The Australians hit the news with stories of the new tactics employed by police forces. If a car if left unlocked in the North East of Melbourne owners can expect the equivalent of a £216 fine. It’s aimed at talking drivers down from leaving their belongings advertised as the break-in rate rises this year.
Leading Sen-Constable Graeme Rust, from the Yarra Ranges traffic management unit, said police had repeatedly warned people in the rural towns of the Yarra Ranges to lock their cars, but were largely ignored. As a result, police have decided to get tough, using a Road Safety law passed by the Victorian state government which allows the authorities to levy a fine on unattended unlocked vehicles.
“Did you know that if you do not switch the engine off, apply the hand brake, close the windows and lock your car you could be fined?” Sen-Constable Rust said.
As one of the commentors said (in not so many words): If they’re not watching out for the robbers, they’re in the sh*t with the cops. I ask what sort of society we’re staring down the barrel of when an honest mistake that endangers nothing but your own private belongings results in a punishable offense. Sometimes I forget to lock my car. Thank the great kangaroo I don’t live in Australia, because there are certain things I like to spend my money on, and I don’t want any sort of enforcement affecting my savings accounts.
Maybe the blood is rushing to their head in upside-down land?
Members of the Dublin police force say that they’re not seeing much of a difference in the numbers of car thieves in the past 4/5 years, but that they are watching car thieves as they “evolve with technology”.
I’ve often found myself on the wrong side of the car-door without my keys and I can tell you that as it stands there’s not a huge need for technology to get in to a car in the first place: maybe it’s the guilt technology that’s improving? Just so long as there’s not going to be a fine if I leave my bank card somewhere accidentally? I’m not sure I could do with a thief in my current accounts and behind the reception desk at the local cop-shop.
Maybe one day I’ll live in a little shack on a beach somewhere simpler.
