Stupid traffic fines

[Pinch]

What is the most ridiculous traffic fine you have received?

I have been pretty 'high and mighty' of late saying that if you get fined for something, you deserve it etc. 'Don't want to get busted for speeding or parking, then don't do the wrong thing'. 'Don't pay the stupid tax'.

Anways, I recently got pinged - so will cop it sweet. Considering the crap driving I see on the roads though I can't help but feel a little inequity has been thrown my way...

I got pinged for stopping in a mail zone for 37 seconds at 9.19pm on a Saturday night while I ran in and grabbed a pizza. Didn't even turn the car or lights off (but I did leave it of course). Now I am happy to be corrected, but I didn't think aussie post collected from suburban boxes on a Sat night? (otherwise I would never have stopped there). Would never stop there any other evening.

I got a camera recorded infringement notice (not even at the time) a few weeks later, in the mail, on my birthday! $79. Nice work if you can get it Sutherland Council! Surprised they didn't get me for leave unattended vehicle unsecured (yep, that a fine here in NSW).

Look, I do have a beef with people stopping in No Stopping zones, disabled zones etc. I did the crime and will do the 'time' but it seems that so much dangerous crap goes unpunished, yet this stuff gets priority?

I am a bit peeved though that the fine breaks my absolutely clean record of 9.5 years (almost made the 10!). My only other fine all those years ago, 15 and under, was because I pressed cruise 'resume' on the 100 open road one night in my EL XR8, after I had been on the 110 freeway instead of cruise set +. Do'h.

Guess I am a societal deviate ready to have my car crushed!!!

Other experiences?

[TOASTED]

that really is pathetic. i really hope you enjoyed that pizza. i got a $150 fine for nnot carrying my license on me (when i was on my p's, about a week away from having my opens) ! fair enough this is an offence butWHY is it an offence? i struggle to see the logic! its not like i was driving 200km all i was doing is picking my mate up from the hospital and i live in a small country town! i travelled about a total of 2kms! in a sixty zone! yea i am all for the police but i was really angry at them this day.

[Pinch]

Originally Posted by fordracer

i really hope you enjoyed that pizza

Yeah it was good, but it wasn't $98 worth!

[montyv8]

not really a 'stupid fine' as such, but one i don't think i should have got in this situation..
was driving down jetty road in glenelg (for the south aussies reading this), got to the jetty end, two taxis just stop in front of me hoping to pick up some people from the bar there.. So I go around them, nice and slow, making sure no one was coming (was out cruising in my old XA coupe). Next thing, I'm getting pulled over, and issued with a fine for 'failing to keep left', for driving around the taxis. Meanwhile, the taxis are still sitting there blocking traffic..
that was $175 at the time..

Apparently taxis have their own set of rules..

[TOASTED]

ive said it before and ill say it again TAXI DRIVERS!!!!!

[Dezza]

When I first started renting, we didn't have an internet connection at first, so I regularily checked my emails at Monash Uni. It was holidays at the time, and I know the blue parking zones are free during the holidays. Anyway, this one day, I parked in a different car park, where you usually have to buy a ticket. I thought being holidays, so not having a parking problem, it'd be fine. Sure enough, a parking inspector came along and put a ticket under my wiper. What gets me is why pay money to park when there are stacks of free parks right nearby? The carparks were nearly empty, so what harm did I do by parking there? This was such blatant revenue raising.

Another one my Dad got, he had an old Ford D-series truck that was on it's last legs. The thing was belching out smoke and struggled to get over 40. Anyway, he used to only drive it between the farm at Maffra, and the block of land just down the road. One day he got a letter from the EPA saying it had been sighted with a smokey exhaust. That sounds about right, except that supposedly it was spotted at Glen Waverley! That's only about 200kms from Maffra, and the truck wouldn't have made it that far!

[BlacklistedXR]

i don't understand why a cop will pull people up for small reasons when they could be out there stopping more serious crimes from happening. im on my p plates and ive been done 3 times for not putting up my plates but the only reason i dont put them up is because i know when a police officer sees a high performance car with p's on it he is gonna pull me over and fine me for anything that he can find. i know it happens because it has happened to people i know.

[TwistedEL]

Originally Posted by BlacklistedXR

i don't understand why a cop will pull people up for small reasons when they could be out there stopping more serious crimes from happening. im on my p plates and ive been done 3 times for not putting up my plates but the only reason i dont put them up is because i know when a police officer sees a high performance car with p's on it he is gonna pull me over and fine me for anything that he can find. i know it happens because it has happened to people i know.

Well you've been pulled over 3 times with your plates down, they don't do it for the fun of it. If you drive responsibly and don't stand out they won't pull you over. It's not like you're the only 8 cyl on WA's roads!

[Feathers]

Originally Posted by BlacklistedXR

i don't understand why a cop will pull people up for small reasons when they could be out there stopping more serious crimes from happening. im on my p plates and ive been done 3 times for not putting up my plates but the only reason i dont put them up is because i know when a police officer sees a high performance car with p's on it he is gonna pull me over and fine me for anything that he can find. i know it happens because it has happened to people i know.

I always had my P's displayed - on the outside of the vehicle as was the law, and even with the custom plates I never got pulled up.


General Duties won't really bother, 'cause it's too much paperwork. Unless you're getting smart to them, but Highway Patrol have earned their reputation...

[Fev]

well not putting you p's up isnt exactly working since you have been pulled over 3 times.. ive been done once by a cop and RBTed twice at the roadside checks..

[XR06T]

my brother got an 'insufficient diverge signal' ticket a few years ago. middle of the night and when changing lanes only had his indicator on for 2 flashes. $150 and 3 demerits.

[bonspeed]

Originally Posted by XR06T

my brother got an 'insufficient diverge signal' ticket a few years ago. middle of the night and when changing lanes only had his indicator on for 2 flashes. $150 and 3 demerits.

Thats gotta suck.

Ive also got a brother story. My brother got done for " moving left, but not turning left". Circumstances were he was approaching a set of traffic lights, indicated and moved into the left lane. (there was a car in the right). Lights went green so he continued on his way. coppers pulled him up and fined him....wtf???
I should add that the markings on the road were straight and turning arrows in both lanes. Don't remember what happened in regards to the fine but do remember having a good laugh at my brother.

[muppet]

Originally Posted by Pinch

What is the most ridiculous traffic fine you have received?

I have been pretty 'high and mighty' of late saying that if you get fined for something, you deserve it etc. 'Don't want to get busted for speeding or parking, then don't do the wrong thing'. 'Don't pay the stupid tax'.

Anways, I recently got pinged - so will cop it sweet. Considering the crap driving I see on the roads though I can't help but feel a little inequity has been thrown my way...

I got pinged for stopping in a mail zone for 37 seconds at 9.19pm on a Saturday night while I ran in and grabbed a pizza. Didn't even turn the car or lights off (but I did leave it of course). Now I am happy to be corrected, but I didn't think aussie post collected from suburban boxes on a Sat night? (otherwise I would never have stopped there). Would never stop there any other evening.

I got a camera recorded infringement notice (not even at the time) a few weeks later, in the mail, on my birthday! $79. Nice work if you can get it Sutherland Council! Surprised they didn't get me for leave unattended vehicle unsecured (yep, that a fine here in NSW).

Look, I do have a beef with people stopping in No Stopping zones, disabled zones etc. I did the crime and will do the 'time' but it seems that so much dangerous crap goes unpunished, yet this stuff gets priority?

I am a bit peeved though that the fine breaks my absolutely clean record of 9.5 years (almost made the 10!). My only other fine all those years ago, 15 and under, was because I pressed cruise 'resume' on the 100 open road one night in my EL XR8, after I had been on the 110 freeway instead of cruise set +. Do'h.

Guess I am a societal deviate ready to have my car crushed!!!

Other experiences?

I thought it was legal to stop in front of a post box as long as you were posting a letter. People do it all the time at the box up the road from my place. So if you got pinged by a camera they would have no idea if you were posting a letter or not. Why don't you just tell them you were posting a letter and see what they say. I am happy to be corrected if this is not the case.

[Pinch]

Originally Posted by muppet

I thought it was legal to stop in front of a post box as long as you were posting a letter.

Yeah, someone told me that too. I checked the ARR's though and there is not mention of that allowance. With my luck, they probably took a photo of me returning with the pizza so if I signed a stat dec saying I was getting my mail (I would reckon they wouldn't cop me saying the pizza was posted to me!) I would end up like Marcus Einfeld - the ex judge in Sydney that will probably do time for lying on a stat dec trying to avoid a $75 under 15 speeding fine.

As for the towbar thing, that really gets me. Its the same in NSW. It is illegal to have the tongue on if not towing. You get a roadworthy (pink slip, whatever) and no one says anything about your towbar tongue, yet you CAN get pinged for it - like if a cop wants to get you for 'something'.

Personally I now always take the tongue off for other reasons. They can transmit more of the force from a rear end accident to the seat (tongue directly bolted to chassis, as are seats) than if the rear bar absorbed some of it. My wife still has residual effects from a hard rear-ender in 2001 that will be with her forever, so we need no cause to make it worse. This is probably why its illegal - maybe pink slip inspections should say something, might have helped my wife a bit.

[AWD Chaser]

Originally Posted by Pinch

As for the towbar thing, that really gets me. Its the same in NSW. It is illegal to have the tongue on if not towing. You get a roadworthy (pink slip, whatever) and no one says anything about your towbar tongue, yet you CAN get pinged for it - like if a cop wants to get you for 'something'.

Personally I now always take the tongue off for other reasons. They can transmit more of the force from a rear end accident to the seat (tongue directly bolted to chassis, as are seats) than if the rear bar absorbed some of it. My wife still has residual effects from a hard rear-ender in 2001 that will be with her forever, so we need no cause to make it worse. This is probably why its illegal - maybe pink slip inspections should say something, might have helped my wife a bit.

I have a lockable pin (key lock) so you can't pull it off without the key. When I got questioned on it, I just said that I have lost the key for it, and it's at home somewhere. They just said fair enough and let me go.... unlike my mother in-law when she got done for having the ball on the tounge (the factory fitted towbar on the VK, which does not remove)... she had to cop the fine....

[Keepleft]

Originally Posted by muppet: -

I thought it was legal to stop in front of a post box as long as you were posting a letter.

Originally Posted by Pinch

Yeah, someone told me that too. I checked the ARR's though and there is not mention of that allowance.

199 Stopping near a postbox
(1) A driver must not stop on a road within 3 metres of a public
postbox, unless the driver:
(a) is dropping off, or picking up, passengers or mail; or
(b) stops at a place on a length of road, or in an area, to which
a parking control sign applies and the driver is permitted
to stop at that place under the Australian Road Rules.

The fine applied for the reason you state 'pizza'.


Fordracer wrote: -

i got a $150 fine for nnot carrying my license on me (when i was on my p's, about a week away from having my opens) ! fair enough this is an offence butWHY is it an offence?

Identification, other law relating to crashes has it that you must swap details, including licenses etc.

The point is not that in this day and age police can do a quick CNI etc background check, but- that the public cannot.


MontyV8 wrote:-

Next thing, I'm getting pulled over, and issued with a fine for 'failing to keep left', for driving around the taxis.

Was this in fact because of crossing double lines, or as you state failing to keep left 'generally' as applied in ARR??


BlacklistedXR so wrote:-

I'm on my P plates and i've been done 3 times for not putting up my plates, but the only reason i dont put them up is because i know when a police officer sees a high performance car with p's on it, he is gonna pull me over and fine me for anything that he can find.

Display the plates, they are nothing to be ashamed of. For you its the lesser of two evils.

The plates serve to show other road users your 'experience on the roads to date'. That in your mind perhaps - 'regular' drivers might be, OR are openly retarded is *NOT* the point btw, in case you ever wondered:-)

Wear the plates as required with honour. I get this 'dislike/mis-understanding' about them at the 'Bored of Studies' Uni website, of all places. TwistedEL's comments are 100% on the mark.


XRO6T wrote:-

my brother got an 'insufficient diverge signal' ticket a few years ago. middle of the night and when changing lanes only had his indicator on for 2 flashes. $150 and 3 demerits.

Sufficient warning applies at law. 2 flashes is not 'sufficient', make full use of the indicator *before* moving that wheel and keep it on till your over in the lane. (More to all this too), YES, I know that Margaret the deranged, age 78 simply drifts over, thats not the point, just indicate fully lane changes, or when stopping, and when later when departing the kerb (5 secs min). Etc.

That so many drive so poorly is testament to the low level of HWP enforcement, than it is a reflection on the rulez.

Councils revenue raise, but ze law iz ze law, however - if HWP do it - its generally 'right'.

[Peuty]

I was fined $240 for having my towbar on my old Telstar covering the word "sunshine" on my (QLD) numberplate. It was within the first week of me having a license. The car passed roadworthy the week before as well.

I wasn't a very happy P Plater...

[fmc351]

Does anyone have an idea what personal responsibility is? Yeah yeah, its the other guys fault, its the coppers fault, must be power tripping.

Generally if you get a fine personally handed to you by a copper for something that is actually very trivial, you can almost bet youve done something more that they are harder pressed to prove, or youre a smartar5e or display a poor attitude. Given the response here to matters, its not hard to imagine the attitude aspect.

Originally Posted by Pinch

I got pinged for stopping in a mail zone for 37 seconds at 9.19pm on a Saturday night while I ran in and grabbed a pizza. Didn't even turn the car or lights off (but I did leave it of course). Now I am happy to be corrected, but I didn't think aussie post collected from suburban boxes on a Sat night? (otherwise I would never have stopped there). Would never stop there any other evening.

I got a camera recorded infringement notice (not even at the time) a few weeks later, in the mail, on my birthday! $79. Nice work if you can get it Sutherland Council! Surprised they didn't get me for leave unattended vehicle unsecured (yep, that a fine here in NSW).

Look, I do have a beef with people stopping in No Stopping zones, disabled zones etc. I did the crime and will do the 'time' but it seems that so much dangerous crap goes unpunished, yet this stuff gets priority?

What makes you think its a "priority"? Theres a camera there for whatever reason, and it picked you up, they sent a fine. It would just be a matter of processing things as they come up. Police/authoirities police everything, not just "important" issues.

Unsecured vehicle makes the vehicle easier to steal and the thief can wreak havoc creating a problem for police and citizens. Thats why its a penalised offence. Yes, they can take a car that is locked too, but the simplicity of a running vehicle is tempting to a clown who couldnt get into a locked car, let alone start it. Basically, youre facilitating the dumbest of car thieves.

Originally Posted by Dezza!

When I first started renting, we didn't have an internet connection at first, so I regularily checked my emails at Monash Uni. It was holidays at the time, and I know the blue parking zones are free during the holidays. Anyway, this one day, I parked in a different car park, where you usually have to buy a ticket. I thought being holidays, so not having a parking problem, it'd be fine. Sure enough, a parking inspector came along and put a ticket under my wiper. What gets me is why pay money to park when there are stacks of free parks right nearby? The carparks were nearly empty, so what harm did I do by parking there? This was such blatant revenue raising.

Revenue raising Its a user pays service.

You pay for the privilege of parking in that spot, not because you do any harm. Seems that spot was more convenient for you, and that convenience has a clear price for it. Do you argue that a shop having 20 of an item makes it free?

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by fmc351

Revenue raising Its a user pays service.

You pay for the privilege of parking in that spot, not because you do any harm. Seems that spot was more convenient for you, and that convenience has a clear price for it. Do you argue that a shop having 20 of an item makes it free?

That's not the point. They gave the feeling that ALL parking at uni was free, not just the blue zones, but still had the ticket inspector wandering around, trying to catch people who slipped up. It wasn't really any more convenient than the other spots, I just thought it'd be free.

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by Dezza!

That's not the point. They gave the feeling that ALL parking at uni was free, not just the blue zones, but still had the ticket inspector wandering around, trying to catch people who slipped up. It wasn't really any more convenient than the other spots, I just thought it'd be free.

So how do you pay for the parking? Theres usually a sign giving a price per hour, or at least machines to issue receipts.

The two Unis I went to, one had free parking, the other had paid parking. Wasnt hard to tell, the machines to issue parking receipts were everywhere and a sign going in, along with signs near the machines.

[Dezza]

Yeah, it had the ticket machines, but I was thinking they weren't enforced. It's just like there are signs up everywhere saying you need a blue permit to park in the blue parking zones, but during the holidays, this is not applicable. I thought the ticket parking would be the same.

[reds89]

i got my car defected because i was sitting in the driveway of a car yard on a sunday night with my girlfriend,mate and his girlfried,we had just looked at a couple of cars.It was on a main road in full view of anybody driving by,it was many years ago but i still remember the dum s..t attitude the two cops had even after explaining what we were doing.

[Pinch]

fmc351,

Mate I agree with you. Traffic fines are a tax on the stupid. For once, I was stupid and I got caught out. I suppose this cuts me too because I am usually so pedantic - to the point I always indicate left when leaving all roundabouts, even the tiny ones. Hardly anyone complies with that rule. My family and I are personally victims of road trauma so I am in favour of a zero tolerance approach to breaking road rules. What I did was stupid, not so much for causing other road users hassle (not on that night anyway), but because I knew the rule and I broke it.

Lets face it, I was grabbing a pizza and heading home to drink a few cans with it - a few hundred extra metres of walking would have done me good!

My point is that we don't have zero tolerance. Major issues like keeping left, and not tailgating are not policed. How many threads, blogs etc are there about tailgaters and right lane hoggers? How many are there about people who pull up in a mail zone on a non-collection night for 37secs? Nevertheless I am not excusing my behaviour. It was stupid, careless, lazy and entirely avoidable. I broke a rule, I am guilty and have already paid the fine. If we did have zero tolerance this would be a non-issue. But the major offences are not policed or enforced. Maybe the thread title should have been "what have you been pinged for when others get away with much more?"

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by Pinch

My point is that we don't have zero tolerance. Major issues like keeping left, and not tailgating are not policed. How many threads, blogs etc are there about tailgaters and right lane hoggers? How many are there about people who pull up in a mail zone on a non-collection night for 37secs? Nevertheless I am not excusing my behaviour. It was stupid, careless, lazy and entirely avoidable. I broke a rule, I am guilty and have already paid the fine. If we did have zero tolerance this would be a non-issue. But the major offences are not policed or enforced. Maybe the thread title should have been "what have you been pinged for when others get away with much more?"

Simple answer is there isnt enough Police. And while I agree governments can do more in that regard and should do so, the prohibitive cost is part of the equation. I wouldnt say tailgating or failing to keep left isnt policed, just its not noticed due to a lack of police. Or if there are police, we dont know where they are headed or why, so expecting they will just keep pulling cars instead of getting on with the task at hand may be a tad short sighted.

You didnt, but most people jump on the coppers without really thinking about the logistics of life, and/or the limitations they themselves face due to circumstances out of their control. Usually when I hear about some silly fine someone got, I wonder what the copper would have to say about that person and the situation. 9 times out of 10, it would be very enlightening.

Some laws are stupid, some only seem so on the surface, most people cant tell the difference. Police dont have the ability to change laws, and the process we have for doing so isnt perfect, but it is the best in the world IMO when the bigger picture is considered.

[Rev28K]

I know of someone who was written up for 101kmh in a 100 zone once.

The cop was trying to be narky and ping the driver of the car for something else. He couldn’t and wrote him up on that just to be a PITA.

[SlikedTurb]

Originally Posted by Pinch

What is the most ridiculous traffic fine you have received?

I have been pretty 'high and mighty' of late saying that if you get fined for something, you deserve it etc. 'Don't want to get busted for speeding or parking, then don't do the wrong thing'. 'Don't pay the stupid tax'.

Anways, I recently got pinged - so will cop it sweet. Considering the crap driving I see on the roads though I can't help but feel a little inequity has been thrown my way...

I got pinged for stopping in a mail zone for 37 seconds at 9.19pm on a Saturday night while I ran in and grabbed a pizza. Didn't even turn the car or lights off (but I did leave it of course). Now I am happy to be corrected, but I didn't think aussie post collected from suburban boxes on a Sat night? (otherwise I would never have stopped there). Would never stop there any other evening.

I got a camera recorded infringement notice (not even at the time) a few weeks later, in the mail, on my birthday! $79. Nice work if you can get it Sutherland Council! Surprised they didn't get me for leave unattended vehicle unsecured (yep, that a fine here in NSW).

Look, I do have a beef with people stopping in No Stopping zones, disabled zones etc. I did the crime and will do the 'time' but it seems that so much dangerous crap goes unpunished, yet this stuff gets priority?

I am a bit peeved though that the fine breaks my absolutely clean record of 9.5 years (almost made the 10!). My only other fine all those years ago, 15 and under, was because I pressed cruise 'resume' on the 100 open road one night in my EL XR8, after I had been on the 110 freeway instead of cruise set +. Do'h.

Guess I am a societal deviate ready to have my car crushed!!!

Other experiences?

You're lucky you didn't get done for leaving you car running.

[SVTVNM]

Case 1: Got a defect notice on my XY years ago during Grand Prix weekend, I was on P plates and had a car load of my mates and got pulled up at a roadworthy check station in Caufield. Got picked for having a Shaker, Battery in boot and too Low? They would not let my mates get out of the car. Had to have a proper roadworthy conducted with the car passed with flying colours the 3 items were not picked on during the roadworthy test at the garage. Mind you at the time my car was being done over by the cops thay pulled over a hot blonde in a then current porche doing a check on that, it's cops like this that give the decent ones a bad name. On an average I used to get pulled over once a week in melbourne for a power to weight check, I could understand sometimes put it just got to much, back then my XY ran a 302W and C4, in full GT cosmetic appearence and was P Plate legal.

Case 2: Also in XY I attempted a U turn on South road in Moorabbin and pulled into the local TAFE only to find an unmarked behind me with light flashin. I was asked if I had any reason for "making undue noise and leaving rubber on the road" I was dumbfounded I had not done such a thing(as mentioned in a previous post I beleive in if you do the crime you do the time)but I had not. Thankfully I did not lose my liscence thanks to some devine intervention. I later found out he said I had left 2 long black marks on the roud were I had done the U turn. I went with a friend and had a look only to find the marks on road started before the spot I did the u turn and If an XY had done them it would have to have been the width of an Escort/Gemini with 165 tyres not the 235 that are on the XY.

[wicksy]

beeping my horn.....not indicating.....uumm yeh the other 10 are differnt

[XR06T]

moving left but not turning left is an odd one!! completely the opposite of the 'keep left' rule i would have thought.

[woteva]

I got pinged for parking on the nature strip in front of parent's house. Dead end street in the middle of suburbia. :