Pulled up by the Coppers

Basically, if any vehicle has a load, that load must be secured or covered so that none of the load could be thrown from the vehicle in the event of an accident or fall from the vehicle when in motion.


http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Safety/Vehicle-standards-and-modifications/Loads-and-towing/Load-restraint.aspx


Examples and tips

Garden refuse in utes or trailers

Garden refuse will generally be light enough to be blown off a ute or trailer by a breeze during transport. As such, the refuse will need to be covered by a tarpaulin (secured so that it does not come off in transit) or netting. If the refuse is loaded above the sides of the ute or trailer, more restraint (straps, netting or rope) will be needed.

Doesn't much matter about your load, the key thing is he has made an error and charged you with the wrong offence. It's the reason police are taught to take care with spelling and grammar etc., people guilty of serious offences can walk because of such stupid mistakes. Let it go to court, he will drop the brief when he reads and reviews it rather than look like a fool in the stand.

Unsecured load.
We have just gone national with the laws over here.
You cant use any rope,it has to be a certified rope(identified by flecking in the twist) or proper tie down straps.The load you have needs a certified luggage net.
HOWEVER,that isn't what they pinged you for,perhaps you got the ticket for the next bloke or the one before.$100 is the unsecured load fine,they can be picky and charge you for multiple items.
They were real hot for a whilst,now they seem OK.I regularly get stopped in town for a RBT,quite often they check the tightness of the 3 straps on my ute.2 secure 400lt of diesel,the 3rd a toolbox.
Andrew

I went through the same thing years ago when I received an incorrectly detailed fine. I sent the fine along with an explanation of why I thought the fine should be waived. About a week later the issuing officer turned up on my doorstep with a revised edition of the original fine and to say he was cranky about it would be an understatement.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stuck

I went through the same thing years ago when I received an incorrectly detailed fine. I sent the fine along with an explanation of why I thought the fine should be waived. About a week later the issuing officer turned up on my doorstep with a revised edition of the original fine and to say he was cranky about it would be an understatement.

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He probably had had his butt reamed.

Yes, you were correct to write a letter saying you weren't towing a trailer and so the charge is wrong.
However, I think you're probably a goner on not having a net over the bags to prevent them from coming out of the back of the ute. I was told the nets also have to have holes too small for the copper to push a hand through, so my old net is now no good. The correct ones cost about $60 from memory at Autobahn.
I recently hit a mattress lying on the M1 in Brisbane at 100 kmh, which could have caused a major crash, so I can understand why they want loads covered.
I couldn't swerve to miss it because of vehicles in the lanes each side of me. If I had been in our Mazda 2 the mattress could have smashed the front end, but fortunately the Defender was high enough to just rock over it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DiscoMick

Yes, you were correct to write a letter saying you weren't towing a trailer and so the charge is wrong.
However, I think you're probably a goner on not having a net over the bags to prevent them from coming out of the back of the ute. I was told the nets also have to have holes too small for the copper to push a hand through, so my old net is now no good. The correct ones cost about $60 from memory at Autobahn.
I recently hit a mattress lying on the M1 in Brisbane at 100 kmh, which could have caused a major crash, so I can understand why they want loads covered.
I couldn't swerve to miss it because of vehicles in the lanes each side of me. If I had been in our Mazda 2 the mattress could have smashed the front end, but fortunately the Defender was high enough to just rock over it.

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A bit dearer.
I have one very similar to this for use on a 1 tonne ute or 6x4 trailer.
Large Gladiator Cargo Net - 2.61m x 3.02m | eBay

Andrew

Keith in Qld now you have to cover any load in a ute with a cargo net or tarp. [bigsad] I can remember having a load chain laying on the front of the tray of our truck & Qld Transport gave me a worning saying if I was to have an accident the chain could fly off & hit a person walking along the foot parth.[bighmmm]

I hadn't realised it had become so complicated. Used to held dad tie down the load on an old Bedford truck he'd drive for a school excursion twice a year. Big tarp over the top then he'd walk down one side, I'd walk down the other throwing old static abseiling rope over the top and trying truckie's hitches. He'd then carefully make sure all corners of the tarp were tucked in and tied down so they wouldn't blow open. Personally I reckon you could tip the truck upside down and shake it and nothing would've fallen off. No ratings on the rope though.

So before I can go on holiday with a trailer load with my kids I have to buy all rated straps and netting?

this is why the law changed


Dash Cam Owners Australia - Load Fail Compilation - YouTube