Bruce Kerr refers to it as “instant karma.” He has devised a rather unusual method to deal with individuals who park in his business’s driveway without permission.
The 58-year-old runs Kerr Solutions IT in Rockhampton, Queensland, and has set up a sprinkler system designed to spray water on drivers who park illegally. His antics have garnered attention on his TikTok page, “Rockhampton Chaos.”
“When those sprinklers go off, and you’re caught in the spray, it feels like justice,” he says, somewhat amused by the situation.
Initially, Kerr didn’t expect the videos of drenched drivers to go viral or, in some cases, result in people losing their jobs.
Recently, a worker parked in Kerr’s driveway while visiting a nearby shop on a weekday last December. According to Kerr, that worker told his employer he was on-site for a mining project at the time.
Camera footage captured the worker exiting the truck in casual attire before he was met with a sudden jet of water, forcing him to jump back inside.
Kerr shared the clip with 4.5 million viewers, including the worker’s boss.
“He claimed he was out west working. But he was actually just buying cigarettes in town. The viral footage changed everything,” Kerr explained.
As a result, the boss contacted Kerr, indicating the worker had been dismissed.
“He wanted to apologize for the employee’s behavior. Apparently, he had received multiple complaints regarding the guy’s driving and felt he couldn’t keep him on,” Kerr chuckled.
This incident is just one of many moments captured by Kerr since he installed the sprinkler system two years ago.
“I’m tired of this.”
The idea for the system emerged after Kerr moved to his current location along Musgrave Street, a busy area. He noticed that up to 20 drivers daily were parking in his driveway, blocking access for his customers, despite clearly marked signs prohibiting parking.
“These people act like the rules don’t apply to them, parking wherever they please,” he noted.
Many of the offenders, in his observation, are smokers who leave their vehicles unattended to buy items from nearby shops. “I just got fed up with it,” he expressed.
Kerr’s business has been operating in Rockhampton for 29 years, with the last decade spent in its current site. He pointed out that there are plenty of other parking options available but many people still choose to park in his driveway.
“There’s no shortage of spots, but they prefer to park right in front of where they want to go,” he observed.
This disregard not only annoyed Kerr and his staff but also created a safety hazard, as drivers often rushed to maneuver on Musgrave Street.
“There are frequent screeching tires and near-misses,” he commented. “It’s surprising that no one has been seriously hurt yet.”
When Kerr attempted to engage the local council and share footage and license plate numbers, he found the response lacking. “It’s complicated—this isn’t a council road, but rather a main road. The police also consider it under federal jurisdiction,” he noted, somewhat frustrated.
A mechanical engineering graduate, Kerr spent years crafting this automated sprinkler solution. “I spent about six months planning to ensure it was legal and effective,” he remarked.
Combining plumbing, motion sensors, and functionality with the local water supply, they constructed a system that now attracts attention online.
Water is stored in a high-pressure tank, and sensors are activated when vehicles enter the area, spraying water at unsuspecting drivers.
Since its inception in late 2023, the system has minimized illegal parking incidents, as only a few cars get sprayed each day. Many end up featured on Kerr’s TikTok, with viewers often enjoying the spectacle.
“People on TikTok love these clips. Some comments express that they live for these moments,” he noted with a grin.
While many laugh off the situation, not everyone appreciates it. Some individuals have attempted to dismantle the setup and have reacted negatively, even throwing objects at it.
In response to recurring issues with vandalism, Kerr mentioned that they have a plan: “We have measures in place, like alarms.”
“An unpleasant issue.”
In addition to dealing with unauthorized parking, Kerr and his team are also working on another problem: people publicly urinating in the area. “The layout of the shops makes it easy for some to think they can discreetly relieve themselves back there,” he explained.
Kerr is looking to upgrade his system to address this issue but hasn’t revealed the specifics yet. However, fans can expect updates on TikTok when improvements are made.
For now, the sprinkler system has become something of a local attraction. Children frequently visit, trying to dodge the spray on their bikes or scooters, while tourists take pictures of the amusing scene.
Kerr has even received inquiries from across Australia—and even the U.S.—from people eager to create similar systems for their own businesses facing the same challenges.
“Just the other day, someone reached out from Melbourne, wanting to know how to construct a comparable setup for a storage facility,” he shared. “There seems to be a rising demand for this kind of solution.”
Ultimately, Kerr remains committed to deterring drivers from abusing his driveway space, joking, “If they park here, they can expect a surprise spray.”
