I don't know whether it's because the cops didnt know better or the people that were booked didnt bother to appeal it, regardless I'll take your word as you were in the game.
So if you agree that laws and regulations are in place to comply with safety, the safe limit on certain items comes down to the decision of a person or body? It almost becomes that person/bodies opinion, whether based on testing or case studies.
Just seems farcical in my opinion.
Edit: Sorry another question, if the police honour each states rules how do they check on them. Do they carry copies or radio through questions?
Hey Jason,
I would find it hard to believe that any one person would have an encyclopaedic knowledge of all vehicle related laws Aus-wide. In fact I would go so far as to say that many (most???) police would have only a basic working knowledge of the rules that apply to their jurisdiction. Traffic law is no different to any other kind of law - it's not the cop's duty to be judge, jury and executioner - they simply pick out something (whatever that may be) that they believe may be a problem, ping you for it, and then you can either cop it on the chin (which is basically admitting liability/fault) or take the matter further. Same as if a person gets nabbed for breaking into houses. Just because they've been arrested, doesn't mean they are guilty. It's up to the beaky (or jury depending on circumstances) to determine guilt or otherwise. Side issue...have you ever wondered why a court can only ever find a person guilty or not guilty? They can never find a person "innocent"... Neither the judge presiding nor members of the jury are or were present at the time of the commission of the alleged offence. If they were, it would be conflict of interest. So they can only find, on balance, whether the proofs have been satisfied or not. That doesn't mean the person didn't do what they were accused of (if they didn't actually do it, they could be in fact innocent), but they can only determine whether the proofs of law (guilt) have been met.
Anyway, I'm sure people from out of state in QLD have been booked for things which are legal in other states. I know it happens here too - the street machine summernats are a prime example. But again - the copper is just doing their job according to the rules as they know them.
It's a simple tenet of law that ignorance is no excuse. Basically what the means is, as a responsible citizen, it is up to you to make yourself aware of the laws applicable to acts etc that you undertake. That's why you take a driving test when you get your licence - so that you can prove you have learned some basic information about the law as it applies to your responsibility as a driver - not that you have just learned the techniques of car control. Car control is a fine ability to have - but unless you know and understand the laws related to being a driver, other road users may be endangered by your presence on the roads.
So when you or I modify our vehicles, it is OUR responsibility to modify them in a way that is compliant with the law.
Now...After this long and drawn out ramble (which I apologise for but I am sure someone out there will get some decent information from
)...say I am driving my ute in QLD and I get a roadside vehicle inspection and they pick my tyre size as a problem. I can use my knowledge of the laws applicable to my vehicle to explain why it isn't at fault. They can either agree with me and let me pass, listen to what I have to say, check up (mobile phones are marvellous things aren't they) and find that I know what I'm talking about and let me go, or they can book me. But they have NO power to cancel my registration. So I go on my way and continue my holiday. When I get home, I send a letter to whichever QLD agency issued the infringement notice with a copy of the relevant laws in Canberra, and unless I get a letter back stating the fine has been dropped, I can ring any one of a number of lawyers who LOVE hammering gov't agencies (and will do it for free, coz they get media attention out of it) who will take the matter on, on my behalf.
I'm not the smartest man in the room - I'd suggest that is FAR from the truth. I've just taken the time to educate myself on matters that I have an interest in, and that I probably should know about due to my interests (4wding etc).
Hope that info helps mate.
And I agree - it IS a bad situation we are in with inconsistencies etc across state lines. But again - you have the right to lobby for change. You can always write to the leader of the opposition for example in state parliament. Ask them why, if there are a national set of guidelines for light vehicle modification, does QLD have a different set of rules?
