What a Plonka! - $2,377 Fine for Caravan Advert

[BaseCamp]

.... or is this another example of: "The World Gone Mad" ....

( from the Chronicle)

Elderly man fined $2377 for sign in his caravan window

 AN ELDERLY pensioner told Maroochydore Magistrates Court he would rather go to jail than pay almost $2500 for placing a "look only" sign in his caravan window.

Frank Ross, 78, said he never meant to break the law when trying to sell his caravan.

He had been told by a friend that if the sign said "look only" instead of "for sale" with a price it would pass council regulations.

But when he parked his van on Nicklin Way on June 1 last year he incurred a $220 infringement notice.

The pensioner, who has spent a lifetime helping others through charities such as Lions Clubs and Legacy, thought he would get justice in the courts.

This backfired last Monday.

"I got an attack of the nerves, I bumbled away my defence," Mr Ross said.

"The magistrate imposed the $220 fine, then an extra $2000 for the (council's) solicitor's cost and then an extra $157 for the cost of court.

 "What price is justice when you believe you are innocent and you believe if you go to court you can explain your case, but no one listens to you?'' Mr Ross said.

"I said to the magistrate, I'm going to refuse to pay the fine and go to jail.

"He said to me, 'I can't send you to jail. If you don't pay your fine we are going to take your licence off you'.

"I am an old pensioner. I haven't got $2000 and I don't believe I committed an offence knowingly.''

Frustrated with the council's lack of response, Mr Ross held a one-man placard protest outside the council's Nambour chambers in 35 degree heat on Friday.

Mr Ross said he didn't blame the court for the huge bill but he wondered why the council would claim "all these costs".

"It is totally unfair, I don't want to break the damn law, not at my age.''

A council spokesman said it was "a judicial process, not a council process, and this gentleman elected to go to court".

"Council had to pay for a lawyer to defend this action in the court.''

It didn't matter whether the sign said "interested" or "for sale", the spokesman said.

"It's about the intent of the sign.''

[achjimmy]

Why is it an offence to have a for sale sign in his window anyway. Another vote for a "teir " of government to be removed.

[krisandkev]

I think you will find he parked the caravan beside a main road and that was the issue.  Councils do not want to encourage people who wish to sell their property, i.e. cars, boats, caravans etc beside roads on council/state owned land.  You would soon have a huge car park and vehicles stopping causing a dangerous situation.  This person also put a  "look only" sign in the window and thought that would not be advertising it for sale, even though the price of the caravan was also in the window.  The fine was originally $220 but he choose to take the matter to court, which is his right, and he lost and he has to pay the costs.  Fair enough as I don't think the rate payers should have to pay the costs.   Kevin

[Jeepers Creepers]

Correct Kev.

Trying to be smart to get around the not being able to sell off the side of the road and it didn't work.

We have a couple of spots here, one at an intersection and all the idiots are looking at what's for sale when they should be looking to see what's coming along the road.

[Bird]

Why is it an offence to have a for sale sign in his window anyway. Another vote for a "teir " of government to be removed.

it is around here too.. cars parked on roadside with a forsale sign, the council scrotes rub their sausage every weekend along cranny rd at them all...

[geopaj]

I think you will find he parked the caravan beside a main road and that was the issue.  Councils do not want to encourage people who wish to sell their property, i.e. cars, boats, caravans etc beside roads on council/state owned land.  You would soon have a huge car park and vehicles stopping causing a dangerous situation.  This person also put a  "look only" sign in the window and thought that would not be advertising it for sale, even though the price of the caravan was also in the window.  The fine was originally $220 but he choose to take the matter to court, which is his right, and he lost and he has to pay the costs.  Fair enough as I don't think the rate payers should have to pay the costs.   Kevin

I completely agree.

In summary, he knew it was illegal to advertise the van for sale in the particular location so he did it anyway but tried to avoid prosecution by using different wording (but still with the intention of selling the van).

If he was so concerned about wanting to do the right thing he could have checked directly with the council.

[Homer_Jay]

Sunshine Coast Council, say no more......


I got a parking fine a few years ago, one of these narrow streets where two cars can hardly pass, well I was going to a clients house and parked with two wheels on the footpath to allow safe passage for cars to pass while I was there (apps for me usually last around 2 hours), anyway when I come out was a parking ticket on my windscreen.
How about a bit of commonsense???

Now I just park and block the street and I don't give a ..........

[dazzler]

Here you go I made a template;

Just blank out the bits

-----------------------

I parked in a carpark/street/reserve/shopping centre/swimming pool

To make sure it was safe/caring/convenient/help the homeless I parked upside down/across the road/against a power pole/under a fire hydrant/over a fire hydrant/inside a cow/with my wheels on the kerb/wheels on the roof/bumper through a window

The parking officer booked me/spoken to me nastily/didnt smile/was a moron/didnt listen to me/was on a power trip

I went to court and lost/lost and had to pay costs/lost and now whine and bitch that I lost/sulk

I didnt take it to court but whine/bitch/moan/sulk

------------------------

Hope that makes it easier 

[Barry G]

it is around here too.. cars parked on roadside with a forsale sign, the council scrotes rub their sausage every weekend along cranny rd at them all...

So if it illegal what makes "scrotes" of the people doing what the ratepayers pay their wages for them to do?
Who is rubbing who's sausage?

[dazzler]

    "it is around here too.. cars parked on roadside with a forsale sign, the council scrotes rub their sausage every weekend along cranny rd at them all...

So if it illegal what makes "scooters" of the people doing what the ratepayers pay their wages for them to do?
Who is rubbing who's sausage?"


I am sure that Mr Bird stops and says it to their faces at the time.    

[Bill]

Councils quick around here too.
 And Im glad of it, especially when they are parked up along the highway.
1st offense they get a warning.
2nd offense is a fine.
And there are a fair few that think just because they park it in a different spot the 2nd time they wont get the fine.
They learn the hard way...
Bill