'No warning': Little-known mistake earns caravanner a $660 fine

"Oops, I didn't know that!" said one commenter on social media. But, some think it should be called out more often.

An Aussie caravanner has taken to social media to warn others about her simple mistake which resulted in her receiving a $660 fine in the mail.

Whilst she and many others had no idea what she did was illegal and would even warrant a fine in the first place, others said that given how dangerous it can be, people should be caught more often.

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Image: iStock.

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“A warning perhaps??? No, $660 fine will be in the mail”

A Victorian woman has taken to Facebook after a simple mistake she had no idea was illegal resulted in her receiving a $660 fine.

The woman said that she had spent a few nights in a cavan park in Cooma, New South Wales, during which time she took the opportunity to dispose of her caravan’s waste water. However, when she left, she didn’t close the grey water tank - the beginning of the problem.

“After spending 3 nights at Cooma caravan park, with sullage connected, I ran a sink of clean hot soapy water through the pipes and disconnected the sullage hose but did not close the grey tank,” the woman wrote.

“Departed said park and headed up hill, police car coming down the hill did a u turn and pulled us over.

“Officer claimed we let effluent leave our caravan as we left the park and some more which he drove through as he followed us up the hill. Yes some residual water did come out of the grey tank as the angle changed. A warning perhaps??? No, $660 fine will be in the mail.”

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“I don’t understand!”

Many commenters on the post agreed with the woman, saying that the problem is no big deal, and hardly warranted a fine.

“It's not the shit tank it's just a bit of soapy water. Not going to hurt anything,” one person said.

“I would contest that for sure,” another commenter added.

“I don’t understand. It’s just water not sewage. What are people putting through their tanks and pipes,” a third person agreed.

Image: iStock.

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“You deserve every dollar on that fine”

However, others said she deserved to be fine, noting how quickly grey water turns to black water - which can cause environmental contamination - and can be dangerous to motorcyclists and other drivers when left on the road.

“Good see cops should fine more. So many caravans do it horrible to follow behind,” said one commenter.

“Wish they would do it down here in Tassie. The amount of vans that let it leak all over the road is terrible,” another agreed.

“Glad to hear [of a] person getting fined for this. People should learn to empty their grey water tank into the correct place and close the tank. Get sick of being sprayed from grey water from tanks as people drive up the road,” a third said.

“It's freaking gross.. you deserve every dollar on that fine,” said another person.

“Oops I didn't know that... thanks for telling”

Regardless, very few were aware that the mistake was fineable, so whether they agreed or disagreed, they sure were thankful to be made aware.

“Oops I didn't know that...thanks for telling,” said one person.

“I had no idea you weren’t meant to travel with the grey water tank open!!! It absolutely makes sense. 3.5 months on the road …. Whoops! Thank you for sharing,” another agreed.

“Oh no! First time I’ve heard that happening!” said a third.

“That is a great lesson. I often travel with the tap open with nothing in the tank but for the risk of $660 I will rethink that,” another person said.

Originally published as 'No warning': Little-known mistake earns caravanner a $660 fine