Fines for items in utes- fact or fiction

[Bird]

Its not just "fall out" but in the event of an incident like swerving they can slide from side to side and fly out that way. a toolbox may move nowhere in a straight line.

Anything can become a projectile. Why risk it?

I've seen personally a large cylinder (bout 8-10ft long and 3ft round at a guess) come off the back of a truck that only had a rope over it, he went round corner, it wasn't braced, and away it went.. luckily straight into the gutter.

There was a tipper with a trailer carrying a Backhoe on Western Port highway outside Dandenong couple of yrs ago that didn't restrain his Backhoe properly. Dunno how it happened but it came off and killed a mother and 3 kids when it landed on their mobile Shitbox coffin size car.

Why is it so hard to expect people to tie things down??

I drove trucks for the best part of a decade and would never leave the yard without roping/chaining down Shit...

Also you hear lots of things on the radio. Its like the internet "I saw it on the internet, it must be true"

[darrenh]

"A small heavy toolbox for example"

i have witnessed a 2 tonne rod bar slide off at 60 k's that wasnt tied down mate. now how would 2 tonne of bar move by itself?

The 2 tonne rod bar sliding off is because the friction is not sufficient and probably no side gates. The guidelines cover this type of load and I agree, should be restrained from sliding off the deck.

We are talking about utes with sides on trays.


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[darrenh]

So do you agree with the empty beer can fine?


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[MarkGU]

The 2 tonne rod bar sliding off is because the friction is not sufficient and probably no side gates. The guidelines cover this type of load and I agree, should be restrained from sliding off the deck.

We are talking about utes with sides on trays.


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ok then. put a camera looking at the floor of any ute or trailer. then put your tool box in there and film it. you'l be very surprised. even the best suspension in the world cant guard against a large pot hole im afraid. if objects sat still and never moved then why would there be a need for load restraints? think about it.

[Bird]

So do you agree with the empty beer can fine?

Not knowing 100% the facts, I'll stick with the bloke that was there.
Then again, I think its all horse**** and never happened.
if it was on a radio station, I'll bet it was bored arseholes trying to jump on the bandwagon and get themselves on air for 1.02seconds of fame.

[darrenh]

Read this

http://www.themorningbulletin.com.au/news/misconception-law-cargo-net-sales/624973/


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[darrenh]

Sorry

Not Sunshine Coast it was Adelaide

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/traffic-police-target-drive-anger/story-e6frea6u-1226191936347


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[Hairs]

I can't see some items causing any damage and some other items that could not fall of unless the vehicle was upside down.

Sorry, but you have done countless testing and have expertise to back this up?
Whether or not you agree with the reasoning behind these laws, they are law.
To argue the point is pointless.
Hope your pockets are deep. 

[D4D]

[kiwipride]

I was wondering that myself, as almost every tray back ute in Sth East QLD has a net over it, even when there is nothing below...
Something must be going on, I have been meaning to ask a driver, but not had the chance as yet.

Yes. I've saw three yesterday and it really stood out to me. That was on the Gold Coast


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[darrenh]

Sometimes I don't think some people actually read the words written in the post.

I was looking for evidence of anyone getting a fine for an arguably safe item such as a pair of thongs or as in the news article some empty beers cans.

I did not ever put up an argument for any other type of load.

Put very simply. Is it fact or fiction.


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[seenthelight]

Fines for unsecured loads

If you don’t properly secure your load you may be fined, even if your load doesn’t come loose. There are three types of risk categories with varying fines. These fine amounts will increase as of 1 July 2009. The penalties differ between regular drivers and companies:

Minor risk breach: 
An unsecured load that does not involve danger to a person, or the risk of damage to property or the environment.
Penalty: Individuals are fined $170 and the company $851

Substantial risk breach:
An unsecured load that poses a danger to people, property or the environment.
Penalty: Individuals are fined $454 and the company $2268

Severe risk breach:
An unsecured load that causes harm to people, or damage to property or the environment.
Penalty: Individuals and companies are taken to court

If any of the offences result in court, individuals and companies will also be liable for up to 500 penalty units for a company (up to $58,000) and 100 penalty units for an individual (up to $11,000)

Vic roads do it in victoria al the time,I was with a Truck driver who was fined $10,800 yes thats wright $10.800 for unsecured load,
I have been stopped twice on the western ring road by vic roads to check the back of the ute and see all is secured..
Now the lattest $ spinner for VR is to book  truck drivers with a loss object on the tray, it has to be secured to a part of the load that is secured.
It only takes 5 minutes to secure your load. could be the best 5 minutes you spend

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/SafetyAndRules/SaferVehicles/LoadsAndTowing/SecureYourLoads.htm
Cheers
Geoff

[MarkGU]

Fines for unsecured loads

If you don’t properly secure your load you may be fined, even if your load doesn’t come loose. There are three types of risk categories with varying fines. These fine amounts will increase as of 1 July 2009. The penalties differ between regular drivers and companies:

Minor risk breach: 
An unsecured load that does not involve danger to a person, or the risk of damage to property or the environment.
Penalty: Individuals are fined $170 and the company $851

Substantial risk breach:
An unsecured load that poses a danger to people, property or the environment.
Penalty: Individuals are fined $454 and the company $2268

Severe risk breach:
An unsecured load that causes harm to people, or damage to property or the environment.
Penalty: Individuals and companies are taken to court

If any of the offences result in court, individuals and companies will also be liable for up to 500 penalty units for a company (up to $58,000) and 100 penalty units for an individual (up to $11,000)

Vic roads do it in victoria al the time,I was with a Truck driver who was fined $10,800 yes thats wright $10.800 for unsecured load,
I have been stopped twice on the western ring road by vic roads to check the back of the ute and see all is secured..
Now the lattest $ spinner for VR is to book  truck drivers with a loss object on the tray, it has to be secured to a part of the load that is secured.
It only takes 5 minutes to secure your load. could be the best 5 minutes you spend

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/SafetyAndRules/SaferVehicles/LoadsAndTowing/SecureYourLoads.htm
Cheers
Geoff

and now the RMS are warning drivers of log books being stored on their dash boards. whether you agree with the fines or not.......they are the law.

[Hairs]

BTW, This law also includes trailers and boats on trailers, even horse floats.
 

[Bird]

Is it fact or fiction.

Fact/

[KingBilly]

I have heard the rumours.  I have also been told it is Transport Inspectors, not Police, issuing tickets for unsecured loads.  Regardless of who it is, I say go for it.  Fine the idiots.

I was following a ute to work at about 10 o'clock one night, when a wheelbarrow fell off the back of the ute.  I was on my motorcycle.  Talk about a freckle pucker.  Gee, I came close to being killed that night.  Luckily I was at a safe enough distance behind the ute to take evasive action.  Thankfully nothing was coming in the opposite direction or I would have been a goner for sure.

A mate was on the M1 heading towards Brisbane one night, again on a motorcycle, when he came up behind a ute.  The ute's tailgate was hanging down and he was just changing lanes to go around it, when the tailgate came off and took him off his bike.  Spent a few weeks in hospital for the ar$ehole's incompetence.

KB

[Brutus]

BTW, This law also includes trailers and boats on trailers, even horse floats.
 

Wow, so next time I take the boat out I need to tie everything down then?

Surely this is not enforceable by any copper with half a brain.

I can understand items that can bounce out of a tray, trailer etc but to get fined for having some tools or similar slide around in the ute tray is going too far. They are only likely to come out if the vehicle rolls and in that case they are the least of an issue.

[austastar]

Hi,
  do it right the first time.





cheers

[Brij]

I was with a Truck driver who was fined $10,800 yes thats wright $10.800 for unsecured load,

I find this extremely hard to believe. As you state this would be nearly 100% of a severe risk breach for an individual which would mean the insecure load would of had to of come off the vehicle and done damage to person/property and then gone to court for the magistrate to impose a financial penalty.
I have yet to personally see the courts impose a fine close to maximum . And if VicRoads had one awarded that close to the max. I am sure I would of heard about it.

Peter H

[Dice]

 

I can understand items that can bounce out of a tray, trailer etc but to get fined for having some tools or similar slide around in the ute tray is going too far. They are only likely to come out if the vehicle rolls and in that case they are the least of an issue.

    I had a spare wheel in the tub of my ute, took a quick trip to bunnings to get something had a bloke pull out in front of me,swerved to miss him hit the gutter the spare ended up on the roof and caved it in considerably. Have made sure everything is tied down well since. It is surprising just how easy it is for something to go wrong.What if that spare had gone onto 6 lane road instead of on the roof and collected another car or worse a motorbike in an 80kmh zone chances are the bike rider would not be in good shape.

[Brad_m]

Wow, so next time I take the boat out I need to tie everything down then?

Surely this is not enforceable by any copper with half a brain.

I can understand items that can bounce out of a tray, trailer etc but to get fined for having some tools or similar slide around in the ute tray is going too far. They are only likely to come out if the vehicle rolls and in that case they are the least of an issue.

Oh yeah because if a ute goes over with loose 'tool' sized things in the back and they fly out at 60km or more and hit someone that other wise would have been ok,  yeah I see your point NOT.

These rules just like all others are written for the absolute worst case situation. 

Personally  I've have a tonneau cover on all the time and tie down points inside the tray and keep 4 250kg ratchet straps in the cab.  If i've just got my work boots in there, a tonneau is plenty.     
It seriously cost 3/8 of stuff all to comply with the law,   It's people that abuse the law which forces the law to be so strict in the first place.

[darrenh]

Anybody found the fines in QLD.
I have been googling with no result yet


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[GeeTee]

Wow, so next time I take the boat out I need to tie everything down then?

Surely this is not enforceable by any copper with half a brain.

I can understand items that can bounce out of a tray, trailer etc but to get fined for having some tools or similar slide around in the ute tray is going too far. They are only likely to come out if the vehicle rolls and in that case they are the least of an issue.

You sound like one of those pub experts that doesn't wear a seat belt so you can 'jump clear of the crash'...? 

I was in Qld the other day on a training day (I live in NSW) and one of the topics of conversation/training was: everything must be tied down, then a cargo net over the top. And EVERY ute I witnessed on my way home had a cargo net.

When you think about it, it does make sense   

[Hairs]

When you think about it, it does make sense   

Unfortunately it's not common 

Sense that is 

The effort, expense and time it take is FA compared to the damage that can be caused "because I don't reckon it's right, what a silly rule"
Life is about rules, how we play within these rules makes life what it is. 
 

[MR MAC GU]

I have been unlucky enough to be the recipient of someone's unsecured load.

In 2001 I was following a mini skip truck at 100kph on the highway. I don't even recall seeing anything in the skip bin. Then suddenly a few lengths of 50mm box tubing came flying out.

It went several directions as it hit the road and I had nowhere to go. One piece went under the rodeo that I was driving and pierced through the floor on the drivers side and then continued through the drivers seat base missing my backside by about 1cm and then through the back of the cab. That was the lucky part. The impact of it stood the rodeo up on two wheels causing it to loose control into the guard rail in a big way.

The skip truck kept driving.

Fine these bastards as much as possible. It could happen to any one of us at any time. If have also copped a plastic outdoor table the fell off a ute going the other way and also almost been cleaned up by two kayaks when the roof rack broke ...


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