Could grey nomads carrying everything from motorbikes and cycles to jerry cans and kayaks on the backs of their rigs be inadvertently dodging traffic fines? The answer – given recent data produced by South Australian police – is a resounding yes.
It seems that the authorities in the festival state rejected more than 6700 speed and red-light camera photographs last financial year because the vehicle’s number plate was obscured or had been tampered with, its letters were blurred or faint, or there simply wasn’t a plate at all.
One red Subaru station wagon was snapped six times but no fine could be issued because the plate was blocked by a tow bar.
The value of fines dodged would have been worth at least $1.5 million based on the lowest penalty for a speeding fine of $223.
Traffic Support Branch boss Superintendent Anthony Fioravanti warned motorists that obscuring number plates or altering them attracted fines of up to $711.
“SAPOL urges all motorists to regularly check their number plates to make sure they are clearly legible and remove any obstructions such as tow balls or bike racks when not in use,’’ he said.
There is nothing in this article to suggest that the culprits are grey nomads. The vehicle in the photograph could belong to a couple of 20 somethings. I think blaming this on grey nomads is a cop out by cops not doing their jobs, To think there are that many people breaking the rules and getting away with it is shameful.
I don’t see were the cops are copping out by saying its grey nomads, rather its the writer of the article. We can’t seem to win. Only a couple of months ago grey nomads were being criticised for going too slow in which case we wouldn’t attract the attention of speed cameras.