Aussie driver slapped with $2,580 fine after trying to save $20 with dodgy act
Drivers who sneakily dump their rubbish on Australian roadsides can be hard to catch. But Queensland authorities have used video evidence to catch a man entering a conservation area and leaving behind a trailer full of household waste.
If he'd got away with it, the man would have saved $20.90 in fees at Townsville's tip. But instead, he'll have to pay a fine of $2,580 for carrying out the illegal act.
The investigation was sparked by the discovery of empty boxes, an old air conditioner, a broken washing basket, and other junk the man no longer wanted. Determined to find out who was responsible, they scanned through footage taken by remote cameras.
Looking back to March 16, they spotted a ute carrying a pile of rubbish driving into the Townsville Town Common Conservation Park. The same vehicle was then seen leaving the park with an empty tray.
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Jackie McKeay, the executive director of waste enforcement at DETSI, revealed the man admitted responsibility and then returned to clean up his mess. Not only is dumped rubbish unsightly, it's also a pollution and fire risk.
'This fine is a reminder to Queenslanders that our remote cameras can be anywhere at any time,' McKeay said.
'We take a zero-tolerance approach to illegal dumping, and we investigate every report we receive.'
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If you spot someone dumping rubbish in Queensland and want to dob them in, you can do so here.
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