- Park and rage over window fine
- By Neil Doorley
- Today Tonight
- 04/01/2014 Make a Comment (1)
- Contributed by: Bewitched ( 29 articles in 2014 )
When Julian Harris left a window down a few centimetres to help keep his parked car cool, it did not attract the attention of a thief - but rather a police officer.
The Brisbane man was left fuming because he had been fined $44.
Julian had done what thousands of Australians do during summer: he did not fully close his window because his air conditioning was not working properly and he did not want his young son to suffer on the trip home.
Julian said: “He had a heat rash that day as well so you just try to think of him first other than yourself.”
But Julian was caught out by a little known law where if you are more than three metres from your car, the windows cannot be left down more than five centimetres, something he maintains he did.
“[Are you sure it was less than 5cm] Yes. You can’t get a hand in there, that is why I left it at that length, people can reach inside cars.”
Julian tracked down the officer who booked him and asked for some proof.
“He said he had video evidence and that he actually had not measured it, just used his eye to guess it was 50mm.
“I asked twice to see video evidence and he didn't have time to show me.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating from Queensland Police has defended the officer.
He said: “He's seen a situation as I understand it that there is a technical offence, He has taken a decision to take action against who he believes committed that offence.”
The actual gap allowed by police , and the size of the fine, varies from State to State.
It is just one of the road rules that leave some law abiding citizens scratching their heads.
For example:
You can't flash your lights : The official term for the offence is ‘Use high-beam on oncoming vehicle less than 200 metres’, and the penalty is an $88 fine and one demerit point. There's another law that also covers flashing your headlights ‘not as prescribed’ which could also cost you $88 but no points.
Pulling over and talking on your mobile phone -you must have the transmission in park, the handbrake on.
Using your horn for anything other than to warn people of danger.
Splash someone at a bus stop - you'll be fined for your bad manners.
Police want Julian and other drivers to know the hot weather is no defence when it comes to not securing your vehicles.
And RACQ spokesperson Lynda Schekosk says leaving your window down does not actually make a difference.
“Our tetst have shown that doesn't make any difference at all in terms of internal heat of vehicle,” she said.
“When you come back to a vehicle open it up, wind the windows down and put the Air Conditioning on before driving away.
The Brisbane man was left fuming because he had been fined $44.
Julian had done what thousands of Australians do during summer: he did not fully close his window because his air conditioning was not working properly and he did not want his young son to suffer on the trip home.
Julian said: “He had a heat rash that day as well so you just try to think of him first other than yourself.”
But Julian was caught out by a little known law where if you are more than three metres from your car, the windows cannot be left down more than five centimetres, something he maintains he did.
“[Are you sure it was less than 5cm] Yes. You can’t get a hand in there, that is why I left it at that length, people can reach inside cars.”
Julian tracked down the officer who booked him and asked for some proof.
“He said he had video evidence and that he actually had not measured it, just used his eye to guess it was 50mm.
“I asked twice to see video evidence and he didn't have time to show me.”
Acting Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating from Queensland Police has defended the officer.
He said: “He's seen a situation as I understand it that there is a technical offence, He has taken a decision to take action against who he believes committed that offence.”
The actual gap allowed by police , and the size of the fine, varies from State to State.
It is just one of the road rules that leave some law abiding citizens scratching their heads.
For example:
You can't flash your lights : The official term for the offence is ‘Use high-beam on oncoming vehicle less than 200 metres’, and the penalty is an $88 fine and one demerit point. There's another law that also covers flashing your headlights ‘not as prescribed’ which could also cost you $88 but no points.
Pulling over and talking on your mobile phone -you must have the transmission in park, the handbrake on.
Using your horn for anything other than to warn people of danger.
Splash someone at a bus stop - you'll be fined for your bad manners.
Police want Julian and other drivers to know the hot weather is no defence when it comes to not securing your vehicles.
And RACQ spokesperson Lynda Schekosk says leaving your window down does not actually make a difference.
“Our tetst have shown that doesn't make any difference at all in terms of internal heat of vehicle,” she said.
“When you come back to a vehicle open it up, wind the windows down and put the Air Conditioning on before driving away.
Source: https://au.news.yahoo.com/today-tonight/latest/article/-/20590276/park-and-rage-over-window-fine/
Unfortunately, Julian is like many who lives in fear, having to defend and justify his position and actions, from the many restraints this police state/country has and continues to implement upon Australians. The US is a classic preview of where Australia is going if people don't wake up and curb the tide before it gets a whole lot worse and full blown dictatorship overtly and covertly.
There are few good issues in this story including what's it got to do with police whether we leave open our cars or not, windows, doors or whatever? If it's doing no harm to anyone, how about its none of their business!
What's next? Police popping in your house without a warrant anytime they like, taking you or your family away day or night without reason? You don't think so. I hope you're right. But things change, just as man once upon a time couldn't fly to the moon.
Or perhaps the Police have more control over your car than you think for all those who have their cars registered, technically meaning you don't own it, the state does. Just like your house with a Certificate of Title.
Furthermore, if you are on the road the state considers that they own this and have jurisdiction over all that use it. ie you and your car. All this is under commercial and maritime law. Although, one could argue that as a people you have contributed to state coffers owning the roads and so on, therefore you technically have a say over what laws govern our roads. On a higher level humans have a right to travel anywhere anytime freely which we must always remember, individually and collectively, enforcing as often as possible. Rights are like water, eventually they evapourate, so they need replenishing through being aware and vigilant.
So from that perspective, technically and legally, the police state can do anything they wish, regardless of morality or our so called rights and privileges. Hah!
As a side issue RACQ apparently did tests but provided no results making their point all but useless.
So if RACQ are saying that hot air doesn't escape if a window is left open, allowing air flow and keeping the inside cooler, that must surely fly in the face of scientific facts and common sense. However I could be wrong and have to start believing we have 2 moons if that's what they start telling us.
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