Australia's top 5 dumbest laws

[Jake F6]

With the introduction of the new hoon laws, I thought it
would be appropriate to have a look at some of the crap
laws we have in this country. The passive acceptance of
such laws shows our weakness. I've heard that in Italy no
one at all pays parking fines! Because literally no one paid,
the authorities really couldn't do anything about it..
They gave up!

My top 5 dumbest laws:

1. If you lose traction of two tyres the cops confiscate your car!
2. If you drive 63km/h in a 60km/h zone you get a speeding fine!
3. If you drink a beer on the beach, or whilst having a picnic you get a fine!
4. If a burglar gets bitten by your dog whilst robbing your house, he sues you!
5. If you Jay-walk you get a fine!

I read in the local paper that police are targeting hoons to save innocent
lives, becaue they reckon that if you hoon you may crash into other cars.
In the next paragraph they said that they will be targeting a quiet industrial
estate which is "notorious" for burnouts at night. Surely, they are
contradicting themselves... What the hell is wrong with a young fella doing
a burnout in some industrial estate at night??? The worst he can do is bust a
rim on the gutter. What a joke!

In my opinion bad laws just turn the community against the police - which
is not a good thing.

[quest]

We have the same sort of anti Hot Rod mentality here
The government is more than happy to collect taxes from the sale of high performance parts & services but do you think there is any place to use them?
Not on your life !

The closest drag strip is at least 200KM from the city & they wont let anyone build one closer

[blownvn]

Actually the Jaywalking one is fair enough, maybe you should replace it with

5) if you walk away from your car without locking it you get a fine

I don't know about other states but in NSW if you don't lock your car when you go to pay for petrol you can be fined. Now this may seem like common sense in the city but in the country whats the point? I could leave my car unattended and unlocked for days and no-one would touch it.

[Gilesie]

Originally Posted by BLACK XR6-VCT

What the hell is wrong with a young fella doing
a burnout in some industrial estate at night??? The worst he can do is bust a
rim on the gutter. What a joke

These type of events are ussually associated with illegal street drags.
There have been several people seriously injured and killed over the years.
So I would say that yes they are doing there job.
If it saves 1 life I think it is all worth it.

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by BLACK XR6-VCT

What the hell is wrong with a young fella doing
a burnout in some industrial estate at night??? The worst he can do is bust a
rim on the gutter. What a joke!

The problem here is that the person doing the burnouts, etc, can end up wrapping themselves around a pole, which in turn creates just as many headaches for the authorities as a normal traffic accident, in some cases more. Also, industrial areas usually have trucks driving around them in the middle of the night.

A friend of mine was asleep in his truck outside a factory in Sydney one night when a car hangin’ doughnuts lost control and ended up half underneath his trailer.

Don’t get me wrong here, I understand what you’re saying, however, it’s a double edged sword. If the people practicing the finer points of their driving skills in an industrial area get caught, they seem to think that this is victimisation. But if the worst happens, the families of the victims say to the authorities, why weren’t you out there stopping this sort of thing.

*** Edit *** Gilesie bet me to it.

[S3SR]

Originally Posted by BLACK XR6-VCT

4. If a burglar gets bitten by your dog whilst robbing your house, he sues you!

^^ would have to be the only law i have a problem with....

[BA_Turbs]

Originally Posted by FALCONSR

^^ would have to be the only law i have a problem with....

Its not actually a law. I don't think anyone could point out the legistlation that outlines this, and I also doubt any case law exists. It sounds a lot like an urban myth. If your dog is contained in your back yard and someone climbs into your backyard without lawful intent, I would say you have little or no chance of getting sued. If on the other hand you encouraged the dog to attack, you can be charged for that, but it is different isn't it?


A couple of the dumbest laws going would be the ones I read about a couple of years ago when they were repealed (removed from the Summary Offences Act):

1- Rolling a barrel whilst drunk was an offence (The saying rolling drunk??)

2- Having a goat tow a cart was illegal.



Black-XR6-VCT,

If you aren't happy with the way the government, whther it be Federal or State, is dealing with issues, why not tell them through your local MP. They are your elected official to represent YOU in the government.

[XRQTOR]

Originally Posted by Gilesie

These type of events are ussually associated with illegal street drags.
There have been several people seriously injured and killed over the years.
So I would say that yes they are doing there job.
If it saves 1 life I think it is all worth it.

How many tens of thousands of people die each year because of smoking, how many inoccent people die/get cancer each year because of it. A hell of alot more than those killed or injured by illegal street racing, those who are injured or killed esp in an idustrial estate they are there for 1 reason only and if they get hurt bad luck.

[Gilesie]

Originally Posted by XRQTOR

How many tens of thousands of people die each year because of smoking, how many inoccent people die/get cancer each year because of it. A hell of alot more than those killed or injured by illegal street racing, those who are injured or killed esp in an idustrial estate they are there for 1 reason only and if they get hurt bad luck.

Your theory is not exactly correct.
the people smoking know the risks and are doing the damage to themselves.
An industrial area does have people traveling through in the night in the course of there work.
1 example would be a truck driver returning his truck to the yard to drive home in his car.
Or maybe the an employee of a company working back late to get the job finished.
These type of people would be innocent victims.

[XRQTOR]

Originally Posted by BA_Turbs

Its not actually a law. I don't think anyone could point out the legistlation that outlines this, and I also doubt any case law exists. It sounds a lot like an urban myth. If your dog is contained in your back yard and someone climbs into your backyard without lawful intent, I would say you have little or no chance of getting sued. If on the other hand you encouraged the dog to attack, you can be charged for that, but it is different isn't it?


A couple of the dumbest laws going would be the ones I read about a couple of years ago when they were repealed (removed from the Summary Offences Act):

1- Rolling a barrel whilst drunk was an offence (The saying rolling drunk??)

2- Having a goat tow a cart was illegal.



Black-XR6-VCT,

If you aren't happy with the way the government, whther it be Federal or State, is dealing with issues, why not tell them through your local MP. They are your elected official to represent YOU in the government.

The dog one is a bit like the case where a block climbed onto a house roof and fell through the skylight onto a knife pointing up from the sink, he sued the owner of the house. Was in the paper's and everything.

[XRQTOR]

Originally Posted by Gilesie

Your theory is not exactly correct.
the people smoking know the risks and are doing the damage to themselves.
An industrial area does have people traveling through in the night in the course of there work.
1 example would be a truck driver returning his truck to the yard to drive home in his car.
Or maybe the an employee of a company working back late to get the job finished.
These type of people would be innocent victims.

They mostly race at 12:ooam onwards so normally the only traffic seen are sec gaurds or police, in which event there are spotter's are the other end of the strip who radio back weather there is anyone on the road before they start to race. That is done for safty reason's and for the obvious police issue, they'll to you to bugger off if they find 5o car's just sitting there. They'll arrest you on the spot if you get caught racing.

I know this cause untill recently i attened these event's weekly. But yes there are tool's out there who arn't as carefull as other's.

And for the smoking, i know the risk's but why should i be subjected to it to. I choose not to smoke but can't do anything if the guy next to me is smoking.

[Kryton]

yes you can get sued if your dog bites an intruder, just the same if an intruder cuts himself climbing through your bedroom window that he just broke.
it may be stupid but it is real.

[protd]

street racing oh dear.. i know most of us have done it and alot of us still do it but no one can blame the cops for trying to put a stop to it its dangerous and there is no possible way to control that sort of situation.. 130+mph on the street with people all around watching it is a disaster in the waiting..

[Gammaboy]

You left John Laws out of your list....

[Full Noise]

Originally Posted by Gammaboy

You left John Laws out of your list....

:hihi: :hihi: :hihi: :

[Ruger]

no thats just common sense top 5 means top 5 after john laws

[gbright]

Originally Posted by blownvn

Actually the Jaywalking one is fair enough, maybe you should replace it with

5) if you walk away from your car without locking it you get a fine

I don't know about other states but in NSW if you don't lock your car when you go to pay for petrol you can be fined. Now this may seem like common sense in the city but in the country whats the point? I could leave my car unattended and unlocked for days and no-one would touch it.

acutally how about if you are drunk and you have your car key's on you you are deemed to be in control of your car and can be charged with drink driving or intent to!!!

[Kryton]

Originally Posted by gbright

acutally how about if you are drunk and you have your car key's on you you are deemed to be in control of your car and can be charged with drink driving or intent to!!!

that only applies if you are sitting in the drivers seat of a car....doesnt matter if the keys are in your pocket or not.

[351ciofgrunt]

My two biggest complaints



1.) Hidden taxes everywhere...i reckon there should be income tax and thats it...there shouldnt be tax on petrol, alcohol, etc

2.) dolebludgers, people that just sit on the dole while hard working people pay for them to do that, you should be allowed the dole for 6 months and thats it...after 6 months you get no dole, i bet people will find a job pretty quick then

[northey]

Originally Posted by davway

that only applies if you are sitting in the drivers seat of a car....doesnt matter if the keys are in your pocket or not.

if you are asleep (drunk) in the back seat you are drunk driving under qld law (without keys).
it's been tested in court a few times; driver loses.

[chich]

Originally Posted by davway

yes you can get sued if your dog bites an intruder, just the same if an intruder cuts himself climbing through your bedroom window that he just broke.
it may be stupid but it is real.

I look at it this way.. If you're going to get sued by someone who has or attempted to break into your house you might as well belt the living cr*p out of them, break a few bones and put them in hospital. At least that way you get your moneys worth :

[Ultimate]

Well there are alot of rules, the street racing and smoking the tyres one, well if you do it and get caught your bad luck. Myself have done this before but i know the result of that is my own actions. Which is why i normally prefer to do this on issolated roads when i have done it in the past. But truely you break the law then you deserve the outcome i affraid.
Jeff

[Silver Ghia]

They had to do something about drivers spinning their wheels or leaving grafiti on the roads.

I have seen several times where cars ended up in the gutter or embankment because the driver lost it. If there were pedestrians there, or if they went into oncoming traffic, there would've been more serious cosequences.

I cant see a problem in isolated places, or short burnouts where nothing could happen, this should be OK, but if injury or personal property could be affected, thats where these hoon laws should step in. I hope they use some discretion when effecting these hoon laws.

I also hope vehicle confiscation extends to continual drunk drivers. Haven't seen this problem being addressed however.

Another stupid law is that the car owner is deemed guilty if caught on the speed camera. Who dobs in another driver if they weren't driving? And who can remember who was driving where a few weeks ago, and if they were going faster than the limit at that location, when the speeding notice is received in the post? How can you prove you weren't driving at the alledged speed?

[iCat]

Originally Posted by Silver Ghia

I also hope vehicle confiscation extends to continual drunk drivers. Haven't seen this problem being addressed however.

Don't you just have to talk about your deprived childhood to get away with this?

Time bombs. Get them off the road.

[RegSpec]

You know, normally Id be all for a rave about stupid traffic laws and/or thier enforcement but after watching the news over the last couple of days my vote for the most aggravating law would be the one that says....
"You cannot belt the **** out of and then kill some bastard who has raped and killed an innocent 8 yr old girl (WA) or brutally bashed a 7 yr old boy and his mother (NSW)"
Just my vote for current law that really gets me going :

What Id give for just 5 mins with these pricks :jab:

[AUIIXR8_Tas]

I think the cops should stop dishing out fines left, right & centre and start booking taxi drivers for breaking just about every road rule in the book.

[trick_xd]

Originally Posted by blownvn

5) if you walk away from your car without locking it you get a fine

Well thats 1 fine i can tell you is REALY Realy stupid
Its a $135 fine AND 1 point ..

I parked my car out the front of the bank. Got out and stood out on the footparth and talked to a few M8s .. like we used to do every friday night.. (from 7pm till 9pm)
Cops walk along and generally They are good .. They look around the cars and maybe tell you to " Just get it fixed" and making them self seen so nothing stupid happends .
This copper sees my keys in the ignition and Proceeds to tell me off and give me a fine .... as if some one was going to steal my car as Me AND Mates are there .. :

ANYWAY .. How about a law that Makes people have to do a basic Practical test in how to change things like .. Tyres , Headlight / Tail light Globes..... Just easy things like that .

[BA_Turbs]

Originally Posted by davway

yes you can get sued if your dog bites an intruder, just the same if an intruder cuts himself climbing through your bedroom window that he just broke.
it may be stupid but it is real.

Fair enough this is what you believe, buts it s fairly compelling statement against common sense, and there's still no indication as to why anyone should believe this statement.

The glass example is not quite correct. It depends on where the window is what room), the age of the premises, how accessable the window is to the street, the last time the window was broken and what type of glass it was replaced with. How was the glass broken, what was the reason for breaking the glass.

This thread is simplyfying things that aren't simple. I still maintain that if your dog was in your house and and someone was inside tha thouse for an unlawful purpose and your dog bit that perosn, without you provoking it, no one could successfully sue you. If that was the case, imagine what a liablility a trained gaurd dog would be :nutsycuck. Think about it!

The thread was about the 5 dumbest laws, not the 5 dumbest urban myths.

[Trevor 57]

6. Young drivers have to have a plastic card on their car with a P on it, if not they get a fine and get 3 demerit poins out of a possible 5 before loss of licence.


Tell me "how" a plastic card save lives?

[Des]

Originally Posted by BA_Turbs

Fair enough this is what you believe, buts it s fairly compelling statement against common sense, and there's still no indication as to why anyone should believe this statement.

The glass example is not quite correct. It depends on where the window is what room), the age of the premises, how accessable the window is to the street, the last time the window was broken and what type of glass it was replaced with. How was the glass broken, what was the reason for breaking the glass.

This thread is simplyfying things that aren't simple. I still maintain that if your dog was in your house and and someone was inside tha thouse for an unlawful purpose and your dog bit that perosn, without you provoking it, no one could successfully sue you. If that was the case, imagine what a liablility a trained gaurd dog would be :nutsycuck. Think about it!

The thread was about the 5 dumbest laws, not the 5 dumbest urban myths.

NSW Animal Companions Act
[sic] If a dog attacks a person or persons (be that on public or private property) unprovoked, then in the least the dog will be classed as a dangerous dog (with all that goes with it) and may be euthanised (spelling?). If a dog is provoked into attacking a person on public property, depending on the incident and discretion of the ranger, it may still be classed as a dangerous animal and may also be euthanised. If a dog is provoked into an attack on a person on private property (by the person attacked), then the person who provoked the attack on themselves is at blame and will be held totally responsible. Trust me, I lost a dog to these laws even though he was provoked by a group of 6 teenagers and only barked and acted in a vicious manner but at no time actually physically harmed any person(s). As a result he was declared dangerous. Even after the declaration is lifted the animal is still on record as a dangerous animal. He got out one day when we were out, because it took 2 rangers a 2 coppers with pepper spray to "corner, contain and forcably restrain" him (he was a large 50 odd kilo dog and very fit), I was given the choice: lock him in a 6x6x6 cage or euthansia. I have his ashes at home. One of the rangers was injured during the struggle, I was "lucky" that we weren't sued for damages as my dog was cornered on my premises, he'd tried to get home to stop the pepper spray attacks - my dog, my property, my responsibility. Because I chose not to cage him, they (the council) didn't sue....
Remember, a guard dog is "supposed" to be trained to "hold" a suspect, not tear them to shreds.