The Snitch: Police remove ‘LGOPNR’ plates from yellow Lamborghini

SNITCH: There has been another twist in the saga of the ‘LGOPNR’ number plates which adorn the yellow Lamborghini of criminal barrister Peter Lavac.

A criminal barrister who took on Transport NSW over his right to bear personalised plates is shaping up for round two against the bureaucracy.

But Peter Lavac won’t be driving his prized Lamboghini supercar to the Downing Centre Local Court on Monday after police stripped the “LGOPNR” plates from the former Hong Kong prosecutor’s car in Manly on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Lavac’s number plates – an abbreviation of “leg opener” – kicked off a fierce conversation on social media and talkback radio about what offensive really means after he was ordered to forfeit his black and gold plates this year.

He challenged the first letter in the Local Court and won on a technicality. But hell hath no fury like a department scorned.

Barrister Peter Lavac pictured at Palm Beach with his Lamborghini with his "LGOPNR" number plates. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Transport NSW fired off a second letter reiterating its request – Mr Lavac needed to hand in his offensive plates or his registration would be cancelled. He and his legal team then filed off a second appeal.

That appeal – bolstered on Mr Lavac’s side by a statement from a female barrister unperturbed by the plates – will be heard Monday but the state wasn’t willing to wait.

Mr Lavac said he was pulled over by a police patrol car about 200 metres from his home on Friday.

“The officer told me he received an email from his boss directing him to stop me and seize my plates as my rego had been cancelled,” he said.

Peter Lavac in his day job as a defence barrister'.

Mr Lavac whipped out his court papers showing the pending appeal while back up arrived.

“A short time later another patrol car arrived with three extra police, which I thought was a bit of overkill,” he said. “They must have feared I was going to engage them in a wild west gun fight and then escape by speeding off in my high powered racing car.”

The police request stood – the number plates had to go.

The lawyer of more than 40 years claimed he stood on the footpath chuckling as the cops wrestled with screwdrivers in a bid to remove the plates.

The barrister claimed the police wouldn’t let him drive the expensive car back to his garage “200 metres away and five kilometres an hour under police escort”. He had to call a tow truck instead.

“If these fat cat desk jockeys and overzealous cops have the balls to go after me, a seasoned criminal lawyer, for trivial mickey mouse bullsh*t like this, what possible chance does a little Aussie battler have against people like these,’ Mr Lavac asked. “Not a snow ball’s chance in hell.”

PERFECT FIT

Those familiar with celebrity agent Max Markson know he has one setting: On.

This was illustrated this week when Markson booked an Uber and was mulling over how to promote a true crime book about US serial killers like Ted Bundy written by Sydney author Kanika Batra.

Anthony Dilorenzo will launch a true crime book on US serial killers. Picture: AAP Image/ Dean Lewins

Markson opened the door to the Uber and found the answer.

Driving the car was former police officer Anthony Dilorenzo.

Dilorenzo was an Eastern Suburbs police officer who lost his career after shooting mentally ill French photographer Ron Levi in a high-profile incident in 1997.

The DPP recommended no charges be laid over the shooting, but Dilorenzio was later sacked over a separate issue.

“He was the perfect person to give a talk about his own fascinating life and launch the book,” Markson said. “Dilorenzo has had a fascinating life living in Sydney as a young boy before moving with his CIA agent father and family to live in Malibu for 13 years.”

Dilorenzo then returned to Bondi where he became a policeman until the 1997 incident.

He is now scheduled to give a talk and officially launch the book, titled Honey Trap, at Berkelouw Books in Paddington at 6pm Thursday.

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