MEDIA RELEASE

The Great Number-Plate Rort

Following the conviction of a motor-cyclist who would race through the Harbour Tunnel at speeds of up to 212 kmh, the Chairman of the PCA, Mr Harold Scruby today called on all state and territory governments to get serious about defaced and obstructed number-plates.

Mr Scruby said: “This is one of the greatest rorts on our roads and many motorists, particularly motor-cyclists are taking advantage of a loop-hole in the law and pathetic penalties which allow many motorists to escape detection when speeding and/or running red lights.

“The maximum penalty for defacing or obstructing a number-plate in NSW is $76. It is less in most states. Victoria is the only state where Demerit Points apply to this offence. Motorists can escape penalties exceeding $2,000 and 6 months automatic loss of licence simply by defacing or obstructing their number-plates.

“Furthermore, it’s an offence which is rarely if ever enforced by the police. To prove this point, the attached photos of Subaru Foresters reveal that their number-plates are perfectly obstructed if the tow-bar ball is left on the bar. While this is illegal in itself (but never enforced), we are of the view that over 40% of this make and model have obstructed number-plates. Most have been obstructed for years, many are rusted on and few if any have been removed when inspected annually by RTA inspectors. Many other motorists either place bike racks over their plates, masking tape, special sprays, paint or mud. Mr Scruby said.

“It’s a rort and it’s out of control. The attached FoI recently obtained by the PCA reveals that nearly 70,000 plates were unreadable by speed-cameras alone last year. This does not include red-light cameras. This was a loss of over $14 million dollars to the NSW Government last year and the figures are increasing dramatically.

“But what’s far worse is the ridiculous exemption allowing motor-cyclists to have no front number-plate. Over 1,700 offences since 1997 have escaped speed-camera detection because of this rort. The motor-cycle lobby argues it is a safety issue. That’s utter nonsense. Many countries in the world require front-number plates on motor-cycles as they can easily be made of light-weight plastics.

Mr Scruby added: “Like the penalty for refusing a breath-test, the penalty for this offence should equal the maximum penalty avoided. It’s cheating and should be treated as such. Therefore, the penalty should be 6 months loss of licence and a $2,000 fine in all states and territories throughout Australia. Unfortunately, under the revised package announced by NSW Roads Minister Carl Scully recently, the recommendation for this offence is only 3 Demerit Points and a $300 fine – a veritable thrashing with a feather. The result will be that many motorists will continue to obstruct or deface their plates, because the risks of being pulled over and booked by the police are so low, yet the chances of being booked by speed and red-light cameras are so high.

Contact: Harold Scruby - Chairman/CEO – Pedestrian Council of Australia
Tel: (02) 9968-4555 (0418) 110-011 walking@walk.com.au www.walk.com.au