Unlocked cars draw penalties

Obscure laws leave everyday people open to prosecution

THIRTEEN people are fined in Townsville every year for the crime of leaving their vehicles unlocked.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads said the fine was $ 52, but key criminal lawyer at Strategic Lawyers Anthony Sturgeon said people could be charged up to $ 2611.

Many drivers would not even know that leaving their cars unlocked is technically a crime but 68 people in the region were slapped with fines for the offence between 2013 and 2017.

Townsville acting Superintendent Joe Kitching said police didn’t make the laws but each officer had discretionary power when it came to issuing a fine or warning.

LEAVING your car unlocked is a crime in Queensland that could see motorists forking out “absurd” fines.

On average 13 people in Townsville each year are issued a fine for not locking their vehicle.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads said the fine was $ 52, but key criminal lawyer at Strategic Lawyers, Anthony Sturgeon said people could have to pay $ 2611. Many wouldn’t even know that leaving their cars unlocked is tech- nically a crime but 68 people in the region were slapped with fines for just that reason between 2013 and 2017.

As well as the 13 people each year who leave their cars unlocked and are penalised, police regularly encounter unlocked vehicles in response to property crime matters without issuing fines.

Townsville Acting Superintendent Joe Kitching said police didn’t make the laws but each officer had discretionary power when it came to issuing a fine or warning.

“That’s up to each officer in an individual situation,” Supt Kitching said. “We certainly encourage people to lock their vehicles as they do their houses. Unlocked vehicles provides an opportunity for property offenders. A locked vehicle doesn’t provide that opportunity for people to walk by and steal belongings.”

Mr Sturgeon, queried the logic of fining people over a victimless crime.

“It’s ridiculous to fine people for this – you are punishing the potential victims of a crime rather than a perpetrator,” Mr Sturgeon said.

“Also, the parliament needs to pass an amendment reducing the maximum fine down … the idea someone could face a fine of thousands when all they have done is make themselves vulnerable to a criminal act is absurd.

“This is a shocking waste of police resources and I suspect the real reason the fine amount is so low is it means people are unlikely to take the police to court to fight them – because the court costs of any appeal would quickly outstrip the value.”

Townsville MP Scott Stew- art said even though it was the law, he hoped police used discretion and didn’t punish people for one- off forgetful incidents.

“If people have been warned several times and persist maybe there is scope for charging people but I certainly would not support charging people on one- off incidents,” Mr Stewart said.

Burdekin MP Dale Last, who used to be a police officer, said there were several laws that the public might question at times but “the law is the law”. He said he preferred to issue warnings to motorists for not locking the vehicles during his time as a cop and suggested many officers would take that approach.