Stolen number plates get innocent man fined by police
A Brisbane man claims he was treated like a “criminal” when he was issued with an obscure fine after police discovered he had stolen number plates on his car, despite his pleas of innocence.
Police & Courts
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A Brisbane man who was seemingly issued an unreasonable fine by police claims he was the victim of an obscure crime, however was treated like the criminal.
Peter Casey, a casual essential worker living in a Morningside share house, was on Wednesday issued an eye $320 fine for driving with stolen number plates on his car, despite his pleas of innocence.
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According to Mr Casey, he had raced off to get his morning coffee on the way to work when police pulled him over and asked him to provide his license.
“They asked me a few questions like who I was and where I was going, as well as how long I‘d owned the car for, then they said ’so can you just tell us, why are you driving with stolen plates on your car?,” Mr Casey recalled of Wednesday’s incident.
“I looked at the officers, my jaw just dropped. I quickly ran around the car and looked at the back plate and looked at the front one and went, ‘okay, these are not my plates.’
Mr Casey explained to the officers he hadn‘t realised the plates on his car, which is parked outside on the street every night, were not his.
He claimed his plates must have been taken while he was sleeping and swapped for the ones now on his car, which according to police systems, were registered as stolen.
“I pulled out my logbook and showed them my (registration number) … they came back to me and said ‘well, why would you jump in a car that doesn't’ have your plates on it?’ And I said ’well, most people don’t check their plates. I rush to my car and all I’m thinking about is getting to the coffee shop for my morning coffee. I don’t think many people would walk up and around their car to get into it every time they drive.”
Mr Casey said after some back and forth between himself and the two officers, they gave him the option of being arrested and taken to the station, or accepting a $320 on the spot fine for driving with incorrect plates.
“I think it‘s unfair,” Mr Casey said.
“I was the victim. Someone had stolen my plates and put some other plates on that are not mine, I didn‘t ask the criminals to put new plates on my car.
“It potentially feels like a revenue raiser. I pay my taxes and have no criminal record and I‘m just trying to get by in life. I need my car to work, I’m just getting by … I was unaware I was doing anything wrong.
Mr Casey accepted the $320 fine for “use/permit use of vehicle with label/plate/permit issued for another vehicle without reasonable excuse.”
He argued, however, not knowing the incorrect plates were on his car should be deemed a reasonable excuse.
“I‘d never heard of people being fined for that,” he said.
“Even the lady at Policelink (when Mr Casey reported his plates as stolen) said ‘wow, I can’t believe they gave you a fine for that, you’re the victim … And the person at main roads (when Mr Casey was forced to buy new number plates) said ‘are you joking?’ when I told her about the fine”
Mr Casey estimates the cost of the fine, the new plates, the taxis to and from the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and his missed wages in having to take the day off to sort out the saga, cost him about $600.
“I even had to buy new screws for my new plates too, the police took the old ones as evidence,” he said.
“If I was speeding or texting or doing something wrong, I‘d understand a fine. But I was just the guy trying to go to work, trying to get my morning coffee and head off to my job. I’m not a criminal, I’m the victim of a crime committed by someone else.”
Mr Casey said he’d think about disputing the fine in court, however is concerned it will result in extra monetary loss for him.
“I‘m a casual worker so I don’t get any holidays or any sick days,” he said.
“There‘s no rostered days off or a day off here or there for working over time. A day off to go to court is extra money out of my pocket.”
The Courier-Mail contacted Queensland Police in relation to this matter, however they declined to comment.