Was this illegal or just plain disgraceful?

Sometimes I just despair. Today Mutawintji brought some timber over to me for transportation to the Blue Mountains GTG. (Full info here:https://www.woodworkforums.com/f25/bl...7/index11.html

I had left my trayback in the road outside the house as a recognition point. When he arrived he backed up his station wagon so he could unload the timber straight onto my vehicle.

By the time I noticed he was there he had unloaded and I invited him in to have a cuppa. We got talking of course and it was a good two hours later that we went back to the vehicles. He had a an infringement notice on the windscreen for $40.

Neither of us had our reading glasses on, but I assume it was for the vehicle facing the wrong direction.

Greg was extremely philosophical about it, but I have to say I was incensed because I felt embarrassed that a visitor should be treated that way.

On the face of it the vehicle was parked illegally, but I have enclosed some shots of how it was using another vehicle to indicate the positions. The road is approximately four cars wide and it is a divided road. The road was deserted in a country town of 1000 people and it is Saturday morning.

What happens is the Dalby police send their new recruits over to us with instructions to book people. We have had instances of people being booked for not locking their cars and having their windows wound down more than the prescribed 50mm. Hell we leave our houses unlocked and the keys in the cars.

Is it any wonder the police experience animosity directed towards them. Myself, I despair.

Attachment 265248Attachment 265249Attachment 265251

I should add that Greg had parked a lot more neatly than I did.

Regards
Paul

I got booked once for parking in the wrong direction, but the ticket actually said "parking to far from the curb" . :doh: It was in a narrow Fleming ton road that only one line of cars could drive down the middle of the road between the cars parked on the side. What direction they were facing hardly seemed to make much difference. They obviously don't really have a law about parking in the wrong direction, cos they had to call it something else.

Just as an aside I think Henry Glapthorne was right. Thanks Arthur :).

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f55/no...please-169738/

Regards
Paul

Jaysus, what a joke. How the hell did you take that middle pic with all that life threatening traffic? I would love to have had one of my devastating logic sessions with the fool that issued that.

In some perverted way it's reassuring to see that Joh's Police State is still alive and well.

Tell you what though, I'll not have a fella who's driven all that way to provide timber for me err, us, having to pay the fine. No doubt he'll not accept the cash, but I have a cunning, and inescapable plan.

Paul - I recognise that street :)

Re; The ticket, another case of the law being an ass?

Maybe the guys from the GTG could chip in a $ each and pay it?

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Originally Posted by tea lady

I got booked once for parking in the wrong direction, but the ticket actually said "parking to far from the curb" . :doh: It was in a narrow Fleming ton road that only one line of cars could drive down the middle of the road between the cars parked on the side. What direction they were facing hardly seemed to make much difference. They obviously don't really have a law about parking in the wrong direction, cos they had to call it something else.

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Ackershully, they cited the violation correctly. They measure from the passenger side to the LH kerb... so you were a streets' width away... :D

Still stupid, but.

I've been done for that once too in quiet suburbia and was spewin'. It wasn't until a few years later when I heard about how my Yr12 art teacher was killed that I understood why.

(Granted, these are entirely different circumstances than a middle of the day offense, but still...)

He was assisting someone who's car had broken down on a country road at night. He had his car on the wrong side of the road side facing the wrong direction so his headlights were illuminating the area around the other car.

Another car came along the road and the driver got confused about the headlights and was trying to stay on the "right" side (left) of them...consequently plowing into everything, including my teacher and killing him.

I've been similarly confused and almost ran off the road on the way to Mildura once when a train was coming towards me on the left, from in front, with a horrendously bright light which was considerably blinding my vision. I was trying to keep on the left of it while at the same time wondering why the hell I was running off the bitumen. I was actually getting a bit freaked out about being unable to avoid what I thought was going to be a head on collision if I couldn't avoid the idiot on hi beam coming towards me.

I suppose The Man has to try to stop it happening at all times of the day in all situations so folks don't think it's ok to do at all for exactly the reasons above.

A quick hunt around shows that it is illegal or at the very least is an offense to park against the flow of traffic.

It's illegal to park like that. I grew up in a town with 900 people and that was the local copper's pet hate. He'd regularly book people for it. We didn't even have concrete gutters to park at.

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Originally Posted by RedShirtGuy

I suppose The Man has to try to stop it happening at all times of the day in all situations so folks don't think it's ok to do at all for exactly the reasons above.

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Yeeeaaah, or, um, raise revenue? Just a thought.

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Originally Posted by RedShirtGuy

A quick hunt around shows that it is illegal or at the very least is an offense to park against the flow of traffic.

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Yes, but doesn't there have to be your actual flow of traffic for that to stand up?

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Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Ackershully, they cited the violation correctly. They measure from the passenger side to the LH kerb... so you were a streets' width away... :D

Still stupid, but.

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I do love a bit of devastating logic :roflmao2:

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Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Ackershully, they cited the violation correctly. They measure from the passenger side to the LH kerb... so you were a streets' width away... :D

Still stupid, but.

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Yep, if parked must be within a foot of the kerb.

Skew is perfectly correct in how the ticket is worded and it's illegal according Vic Roads road laws.

The way the car is parked is also prima facie evidence that the driver broke another law of having driven the wrong way to park that way and will do again when leaving. For that he could have been fined as well with 3 demerit points.

It has happened to a mate of mine. Fined for parking the wrong way and twice for driving the wrong way (coming based on how the car was parked and going the police saw him driving away). He went to court and lost. Enormous fine and court costs as well as two lots of 3 demerit points.

With common road laws that would also apply in Queensland.

Peter.

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The road is approximately four cars wide and it is a divided road.

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I hate to be the bearer of bad tidings but I have to agree with the police on this one. Greg is technically facing the wrong way in a "one way street".

Sturdee posted at the same time.

Personally, I think the ticket's a bit rough.

The mistake was to leave the cars unattended... bit hard to say you're unloading if there's no-one in sight. And if you didn't see him coming or going, then odds are he didn't see you blokes either. It's really just ###### timing. (and a ###### law. But still. Henry Glapthorne and all that. :D)

Whilst I agree that in this case it was probably a bit over the top, I can appreciate or understand the reasoning for the fine or law as it can lead to disastrous circumstances.

I have been witness to several aftermaths of people parking on the wrong side due to living in country areas, whilst not being highways they still have 100 kph on most country roads outside of towns.

Shame the cop didn't have the time, or didn't feel comfortable, just walking up and knocking on your door.
I used to live in a small community like that. Everybody know who's cars were who's so cop would have just gotten dispatch to give you a call. Or knocked on your door to get you to move it.

Oh well, $40 isn't much. And i doubt your friend is worried about demerits. Sucks all round.

Some years back I got a ticket which I thought was unfair so wrote a letter of explanation of the circumstances, I said I did do what I was fined for and then requested special consideration for a refund of the payment enclosed.
Three weeks later I got a refund and a letter saying don't do it again....a win of sorts, well at least my hard earned was back in my pocket..
Good luck, maybe worth a try, Cheers....

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Originally Posted by crowie

Some years back I got a ticket which I thought was unfair so wrote a letter of explanation of the circumstances, I said I did do what I was fined for and then requested special consideration for a refund of the payment enclosed.
Three weeks later I got a refund and a letter saying don't do it again....a win of sorts, well at least my hard earned was back in my pocket..
Good luck, maybe worth a try, Cheers....

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Err, yes Peter, but this is in the very heart of Joh country. I've experienced Qld policing - I wouldn't waste the time, ink, or paper. However, we'll sort something out for Greg, as I said before.

I know how you feel about cops.
I just got pinched on Bribie Island $110 for not wearing a push bike helmet - reason being, I didnt have one, I'm trying to get in to riding to lose weight and I can't walk to lose weight because I've had a back injury and walking any distance is painful because of the jarring.

What really angered me is the fact that the cop only admitted that kids get 3 warnings before a fine - the cop that wrote me up should get a commendation from the state revenue office.

Wow .. Bit embarassing .. However, company car and a good chance of palming it off. So no worries about the money.

Also, may have been my own fault, I suspect he had a grudge. Was nearly caught on the way in speeding but I saw him about 2klm back and coming fast. Handbrake bought me quickly down to the limit, and no brake light giveaway. He caught up but by that time I was angelic in innocence .. And I tink he was bit disgruntled ... He had no onboard radar but knew I had been speeding.

May have been the same guy .. So a parking fine was better than 20k/hr over the limit. All clouds have silver linings.

Also, if I count the 1000s of times I drive over the speed limit and never get caught out this way, then I don't mind so much when they nip my heels occasionly...


So to be truly fair ...I'm still ahead on points .. Haahaaa

cool bananas ... Greg

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Originally Posted by Mutawintji

So to be truly fair ...I'm still ahead on points .. Haahaaa

cool bananas ... Greg

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:D.

Very cool and very philosophical.

What I didn't mention before was that this penalty struck a particular chord with me. I have been lucky, wary and even sometimes law abiding in my driving habits and as a consequence have had onlytwo driving infringements in Australia. Actually three probably show up on the record but that was my daughter running a red light. As she was already living in the UK by that time there didn't seem much point in demanding she pay up.

The second offence was for speeding in 1981. I was: fair cop. The first infringement was for parking facing the wrong way. I was mortified as in the UK it is not against the law (except in a one way street). I have never quite come to terms with why it is against the law here. Anyhow my original disgust this Saturday was that the local police don't give a damn and it is the imported new recruits totting up their infringement notices that are responsible.

As I said, such pettiness does not endear the police to the general public on whom they depend so heavily.

Another side of that silver lining is that those of you have not met me before will now be looking for the pommie bstard with the bright shinning halo at the BM GTG :p .

Regards
Saint Paul

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Originally Posted by Bushmiller

I was mortified as in the UK it is not against the law (except in a one way street).

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What do you call a pedestrian who looks both ways in a one-way street?

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Originally Posted by smidsy

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I just got pinched on Bribie Island $110 for not wearing a push bike helmet - reason being, I didnt have one...

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Why not? You can get very good helmets for half the price of the fine which is a fraction of what your heads worth.

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Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

What do you call a pedestrian who looks both ways in a one-way street?

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A pessimist :) !

Regards
Paul

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Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

What do you call a pedestrian who looks both ways in a one-way street?

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An ambulance. They should've looked while still on the kerb. :p

I wish you'd sent that copper over here to book my neighbours - they continually double park in front of their house (and occasionally across my driveway) - thus causing drivers to speed past on the wrong side of the road - busy street with (now) lots of young kids

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Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

I wish you'd sent that copper over here to book my neighbours - they continually double park in front of their house (and occasionally across my driveway) - thus causing drivers to speed past on the wrong side of the road - busy street with (now) lots of young kids

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Nick

At the time I would have been happy to send him down to you. Even prepared to pay for a one-way ticket and probably for a paddy wagon full of his mates too! Trouble is with GPS nowadays they'd probably find their way back :( .

Maybe police are a little like rain: Never in the right paddock at the right time :wink: .

Regards
Paul

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Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Nick

...

Maybe police are a little like rain: Never in the right paddock at the right time :wink: .

Regards
Paul

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I can understand and empathise with this

I often say to my son (main passenger these days) "geez I wish I was a copper sometimes" upon witnessing some piece of sheer stupidity. Unfortunately this is a fairly common utterance:doh:

Here in WA I did the same thing out the front of my folks place (all day) and got a warning from the council ranger saying I could be fined for parking contrary to the traffic flow. Needless to say I have done it a couple of times since but only ever for a quick stop.

Countless times traveling this wide brown land I've backed off for no reason and 2 seconds later up pops plod.

Been very lucky as well considering I have passed plod going in the opposite direction and been doing some low level flying and nothing. Once crested a hill and either the copper blinked and missed me or he went nah I have no chance catching him. To be fair he was in a Ford Courier Ute (Oversize Traffic Escort Cop) and I was seriously moving!

I have been told by one of the local cops that he can Yellow sticker (make you have a roadworthy inspection) on a brand new car straight off the dealerships showroom floor. Can be as simple as the seat belt not retracting as fast as he thinks it should. They have too much power and at times very very little knowledge of vehicles.

All I would do next time either of you see him is "Smile and wave boys, smile and wave".

My best escape ever .... in the old days when 'radar' was set up on a little bench and further down the road were the 'seconds' who stopped and fined you ..

I crested the hill just topping the Marburg range and he was there and had me ... no escape ... but when I got to the bottom .. the two police waiting were in the middle of a punch up ... fighting each other ... and way too occupied to stop me .. I drove on and never heard again ..... haaaaaaaa

Greg

I used to work with a bloke who owned a powerful motorcycle. It was a 1000cc Laverda Jota. In it's time (mid to late seventies) it was as fast as they got. Today a good 250 would probably show it a clean pair of heels.

He told me that he would often get sprung travelling too fast in NSW and if he was close to the ACT he would just open up the throttle and race across the border as the NSW police in those days had no jurisdiction there.

The police cars of the day had no hope of catching him.

Regards
Paul

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Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

What do you call a pedestrian who looks both ways in a one-way street?

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French. Well they don't take any notice of where they park, or should I say abandon, their cars.

A while back there was a fascinating programme of French TV about a tow-away truck in Paris. All he did all night was to go to a certain corner where the pavement was a fair bit wider than the rest. He would put a car on his wagon and take it to the pound. Drive back and pick up the next on, etc. There was a tow-away sign in clear site and they made a fortune from that one corner.

Motorcyclists have threir own law here too. They don't have to stick to any speed limits. Solid white lines are for cars, etc. and when they are unhappy with anyone they form large, slow moving, road blocking the road and have an escort of police bikes to make sure they get their own way. The big downer for them is that although they number about 5% or so of the traffic they have about 20% of the accidents :o

I'd say cautious

I nearly got hit in Castlereagh St in Sydney one day by some jerk reversing up the street :doh:

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Originally Posted by corbs

Why not? You can get very good helmets for half the price of the fine which is a fraction of what your heads worth.

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Yeah you can get a good helmet for $20. After I pay my rent each fortnight I have about $140 left for all expenses, food, fuel, power, net (essential for job seeking) and everything else.
So yeah after getting pinched I went and bought a helmet - and my shopping for that fortnight included a sh*tload of $1 bread from Woolies because I couldnt afford much else.
The issue I have, is that I was written up by a cop who openly admitted that were I a child I would receive three warnings before the fine - this was blatant revenue raising.

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Originally Posted by Bushmiller

I used to work with a bloke who owned a powerful motorcycle. It was a 1000cc Laverda Jota. In it's time (mid to late seventies) it was as fast as they got. Today a good 250 would probably show it a clean pair of heels.

He told me that he would often get sprung travelling too fast in NSW and if he was close to the ACT he would just open up the throttle and race across the border as the NSW police in those days had no jurisdiction there.

The police cars of the day had no hope of catching him.

Regards
Paul

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Hot 1970's moterbikes Benelli 750 - 6 cylinder
750 Triple Kawasaki & 350 Triple Kawasaki
even a very well turned Honda 750 Four or a 750 Suzuki Water Bucket or Katana

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Originally Posted by Jonzjob

French. Well they don't take any notice of where they park, or should I say abandon, their cars.

Motorcyclists have threir own law here too. They don't have to stick to any speed limits. Solid white lines are for cars, etc. and when they are unhappy with anyone they form large, slow moving, road blocking the road and have an escort of police bikes to make sure they get their own way. The big downer for them is that although they number about 5% or so of the traffic they have about 20% of the accidents :o

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The reason motorcyclists have more accidents than cars is because of asshole drivers who either don't see us because they have their head up their ####, ipod, or newspaper (and yeah when I worked at Camera section in WA I saw a woman doing 78/60 while reading a newspaper, this particular shot taken by the best operator in the section and I could read the masthead of the paper) or, they see us and don't give a ####, or they see us and deliberately use size and the fact that we're unprotected to intimidate us.
I was doing 105 on the Bruce Hwy south bound from the Bribie island road and had a rigid tipper literally 200mm off my back wheel - I still have his rego and when I see him there'll be an unpleasant (for him) conversation.
Motorcyclist block the road - which dream or movie did you see that in, yeah the bikies get an escort but any cop will tell you that that's for the protection of the general rather than the bikies benefit, and before providing that escort the cops go in mob handed to RBT, drug test, and do licence and roadworthiness checks on ever bike and rider.
Truckies get a police escort when they do xmas charity runs and so do hot rodders.

It's been scientifically proven that motorcycles create less congestion and less polution.
Motorcycles are also better trained and tested to a higher standard than car drivers - the sum total of my tests for C and HC licences was less than 40 minutes. I did a 5 hour assessment last year for my restricted bike licence and will do another 5 hours in a few weeks for my open licence.
We also pay more in rego in taxes since most of us have both car and bike, and our bikes are better maintained since a mechanical issue (such as sudden tyre deflation) could lead to an accident.

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Originally Posted by smidsy

The issue I have, is that I was written up by a cop who openly admitted that were I a child I would receive three warnings before the fine - this was blatant revenue raising.

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That would be because a child under 18 (being a minor) can not be forced to pay any debts (being fines) incurred by him/her, so the fine could remain unpaid for a very long time and then the statue of limitations could apply.

Further unless they have received a number of cautions they will be able to use the excuse of not being aware of this requirement as they never have had to obtain a licence, which tests that they know the road laws.

So why would they waste the time and effort trying to fine a child without proof that they knew the road laws because of having received a number of cautions. The police should be praised for using common sense in these areas.

You're not a child so the above doesn't apply.

Peter.

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Originally Posted by smidsy

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The issue I have, is that I was written up by a cop who openly admitted that were I a child I would receive three warnings before the fine - this was blatant revenue raising.

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Or he figured that the adults are the ones who put helmets on the kids. Fine the adults and the kids might start putting helmets on... or he may also have recently picked up the pieces of someone not wearing a helmet... or he may just figure that giving a $120 fine to a kid is a pointless exercise. There could be any number of reasons why he gave the fine. Personally, I couldn't care less if others wear a helmet or not but it's illegal to not wear one so no real need to get upset if caught.

The local SGT where I grew up wouldn't fine the kids but he'd take the valves out of our tyres. Can't fall off a bike you can't ride. After my old man kicked my backside, he'd go and get the valves and come home to kick my backside again. I wore my helmet every time I rode after that and still do now.

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Originally Posted by Sturdee

You're not a child so the above doesn't apply.

Peter.

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My point exactly, I'm not a child.
I have almost every licence you can get, I have 26 years driving experience including interstate trucking and have driven in almost every state including snow and ice down in Tas.
I have the situational awareness that comes with all those years driving, I have the observational skills that comes with all those years of experience, and I know the road rules -I'm not a kid that ignores what few road rules he knows or plays chicken with the traffic.
I still think this smacks of revenue raising or quota-ism (having worked for the cops in WA I know that quota's exist) and I still think given the circumstances and my situation that the fine was grossly unfair.

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Originally Posted by smidsy

I know the road rules -I'm not a kid that ignores what few road rules he knows or plays chicken with the traffic.

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You may not be a kid, but you choose to ignore the road laws. Knowing the law and willfully ignoring it is much worse IMO.

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Originally Posted by smidsy

I still think given the circumstances and my situation that the fine was grossly unfair.

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I strongly disagree. Your circumstances and situation has nothing to do with getting fined for breaking the law. Next you'll argue that poor people, because of their circumstances, can steal or rob anyone with impunity because of their circumstances.

Traffic fines are completely voluntary. If you can't afford them then don't break the laws. So stop whinging like a kid and cop it sweet. It was your decision to break the law.


Peter.