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Lawyer warns Aussies over $30,000 fine for pigeon-feeding

<p>While feeding a pigeon a piece of bread seems like a harmless act, in two Australian states it could cost you a staggering $30,000 in fines. </p> <p>It is not uncommon for local councils in Western Australia or South Australia to issue infringements for feeding pigeons, with Sydney lawyer Avinash Singh warning Aussies of the potential fine "when a complaint is made — quite often neighbours will take videos and photos of the number of pigeons and the person feeding them."</p> <p>If the behaviour is repeated, local council may even issue a court attendance notice, Singh told <em>Yahoo News</em>. </p> <p>The lawyer explained that the SA legislation "was enacted to protect communities from local nuisance" and prevent littering. </p> <p>"There is an emphasis by the South Australian parliament on protecting property values and this legislation is one of the tools they can use to prevent behaviour that can negatively affect this," he said.</p> <p>While the fine isn't as high in the WA, the offence can cost an incredible $20,000. </p> <p>Feeding pigeons poses health risks, as pigeons can carry diseases that may be transmitted to humans and other animals such as respiratory infections and parasites.</p> <p>The act also encourages larger congregations of birds, increasing the risk of diseases spreading, and the overpopulation of pigeons can disrupt local ecosystems as they compete with native bird species for resources. </p> <p>Not only that, large flocks of pigeons can create a public nuisance by causing noise, dirt, and property damage, particularly through their corrosive droppings, which can damage buildings and infrastructure.</p> <p>"It's definitely one of Australia's strangest laws, and one that while it may be annoying for other people passing by or trying to relax, it's not something people think they can get in trouble with the law for," Singh said.</p> <p><em>Image: Reddit</em></p> <p> </p>

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Mum appeals "incorrect" $410 seatbelt fine

<p>April Miller and her husband had been visiting family in the Blue Mountains last month when the new detection cameras flagged her for not wearing her seatbelt properly. </p> <p>The Sydney mum argued otherwise, saying that the couple clearly had their seatbelts on and they were incorrectly fined. </p> <p>“We came back to a fine in the mail (claiming) our seatbelts weren’t on correctly,” she told <em>7NEWS</em>.</p> <p>“In the corner you can clearly see that we have our seatbelts on, both of us.</p> <p>“If you’ve broken the law, you’ve broken the law, but if you haven’t and there’s no reason for it, then that is frustrating.”</p> <p>She has since appealed the $410 fine and three demerit points, and while her first appeal was denied, it is not stopping her from trying again. </p> <p>The seatbelt detection cameras were implemented on July 1 this year, with the intention of saving lives, as 15 per cent of deaths on NSW roads each year involve seatbelt noncompliance. </p> <p>Shadow Transport Minister Natalie Ward said, “if the seatbelt was on, then the fine should be repaid”.</p> <p>“Fining motorists who do the right thing is unacceptable because it reduces community confidence.”</p> <p>Transport for NSW Centre for Road Safety executive director Bernard Carlon told <em>7NEWS</em> that “although the AI works to identify whether there is an offence that has been committed, there are two human reviews that happen after that” before an infringement is issued. </p> <p>“There can always be human error and we want to have a system that’s fair.”</p> <p>In just five months since the implementation of the cameras,  50,000 fines have been handed out.</p> <p>Fines for not wearing seatbelts have plummeted from more than 16,500 in July to about 9,800 in October.</p> <p>“There’s a massive reduction in the number of people offending, that’s really good,” Carlon said.</p> <p><em>Image: 7NEWS</em></p>

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NSW Government refunds millions of Covid fines

<p>Millions of dollars in fines dished out for breaches of Covid restrictions in NSW are set to be refunded, while close to 24,000 penalty notices will be officially erased. </p> <p>The announcement of the statewide refund by the NSW Fines Administration Commissioner on Tuesday came after legal advice cast doubt on the legal validity of the penalties handed out during Covid lockdowns. </p> <p>In total, more than $5.5 million will be handed back to those who have made either a full or partial payment towards paying off a Covid fine. </p> <p>Those in line for money, or with outstanding penalties, will be contacted by Revenue NSW within days.</p> <p>“Following representations made to the Commissioner of Police and myself concerning the validity of COVID-19 penalty notices, I have decided to exercise my statutory authority and withdraw these notices,” Fine Administration Commissioner Scott Johnston said.</p> <p>“Revenue NSW will be reaching out to all affected customers to support them through the finalisation of their matters.”</p> <p>At the height of the pandemic, the state government claimed they introduced the public health orders to "protect the community". </p> <p>Some fines have already been withdrawn, as in 2022 the Commissioner withdrew about 36,000 penalty notices tied to Covid-related offences because the information on them “made it difficult” for recipients to understand their offence.</p> <p>The remaining 23,539 penalty notices were believed to have provided a clearer explanation and were not withdrawn, but after further legal advice and consideration, it was considered “appropriate” to withdraw them too.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Xinhua News Agency/Shutterstock Editorial </em></p>

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Family cops $2k fine for little known offence

<p>A family in Sydney have been repeatedly fined for parking their car in their own driveway. </p> <p>Jane Mansfield, who lives in Sydney's south-west with her family of six, started copping fines for her parked car six months ago. </p> <div> <article> <div id="outbrain_widget_1" data-src="//9now.nine.com.au/a-current-affair/sydney-family-cops-repeated-fines-for-parking-car-in-their-own-driveway/58653db4-cd4f-41be-9f29-0d0d2a678394" data-widget-id="AR_1" data-external-id="63f8b8e389687ebfeb24eb9bf5179b0b" data-ob-mark="true" data-browser="safari" data-os="macintel" data-dynload="" data-idx="1"> <p>"All up we're due to pay about $2,000 on a finance plan at the moment," she told <em>A Current Affair</em>.</p> <p>Both Jane and her husband each received one fine for parking slightly over the curb in their driveway, with both of them accepting the fine and putting them on a payment plan. </p> <p>"Then we tried to do the right thing by pulling the car onto the driveway further, and got another fine," Mansfield said.</p> <p>"Well, apparently, you need to go past the letterbox, and even being slightly out ... is not allowed. So I'm thinking, where am I meant to put my car?"</p> <p>According to the fine, the offence was for stopping on or across a driveway - which is her own.</p> <p>Each fine they have received is worth $320 and Mansfield claimed she is now running out of patience and money trying to keep up with the ridiculous fines. </p> <p>"Four children, rent's gone up, electricity, everything's gone up bill wise, so $2,000 to us is a huge amount," Mansfield said.</p> <p><em>Image credits: A Current Affair </em></p> </div> </article> </div>

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Aussie woman fined $20,000 for illegal wildlife trade

<p>A woman in Queensland has been slapped with a $20,000 fine for illegal wildlife trade. </p> <p>After a tip-off from a member of the public, officers with Queensland's Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation (DETSI) attended a residence in Nambour in January, where they found and seized 18 reptile eggs and 26 reptiles — many of which were found to be in poor health.</p> <p>DETSI officers said the discovery highlights a more pressing issue, which is the "increasing trend in people seeking to profit from high prices" that "our unique wildlife" fetch on domestic and international markets.</p> <p>The woman was found in possession of a northern blue-tongue lizard, a Woma python, carpet python, shingleback lizard, inland bearded dragon, children’s python, broad-shelled turtle and Centralian carpet python, among others.</p> <p>Senior Wildlife Officer Jonathan McDonald condemned the woman's behaviour, as she didn't provide adequate care for the snakes and reptiles to stay healthy in captivity. </p> <p>"Sadly, several of the reptiles were in poor condition and needed to be humanely euthanised," McDonald said.</p> <p>"The surviving reptiles can never be released to the wild as they may have been exposed to disease while they were in captivity." </p> <p>An independent veterinary exam of the reptiles seized revealed medical conditions like necrosis, dehydration, neurological defects and general poor health. </p> <p>The woman admitted to knowingly keeping the animals without valid licences, purchasing them from unlicensed sellers and operating a reptile business. </p> <p>She also could not provide mandatory records of sale for 13 of her purchased animals. </p> <p>Globally illegal wildlife trafficking is estimated to be worth $27 billion a year, ranking fourth in the world's illegal trades after drugs, counterfeit products, and human trafficking. </p> <p><em>Images: DETSI</em></p>

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Driver fined $544 for little known road act

<p>A Mercedes driver has copped a massive fine after illegally transporting a ladder in the back of his car. </p> <p>The motorist thought he snagged a bargain on Gumtree, buying a ladder from someone who lived only a few streets away. </p> <p>But when he went to take the ladder home after placing it in the backseat of his car, the ladder was protruding almost one metre out the window. </p> <p>Highway Patrol officers in Sydney's west stopped the driver who said, "I picked it up from someone on Gumtree, I’m just going down the road".</p> <p>He was $544 and lost three demerit points by the roadside, with the short distance of travel between his purchase location and destination meaning nothing to police due to the dangerous nature of the act.</p> <p>The driver claims he "didn't know" it was an offence to drive with a protruding load, despite every state and territory handed an on-the-spot fine if any items stick out of a moving vehicle.</p> <p>"Due to the danger posed to other road users as well as the driver himself, he was issued with an infringement," NSW Police said, explaining that the driver was able to disassemble the ladder and store it "more suitably" in the car before taking off again.</p> <p>In NSW, the fine for driving with a protruding load will set a motorist back $349. Across the country, fines fall between $200 to $400 for drivers of light vehicles, however, those in heavy vehicles can pay thousands.</p> <p>Protruding loads can alter the weight distribution of a car and make it unstable and unsafe to drive, reducing a driver's control, while also posing a risk of hitting others on the road, pedestrians or cyclists.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

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Pet owner fined $806 over simple mistake

<p>A poodle owner has been fined $806 over a 10-metre walk to the beach. </p> <p>John, who lives a few minutes away from Budd's Beach in Queensland, took his van down to the water's edge and walked roughly 10 metres across the shoreline with his dog Emma by his side. </p> <p>Little did he know that this common act would cost him $806 under new regulations that came into effect on July 31, where pet owners can get fined for not having a pet on a leash or not maintaining proper control of the leash while in public. </p> <p>"I thought that it was very unfair ...I was only traveling from my van to the water," John told <em>A Current Affair</em>. </p> <p>"I wasn't wandering along the footpath or in public areas or anywhere.</p> <p>"I was just passing, travelling from the car to the water... I really didn't think that I was doing anything wrong."</p> <p>John was fined for “failure to exercise effective control of a non regulated dog in a public place”. </p> <p>There are signs further up Budd's Beach that state dogs must be on a leash at all times, and John said he does use a lead when he takes his pup out for a walk. </p> <p>The massive fines are a part of the Queensland government's crackdown on dog attacks, with fines of up to $112,910 for more serious dog attack offences as well as up to three years imprisonment.</p> <p>“Changes were made to the AMCDA due to a rise in complaints about aggressive dogs and dog attacks, and the large number of dog-attack victims admitted to hospital each year in Queensland,” the Queensland government said in a statement online.</p> <p>Another Queensland resident has also been fined under the same laws for having her dog's lead under her foot during a coffee break. </p> <p>“It’s wrong, we are trying to survive and it is another stress I didn’t need,” the resident said. </p> <p>“She was on a lead and collar and she was behaving properly."</p> <p><em>Images: Nine</em></p>

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Aussie mum stunned by $1,700 jury duty fine

<p>A Sydney mum is searching for answers after being hit by a $1,715 fine for missing jury duty that she knew nothing about. </p> <p>The mum shared that she had just returned from an overseas  holiday to find the "hefty" fine, which said she needed pay the overdue penalty by October 9 for failing to attend jury duty for a court case in May, but she claims she had never been summoned. </p> <p>“I didn’t get this by the due date of October 9. However, I have also never seen the jury notice for May 28 nor any other notices since. So I’m in total and absolute shock,” she posted on social media. </p> <p>She asked other local mums for advice on getting the fine "ditched", explaining that she hasn't changed her address in decades and checks her mail every day. </p> <p>“The only mail I’ve received on the matter at all is this fine enforcement notice on return from overseas. It’s very strange. How can I prove I never received the original notice?”</p> <p>It turns out that the Aussie mum is not the only one who has encountered this, as several other Sydneysiders have been slapped with fines for missing jury duty. </p> <p>One woman claimed she had no idea she had a $1,000 fine for missing jury duty until she went onto Service NSW to pay a separate bill. </p> <p>“I had never received or seen a notice regarding jury duty or the associated fine,” she said. </p> <p>Others urged her to contact Service NSW and explain the error. </p> <p>“This happened to me a couple of months ago. You just call them and explain what happened. They are very understanding,” one woman said.</p> <p>“This happened to me in the past. I wasn’t travelling and have been in the same address, just simply didn’t receive the notice to serve jury duty. So I just wrote to them to explain my reason of not attending. They waived my fine,” another noted. </p> <p>According to the state’s Department of Communities and Justice you can have the fine reviewed if you: </p> <ul> <li>did attend jury service, or</li> <li>did not receive previous notices from the NSW Sheriff’s Office</li> <li>had a legitimate reason for not attending jury service</li> </ul> <p><em>Images: Facebook/ </em><em>B-E / Shutterstock.com</em></p>

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"Absurd" $312 fine for common bin act

<p>Aussies have been warned to not leave out their bins for too long unless they want to cop a $312 fine. </p> <p>An Adelaide resident was stunned after they received a "final warning" letter from their local council, stating it had received complaints over their bins. </p> <p>“How is ‘$312’ justified for leaving a bin out too long on a quiet back road,” the confused resident wrote on Reddit. </p> <p>They also said the penalty was "absurd", however, council said the resident was not fined. </p> <p>Hadi Jafari, another local from Kilburn, said he was "really surprised" about the cost. </p> <p>“$300 for a fine is really hard for people to afford, it is really a lot of money,” he told <em>The Advertiser</em>.</p> <p>He added that his family would struggle to pay the amount if they were fined over the common act. </p> <p>“We would probably have to repay it over time, I don’t think we could pay it at once so that is not good.”</p> <p>Under Port Adelaide Enfield Council’s waste management by-laws, bins have to be placed out after 4pm the night before rubbish collection and taken back in by midnight the day after. </p> <p>Council also clarified that it has only issued four fines in the last five years. </p> <p>Residents caught in the common act first receive a reminder letter that their bins have been reported to council. </p> <p>“However as a final resort expiations may be issued,” council said in a statement.</p> <p>The council said it receives 200 complaints annually in relation to bins being left on the street, however the number of warning letters issued has not been disclosed.  </p> <p>Port Adelaide Enfield Council noted other councils also have bylaws in place regarding bin collection.</p> <p>“This is because when people do not remove their bins from footpaths, it can result in impediments to people being able to use the footpath for walking, people with prams, people in wheelchairs, incorrect use of bins and contamination, and it can also impact vehicle and emergency access on streets.”</p> <p>Image: Shutterstock</p>

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$22,000 fine imposed on Waratah thieves

<p>A spate of thefts of one of Australia's most iconic native plants have prompted a furious warning from authorities. </p> <p>More than 20 Waratahs have "disappeared" from the Brisbane Water National Park on the Central Coast alone, according to NSW National Parks, and thieves can risk a potential fine of  $22,000 for hacking the bright flower. </p> <p>“It is illegal to pick waratahs or any other plant in any area protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act,” an NPWS spokesperson told <em>Yahoo News</em>. </p> <p>Rangers can issue a $300 on-the-spot fine to those caught illegally picking the flower.</p> <p>“The maximum fine under the Biodiversity Conservation Act is $22,000. NPWS is keen to receive details of anyone illegally picking waratahs.”</p> <p>Over the long weekend, locals in the Blue Mountains have hit out at "selfish" tourists for "ripping" waratahs from their stems, with images of the act posted on social media. </p> <p>“Just went to check on a beautiful double header waratah in local bushland only to find someone, well prepared with their secateurs, has cut it clean off. Beyond disgusted!” environmental conservation organisation Wild Blue Mountains said.</p> <p>“This is just not on. They had been giving joy to everyone who passed them but now they’re gone due to one person’s selfish actions.”</p> <p>Last week, NSW National Parks had installed signage about “helping protect the Waratah” to deter culprits from taking them and they've even painted some of the stems with a “non-toxic blue paint”.</p> <p>“Waratahs need to go through their full lifecycle to produce seeds, so picking them deprives the ecosystem of a new generation of plants,” NSW National Parks said.</p> <p>“These flowers are more than just a pretty face, they also provide nectar for birds and other native animals. Please leave them be so we can all enjoy more of these beautiful flowers in years to come.</p> <p>“If you want to pick something in a national park, pick your nose instead!”</p> <p><em>Image: NSW National Parks/Instagram</em></p> <p> </p>

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The surprising unknown road rule that is costing drivers

<p dir="ltr">A woman has issued a warning to Aussie drivers after being threatened with a hefty fine for a common car decoration. </p> <p dir="ltr">Janelle McEvoy, a young woman from Perth, took to TikTok to recall the moment she learned that she could be facing a fine for having an air freshener hanging from her car’s rear view mirror. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I randomly got breath tested on the way to an event this morning and the police officer told me when I get home I need to remove this hanging from my car to avoid the $100 fine and the demerit point,” she said in her TikTok video, which has since had nearly 2 million views. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Doesn’t everyone have one of these hanging from their car? Where is it supposed to go?”</p> <p dir="ltr">Thousands of people flocked to the comments on the video to share their surprise over the obscure road rule, with one person writing, “The way my jaw dropped when you showed what it was cause I bought the exact same thing not too long ago.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Another added, “That’s crazy, I have like four air fresheners and two crystal chains hanging from my car.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The rule, which varies between states, can carry fines and possibly the loss of demerit points, if a police officer deems that the driver’s vision is obstructed from whatever is hanging from the mirror.</p> <p dir="ltr">In NSW, drivers without a clear view of the road can be fined $410 fine and have three demerit points issued.</p> <p dir="ltr">In other Aussie states, the fine for obstructed vision can range between $100 and $361. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

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"It's just not OK": Parking inspectors under fire for fining innocent drivers

<p>Melbourne drivers are being hit with parking fines despite not doing anything wrong, raising questions about the legitimacy of the infringement notices. </p> <p>Emma Hodgkinson from Essendon told<em> 9News</em> that she was fined for supposedly overstaying in a two-hour parking zone. </p> <p>"I was furious, it's just not OK" she told the publication. </p> <p>Hodkinson had only left her house 40 minutes prior to the time stamp on the fine, and used CCTV footage from her home to prove it. </p> <p>"When I saw the timecode on the footage and I compared it to the time on the ticket I realised I hadn't done anything wrong and it was their mistake," she said.</p> <p>Many other drivers have had similar experiences, with one man from Richmond saying he received a $99 penalty earlier this month, despite having almost an hour left on his Pay Stay app. </p> <p>Another driver was fined by Stonnington Council who said he had parked for more than two hours even though he'd only been there for about 20 minutes. </p> <p>In most of these examples, many other cars in the same area had also been fined. </p> <p>"I was able to prove I was innocent but how are [the other drivers] going to be able to prove that?" Hodgkinson said.</p> <p>Council Watch representative Dean Hurlston said the reason why innocent drivers are being fined could be because council parking inspectors have to hit their quotas. </p> <p>"We know the job of a parking inspector is well paid for good reason," he told <em>9News</em>.</p> <p>"They definitely have quotas. Councils need money, they're cash strapped. This is a way to gouge and raise revenue."</p> <p>If you've been unfairly fined, it is important to collect as much evidence as possible, including photos and screenshots. </p> <p><em>Image: Nine News</em></p>

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Neighbour's "petty" act against "obnoxious" driver

<p>A Sydney resident has detailed her "petty" move against her neighbour after becoming fed up with his "obnoxious" parking.</p> <p>Venting about her neighbour online, the Manly resident claimed the man's "over loud, oversized vehicle permanently sticks out from his property, partially blocking footpath". </p> <p>While he was parked in his own driveway, blocking the footpath is illegal and can attract a $283 fine, sometimes more in other council areas across the country. </p> <p>"This noise-polluting monstrosity should be banned, or at least parked on the street (preferably not ours)," she said, attaching a picture of a large ute with its tray sticking out on the footpath. </p> <p>In an attempt to put an end to the "grubby" behaviour, the resident said she reported her neighbour to the Northern Beaches council. </p> <p>The council website states: "residents must not park in or across a driveway (even your own)," to ensure pedestrian safety and access.</p> <p>"Ensure your car is within the front boundary of the property or parked safely in the street."</p> <p>The council told <em>Yahoo News Australia</em> that after the incident was reported via Snap, Snap, Solve, the driver was fined.</p> <p>Officers have reportedly been proactively patrolling the area since, and found no repeated instances. </p> <p>However, the woman was shocked to see  see the driver's "pride and joy still there" in the driveway. </p> <p>"Today I received an email from council saying the matter has been resolved. Do council not care or is this an insufficient crime for any action to be taken?" she asked other residents on Facebook. </p> <p>Her post has divided residents, while most people agreed with her, others told her to mind her business. </p> <p>"I’m surprised he doesn’t get booked as he is blocking the footpath for prams and wheelchairs," one person said.</p> <p>"That’s kind of dangerous. Plus disabled or kids on bikes could slam into it," another added. </p> <p>"Car park is sh*te but it doesn’t seem like it’s affecting you. Take a deep breath and stop working yourself up over things that really don’t matter," someone else argued. </p> <p>"You sound like one of those neighbours that sticks their noses into other people's business," another added. </p> <p><em>Images: Shutterstock/ Facebook</em></p>

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"Drivers deserve better": Huge win for motorists over parking fines

<p>In a move to stop unsuspecting drivers being hit with unfair parking fines, NSW councils will soon be banned from issuing a fine without a physical ticket. </p> <p>Finance Minister Courtney Houssos will legislate to effectively ban ticketless parking fines after council raked in $155 million in sneaky fines last year.</p> <p>Ms Houssos will introduce legislation later in September, which will require parking rangers to attach an “on-the-spot notification” to a car which gets a fine either in the form of a sticker or a traditional parking ticket.</p> <p>Ticketless parking fines were first introduced under former Premier Gladys Berejiklian in 2020, with councils issuing a whopping 822,310 ticketless parking fines last financial year, up almost 50 per cent from the year before.</p> <p>Ms Houssos said forcing councils to leave a note telling drivers they had been fined, rather than waiting for a fine to come ion the mail weeks later, was a victory for common sense.</p> <p>"No one ever likes to get a parking fine, but the idea you only find out about a fine weeks later doesn’t pass the common sense test,” she said.</p> <p>“Frustration among drivers and community members about the ticketless parking system is high – and that’s fair enough. The ticketless parking fine system was introduced by the previous government without regard for the impact on drivers and families,” she said.</p> <p>NSW Premier Chris Minns also backed the move, saying, “Drivers deserve better than the current system."</p> <p>In certain limited circumstances, rangers will be able to issue a fine without leaving a ticket, but only if they install new-warning signs, which could include areas where there is no phone reception, like national parks, or in timed enclosed car parks.</p> <p>NRMA Spokesman Peter Khoury said the government’s changes will rebuild public confidence, saying, “Ticketless parking fines removed transparency and made it almost impossible for motorists to contest their fine if they felt they had a legitimate case.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock </em></p>

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Dad fined $1,200 for 'critical' seatbelt mistake

<p>At the start of last month, Queensland authorities increased driving fines to a record high, with the value of a penalty unit increasing by 4.2 per cent. </p> <p>One Aussie dad found out the hard way this week after he copped a $1,209 fine when he was stopped by police during a traffic operation as part of the state's Road Safety Week and found that his two kids did not have their seatbelts fixed correctly. </p> <p>They found the 5-year-old boy not properly secured in his booster seat, while a 6-year-old boy, who was seated in the right-side back seat, was found to have the middle seat belt wrapped around his neck.</p> <p>The hefty fine also comes with 4 demerit points. </p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Queensland Police</span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;"> </span>have warned their motorists about increased police vigilance on their roads. </p> <p>"Failure to wear a seatbelt is one of the leading causes of road crash deaths. Unrestrained drivers and passengers are eight times more likely to be killed in a road crash," Acting Inspector Kylie Doyle said. </p> <p>"If this driver had been in a crash, it would have likely resulted in significant, possibly life-threatening injuries for these children."</p> <p>Following the state's move to increase the value of a penalty unit, drivers caught using their phone or not wearing a seatbelt properly will now pay a fine of over $1,200. </p> <p>Drivers caught speeding more than 30km/h over the speed limit are also forced to pay over $1,200. </p> <p>Based off the average salary in the state, this means that drivers caught for such infringements would be paying around 65 per cent of their weekly salary on the fine. </p> <p>Authorities across the country have been cracking down on driver misbehaviour in attempt to reduce the number of road fatalities. </p> <p>"It is critical we all play our part to be safer on Queensland roads," Acting Inspector Kylie Doyle warned motorists on Tuesday.</p> <p><em>Image: S</em><em>ongsook / Shutterstock.com</em></p>

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Aussie mum with no licence or car fined thousands for traffic offences

<p>An Aussie mum has copped thousands of dollars worth of traffic fines, despite not owning a car or holding a valid driver's licence. </p> <p>Victorian woman Tamara, 32, claims that she has received 16 different infringement notices this year alone in relation to 14 different licence plate numbers, and none of them are hers. </p> <p>The incorrect fines have been sent to her from as far back as 2022. </p> <p>Several of the alleged offences captured on road safety cameras show bearded men behind the wheel. </p> <p>"Clearly, I don't have a beard. The person in the picture is a male. Anyone with eyes can see it's not me," she told A Current Affair. </p> <p>The saga has badly impacted her mental health and she has called on both the police and road officials in the state to overhaul the system to prevent other people from ending up in the same situation as her. </p> <p>The mum fears that her identity or her expired licence number may have been compromised during Optus' mass data breach two years ago.</p> <p>"I am not the driver. I don't drive a vehicle, I don't even have a licence. I have no idea what to think actually because it is unexplainable."</p> <p>"It doesn't make any sense and it shouldn't make any sense in anyone's eyes. It doesn't add up and it's clearly fraudulent."</p> <p>Lawyer Justin Lawrence agrees with the 32-year-old and said that she is entitled to challenge the fines. </p> <p>"There is a system glitch there somewhere and she's entitled to challenge those fines. The system relies on the information that it has. If the information is inaccurate, then the system can't work," he said.</p> <p>Tamara has made a formal complaint to Victoria Police in a bid to clear her name, and they are now working with Fines Victoria to "investigate the circumstances around these incidents and resolve these matters". </p> <p>"Members of the public who believe they have been falsely nominated for a traffic infringement should contact Fines Victoria," a statement from the police read. </p> <p><em>Images: A Current Affair/ Nine</em></p>

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Lawyer warns drivers over little-known road rule with $2200 penalty

<p>While some say it's just "the Aussie way", one lawyer has warned against this common act that could cost you up to $2200. </p> <p>Speaking to <em>7NEWS </em>Astor Legal principal lawyer Avinash Singh, said that there has been a spike in motorists caught flashing their high beams on the road, to alert other drivers of police. </p> <p>“I’ve received an increased number of inquiries from people who have been caught flashing their high beams, warning oncoming drivers of police,” he said. </p> <p>“Most of my clients have been caught doing this by a mobile speed camera or an RBT, which they don’t realise can catch them out on this offence.”</p> <p>Drivers caught in the act could get an on-the-spot fine of $112 and one demerit point, and a maximum penalty of $2200.</p> <p>According to the Australian Road Rules, it is considered an unlawful use of headlights on high-beam. </p> <p>“It is an offence to drive on a road with high-beam headlights on if there is another vehicle in front, travelling in the same direction within 200m; or if there is another oncoming vehicle within 200m,” Singh said.</p> <p>“Similarly, road rules state that a driver must not use any light fitted to their vehicle to dazzle, or in a way that is likely to dazzle, another road user.”</p> <p>“It is arguable that flashing your headlights to warn of police would fall into the definition of ‘hindering police’ in the execution of their duty “</p> <p>Motorists on Reddit have described headlight flashing as representing “a camaraderie between motorists” and one even called it “the Aussie way”.</p> <p>But others have argued that the act could impact the safety of other drivers. </p> <p>“Traffic laws are meant to act as a deterrent for dangerous driving, flashing a fellow motorist has the same effect the ticket is meant to but with more immediate results. It should be widely encouraged,” one commenter wrote.</p> <p>“I feel it only changes the driver’s behaviour for a few seconds, but removes the deterrent of getting a fine. So it probably makes traffic, in general, more dangerous,” another said.</p> <p><em>Image: Shutterstock</em></p> <p> </p>

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Aussie motorist's act of defiance against parking fees

<p>Aussie drivers have been warned against replicating a cheeky way a motorist tried to pay for parking at a cashless parking meter.</p> <p>The motorist wasn't able to pay for his parking charges with a card, so instead they erected a sign in his car with gold coins attached, proving they are good for the parking fees. </p> <p>The driver said the cashless revolution doesn't "suit their lifestyle", but added they are "willing to pay for parking with these coins any day of the week". </p> <p>Despite displaying their method of payment, the  North Sydney Council, who recently upgraded all their parking meters to cashless ones, explained to <em><a href="https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/major-136-fine-warning-after-fed-up-aussies-3-cashless-act-of-defiance-023528239.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yahoo</a> Finance</em> this method could massively backfire.</p> <p>"The only way to avoid being fined is to comply with the signage restrictions for the space in which you have parked," a Council spokesperson said.</p> <p><span style="background-color: #ffffff;"><span style="color: #1d2228; font-family: YahooSans VF, Yahoo Sans, YahooSans, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="caret-color: #1d2228;">"In metered spaces, you must pay using our parking meters. You are likely to receive a fine if </span></span></span>you leave a note and do not pay," with parking fines in this council setting you back $136. </p> <p>After the driver's unique payment method garnered attention on social media, many agreed with their sentiment saying there should always be an option for people to pay with cash.</p> <p>"Should always have a cash option," wrote one user, while another said, "How can they expect everyone to be credit card online app savvy anyway and download it while standing in the street? I have so much trouble paying."</p> <p>A third added, "This is a great idea, but the inspectors do not have a sense of humour, they just issue you with a fine."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

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Motorist fined $4000 for dodgy driver's license tactic

<p>A prominent Sydney lawyer has warned Aussie drivers against falsely nominating someone to take on their demerit points after one of his clients was fined $4000 for the illegal act. </p> <p>Speaking to <em>Yahoo News Australia</em>,  Sydney lawyer Avinash Singh said that there has been a significant spike in the practice in recent months. </p> <p>"In 2024, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) commenced a crackdown on false nominations of drivers," he told <em>Yahoo</em>.</p> <p> "There has been a widespread trend of people agreeing to take demerit points for other drivers.</p> <p>"The person nominated will usually charge a fee to take the demerit points. Often they are on international licences and may not even be in the country."</p> <p>He then explained the case of one of his clients who was issued a $4,000 fine for trying to offload their demerit points. </p> <p>"The reason the fine was so expensive was because the vehicle was registered as a company vehicle and the company had a record of previous offences," he explained.</p> <p>"As such, it was subject to the penalties for a corporation, which are significantly greater than that of an individual ($1,500)."</p> <p>He said the matter was listed at court where the $4,000 fine "could have been increased to $22,000".</p> <p>Singh managed to fight the fine on behalf of the driver, but warned that authorities are increasing their surveillance on this illegal act and have urged Aussies to remain vigilant. </p> <p>The tactic has gained popularity over the past few years, with the illegal service often being advertised on social media and the price of one demerit point going for anywhere between $30-$150.</p> <p><em>Image: Facebook/ Yahoo</em></p>

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