a coffee before completely forgetting she had arrived by car. 'I went back and obviously I got fined. So these are the kinds of situations where a leniency letter helps.'
Public Reaction: Praise and Backlash
Sharing her experience on social media, Ms Sheehan's comment section was flooded with hundreds of people thanking her for the advice, with many vowing to try it themselves. One user said: 'I've just had to have my psychiatrist write me a report for Fines Victoria because I have accumulated 20k of fines since 2012 without knowing.' Another added: 'The amount of money this would have saved me if I knew this was possible, literally got a fine, a court date and a suspended licence because I forgot to renew my licence.'
A third shared a similar story: 'I parked in a loading zone, forgot and it stayed there over a four day long weekend and got a ticket every hour over the entire weekend resulting in almost $7k worth of parking tickets with 25 days to pay then they basically doubled due to non payment. I moved and forgot about court and police showed up to my house and, temporarily, arrested me for failure to appear.'
However, Ms Sheehan's comments also sparked backlash. One critic said: 'You guys need to start setting reminders on your phone and stuff.' Another commented: 'I live in America and they'd laugh in my face.'
Expert Weighs In
ADHD speaker and educator Connor Greene told Daily Mail that a diagnosis should not automatically be seen as a free pass. 'It genuinely has me torn,' he said. 'ADHD tax is very real. It can be incredibly overwhelming and costly over time, no question. But I don't think that means we're absolved of responsibility.'
Mr Greene also pointed out that there are already measures in place to help people with ADHD, including payment plans, fee reductions and, in some cases, the removal of late fees. 'I think reasonable adjustments make sense,' he said. 'But not when it comes at the cost of other people's safety or wellbeing. Whether that's parking, driving, our duty of care to others, or even workplace responsibilities, the impact still matters. ADHD explains the struggle, it doesn't remove the outcome, so the focus has to be on finding what works for you, not expecting the world to absorb it.'
Ms Sheehan was so moved by the responses that she has started sharing templates of the letters people can use to appeal, and is now planning to launch a petition calling for businesses to be legally required to consider ADHD when making decisions about fines. Options would include flagged accounts for neurodivergent users, additional reminders before penalties, discounted fines or late fees, grace periods, or structured support pathways when someone has a diagnosis. 'I've had to start building my own apps for finance reminders, regulation and health check tracking because the current tools and support don't exist,' she said.
