WARNING about driving unregistered in NSW

[artme]

I have no problems with this except when things happen that are beyond our control.

We have a persistent problem here with some of our mail going to a street with the same initial letter as ours and the same stre number. We similarly get some of their mail. No amount of complaining and ranting seems to have any effect.


We had the case of our Rego sticker going astray and it was some time before a new one was issued. We did take the precaution of keeping and carrying all payment documents in the car.

We have had renewal notice turn up after the due rego date, even though it was posted a good month beforehand.

Somethings are beyond our control>

[Ian Smith]

.....Somethings are beyond our control>

...you think??

It's one thing to get pinged for not displying your rego sticker and that may well have gone astray in the mail. That very thing happened to my wife - cost her $60 as I recall

However it's another thing entirely to be driving an unregistered vehicle with all the liability implications.

I don't think it's up to the Transport department to "remind" you to pay your rego - that's your responsibility. Those reminders are a courtesy, if such a thing exists from a Government body. It's not a game of "not paying until I get asked" - you are responsible for keeping your rego current - not the Transaport department

Ian

[damian]

..
I don't think it's up to the Transport department to "remind" you to pay your rego - that's your responsibility. Ian

I suppose the dates on the sticker which is easily seen and checked.

Danny :

I hope sanity prevails in your case. You made what seems to be a reasonable effort to do the right thing. I had a friend, now dead (so many are) who handed in damaged plates and got new ones, but didn't know he needed a resiept for the plates he handed in. Return wasn't processed and he got fined for the missing plates. He went to court, represented himself and never got to utter a word. Gotta love the legal (not justice) system.

The best thing about this is if the state governments get enough revenue from fining unregistered vehicles they won't need to use speeding fines as much for same...

Naa, I'm just being silly aren't I ?

BTW in NSW the only state with mandatory annual inspections, the rate of vehicle defects contributing to crashes is slightly HIGHER than other states, so the inspection regime is a furfy.

Vehicle defects are insignifigant in the road data. Much better outcomes can be had focusing on driver education, targeting problem drivers and reducing roadside furniture.

[jimbur]

Only on change of ownership here in Vic Damian.
When I was in the UK there were annual tests there and fixing a car to pass it was big business - things like sills which you pop-rivetted over the rusted out ones. Might be more stringent now.
Cheers,
Jim

[damian]

Salted roads change the outcome.

As I've said before road safety data is available online. The data tells a rather different story than those with a vested interest and those who listen to same.

As I've said before if states stopped collecting fine data road safety would look very different. If instead of paying a fine you had to attend and pass an approved driving course at an approved school to the same value, you'd have a triple penalty replacing a double penalty and the state would have no conflict of interest. It would probably create jobs, only penalise wayward drivers and you never know they might even learn something.

Then again the state would have to replace the revenue, perhaps they could tax the air we breath...

Another thought. Why do we register cars ? As far as I can tell there are 2 reasons: Insurance and a register for the police. Why then does the government administer the scheme ? Why not just let insurance companies reach an agreement directly with the customer (combined 3rd party/comp discounts for example) and pass on the info to the police ? The insurers know all too well the risk profiles, could determine for example if inspections are appropriate. I believe the outcome would benifit motorists and the public alike, perhaps less so problem drivers. But that would involve government reducing control of our lives. Can't have that.

[fxst]

its a bit hard to check the date on the sticker in WA and after june 30 this year we in SA will also no longer have stickers. I guess it has nothing to do with revenue raising though
Pete

[damian]

I am sorry I didn't know.

[Sturdee]

Why not just let insurance companies reach an agreement directly with the customer (combined 3rd party/comp discounts for example) and pass on the info to the police ? The insurers know all too well the risk profiles, could determine for example if inspections are appropriate. I believe the outcome would benifit motorists and the public alike, perhaps less so problem drivers. But that would involve government reducing control of our lives. Can't have that.

Damian, it used to be, in Vic., that you could select the insurer for the compulsory third party insurance, but one by one they pulled out as it wasn't profitable.

Hence the only one being the government TAC.

Peter.

[Chesand]

Slightly off topic but I believe that third party property damage insurance should be compulsory. No one should be on the road without insurance for the damage that can be done to others.

[Handyjack]

If you can't afford insurance, you can't afford to drive.
If you are involved in an incident (accident) better to be with a licensed driver in a registered car.

How effective is cancelling a licence? Only the honest will stop driving. Many will still drive untill they are physically unable, even if they kill a few innocent people.

[damian]

Slightly off topic but I believe that third party property damage insurance should be compulsory. No one should be on the road without insurance for the damage that can be done to others.

I believe that's the system in Switzerland and so no one needs comprehensive basically.

In NZ the government covers all accidents so no litigation lawyers creaming off the top. Licences last till 70 and rego is about $150/yr...If you get injured and can't work you get 80% of your salary until your well again.

CTP is a matter of choice in NSW and QLD but what I was suggesting is the government abdicate the admin altogether. Here in QLD the government portion is more than half our rego. A V8 is $1000/yr here a 6 is about $800 a 4 $600ish.

Petrol in Brisbane is $1.50.

Good eh ? In 12 years we've gone from the lowest taxed state to the highest....

[danny.s]

received my summons in the mail today. Somewhat new experience seeing my own name in the "Name of accused" box! Off to court on July 19 to plead stupidity.

[danny.s]

Hi All

To close off my experience with my unregistered driving offence. I made a mistake and didn't my rego and was caught 4 days after it lapsed. Decided not to pay the $597, went to court. I have an excellent 22 year driving record, no criminal history, and I showed up in court looking and acting like I took this matter seriously. I did about 10 hours of research and discussed my matter professionally and politely with the prosecutor before pleading guilty at the hearing. I bowed when I entered the court, I stood when spoken too and I addressed the judge as Your Honour. I had a whole 5 minute spiel ready about my record and how this mistake happened. Got about 20 seconds in before the Magistrate stopped me. He dismissed the case and told me to be more careful next time.

It shows that if you are a generally good citizen, accept accountability for your actions and show some remorse, common sense can prevail.

I welcome the technology the cops have to catch the idiots who deliberately drive unregistered, and hopefully it gets them off the roads.

Danny

[damian]

Oh good. Sometimes the system works.

[hughie]

Well my wife got caught and it cost 1000 for a few days over. But heres the problem, we moved house threes years ago and each year I have a battle with the turkeys at the RTA. I can not the rego address changed.

I have done it online, been there in person, written letters and each time I am assured its been done, even went back after the event to check, "yes it been changed sir", if I was back on the farm I wouldn't feed em.

So again this year we will see what happens