Mercedes driver fined $544 for ignorant act after Gumtree purchase: 'I didn't know'
The driver thought he'd secured a bargain – but it turned out to be a rather costly buy.
It's better to be safe than sorry.
That's the message police are reminding motorists of this week after a Mercedes driver copped a $544 fine and three demerit points for trying to transport a ladder in his car — all while it stuck about one metre out of the window.
On Sunday, 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". He was fined 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.
The driver claims he "didn't know" it was an offence to drive with a protruding load. In every state and territory drivers are handed an on-the-spot fine if any items stick out of a moving vehicle.
"Due to the danger posed to other road users as well as the driver himself, he was issued with an infringement," NSW Police said. The driver was able to disassemble the ladder and store it "more suitably" in the car before taking off again.
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After the incident was shared online by police, the act was called out as "ignorant" while one man joked, "Well at least he knew how far away he has to be from cyclists!"
Hefty fines for drivers travelling with protruding loads
Having items protrude out of a vehicle can be dangerous in many ways, and if drivers are unsure if the addition will cause an issue, it's best to try and find alternative transport.
Protruding loads can alter the weight distribution of a car and make it unstable and unsafe to drive, reducing a driver's control. It also poses a risk of hitting others on the road, pedestrians or cyclists.
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.
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