Latest news with #carsecurity
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Little-known road rule landing Aussies $2k fines
Aussie motorists have been warned of one seemingly minor driving habit that could cost them thousands of dollars in fines. Significant penalties apply to those who flout the lesser-known road rule of leaving your car unlocked or your windows down after parking. However, there is one group of motorists exempt from the rules concerning unlocked doors and window security. In most states, there's a '3-metre rule' that dictates how far you can stray from your parked car without locking it. Essentially, if you move more than 3m away, you must lock your vehicle and secure the windows. Failure to do so could result in a fine. And let's be honest; almost everyone's been guilty of leaving their car unsecured while going for that quick coffee run or dash into a shop, often without a second thought. While leaving your car unlocked may seem a harmless oversight, there's a very good reason for the 3m rule. Improving vehicle security helps prevent car theft and dishonest insurance claims, such as when a vehicle is left unlocked intentionally and a claim is made for an alleged theft. Astor Legal's principal lawyer Avinash Singh explains: 'The reasoning behind the law is to prevent cars from being stolen and then used in more serious crimes,' he said. 'The use of allegedly stolen vehicles making it difficult for police to track down the offenders.' Here is everything you need to know about this often-overlooked rule. New South Wales In NSW, it is illegal to leave a running car unlocked or with a minor inside while unattended. Additionally, drivers must not leave their vehicle unattended with the windows down unless the gap is two centimetres or less. The fine is $114, but if the case goes to court, penalties can reach up to $2200. Queensland In QLD, it's illegal to leave your car unlocked when unattended. Similarly to NSW, you can't leave your vehicle unattended with the windows down unless there is a gap of five centimetres or less. The maximum penalty is $3096, with a fine of $2669 if the car is unlocked with the keys inside. Victoria In Victoria, it is an offence to leave your vehicle unattended without properly securing it, which includes ensuring all windows are fully closed and the car is locked. The on-the-spot fine is $117, with court penalties approaching $600. Western Australia WA follows similar rules to other states regarding vehicle security: you must ensure the doors and windows are secured when leaving your car unattended. The fine for failing to do so is $50. However, there's a stipulation that if you're going to pay for parking, you don't need to lock the car and put the windows up. Tasmania In Tasmania, it's the law to switch off the car, remove the key from the ignition, and ensure that no minors (under 16) are left in the vehicle when unattended. The rules also specify that the doors must be locked and the windows secured (defined as closed or open by up to 2 centimetres). The maximum penalty for leaving your car unlocked is just under $200. Australian Capital Territory In the ACT, you must secure your car when leaving it unattended, ensuring the windows are closed and the doors are locked. Failure to comply can result in a significant fine: 20 penalty units or $3200. Where is South Australia? South Australia is the only state that does not have this law. Regulation 23 of the Road Traffic (Road Rules — Ancillary and Miscellaneous Provisions) Regulations 2014 explicitly exempts drivers in South Australia from needing to lock their doors if away from their vehicle.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Warning over Australia's 'most obscure' road rule attracting $2,000 fines
Australian drivers are expected to know the road rules in their jurisdiction, but every now and then, a lesser-known law catches people off guard. Almost everyone's been guilty of leaving their car unlocked for a quick dash into a shop or to grab a coffee — sometimes without even thinking about it. But in most parts of the country, leaving your car unsecured is actually a fineable offence. Speaking to Yahoo News, Sydney lawyer Avinash Singh branded the rule possibly the country's least known of all. "This is perhaps the most obscure road rule," he said. "Most drivers are completely unaware of it and are usually shocked when the police confront them and explain that they can be fined for leaving their windows and or doors unlocked." While being lesser known, this rule exists to reduce the risk of car theft and break-ins. Leaving a car secured means doors and windows are both properly locked, to ensure it's not an easy target for opportunistic thieves. It also helps protect public safety, as stolen vehicles are often used in further crimes or dangerous driving. In some cases, if an unlocked car is stolen and causes damage, the owner could be partially liable. Overall, the law encourages drivers to take basic precautions and reinforces personal responsibility for securing their property. There is an exception to the rule, Singh, Principal Lawyer at Astor Legal, said. Drivers are allowed, in most cases, to leave a window open by up to two centimetres, which can offer minimal ventilation if, for example, a dog is inside. "The legislation provides a defence if you have a window rolled down less than two centimetres," he said. "If the window is rolled down any more than that, then you will be liable to be fined." He said he's personally heard of these cases being prosecuted in court. "We have seen instances of police issuing fines for this offence. Reasonable police officers will sometimes issue a warning first, however, we have had people elect to go to court to challenge the fines," Singh said. "The most common argument we see drivers making if they have been fined for leaving their windows or doors unlocked, is that the law is illogical and oppressive." In New South Wales, drivers must lock their vehicle and secure the windows if they will be more than three metres away from an unoccupied car. The fine is $114, but if the case goes to court, penalties can reach up to $2,200. Queensland law makes it illegal to leave your car unlocked if you are more than three metres away. The maximum penalty is $3,096, with a $2,669 fine if the car is unlocked with the keys inside. Victoria requires drivers to lock their vehicle and secure the windows when leaving it and moving more than three metres away. The on-the-spot fine is $117, with court penalties approaching $600. 🚘 New camera trial to target drivers breaching road rule in 'real-time' 🔋 Big shift on Aussie roads as electric car market hits 'major milestone' 🚦 Little-known traffic light hack to hit coveted 'green wave' In Western Australia, it's an offence to leave a vehicle unlocked unless someone aged 16 or over remains inside. The maximum penalty is $50. Tasmania requires drivers to lock their car and secure windows when leaving it and moving more than three metres away, with a maximum penalty of just under $200. In the Australian Capital Territory, drivers must lock and secure their vehicle if they will be more than three metres away, unless a person aged 16 or older remains inside. South Australia explicitly exempts drivers from the requirement to lock their doors when leaving the vehicle. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
CNET
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- CNET
Amazon Deals of the Day: Keep Your Car Safe During Memorial Day Road Trips With a RedTiger Dash Cam Now Almost 50% Off
Amazon sells tons of products, with new ones arriving daily. The retail giant carries everything from home essentials to tech gear and wellness items. As much as it loves adding new products, Amazon also loves cutting prices. Deciding which deals are worth grabbing (and which aren't) is a full-time job -- our job, specifically. That's why we scope out the top deals for you. Today, we found the RedTiger F7N Pro dash cam down to it's lowest price ever, saving you over $80. We also found a two-pack of the Kasa smart plugs knocked down to just $12 each. And lastly, we spotted the ThermoMaven smart meat thermometer for almost 40% off. With Memorial Day practically here, many of us are planning out some road trips we might be taking this holiday weekend and even throughout the summer. Sure, we protect our homes when we leave with security cameras and smart locks but what about our cars? A dash cam is a great way to have video evidence, incase of an unfortunate accident. Redtiger makes some pretty affordable dash cams, and now the F7N Pro model is seeing an $81 discount. This dash cam deal is a solid find, as this model has a front and back camera with 4K resolution, plus a parking monitor and a built-in GPS. It's also equipped with night vision so if you're out at night, don't worry, the camera will still record everything you need. It even comes with a 64GB card so you can keep all the footage the camera records. Normally priced at $190, now's your chance to get one for $109, a record-low price. Amazon's Memorial Day sale is also slashing prices on smart home gear. This includes the TP-Link Kasa smart plugs, our favorite affordable smart plugs of 2025. These plugs let you control your power usage, saving you money on your energy bill. Through the app, you can create schedules, set timers, schedules and turn the plugs off and on. They make a great addition to your smart home devices, regardless of if you use Apple Home, Google Home or Alexa. These smart plugs do not require a hub either. Simply connect the plugs to your phone and you're good to go. A two-pack is normally $40 but right now you can grab the pack for just $24, netting each one for just 12 bucks. Plus, it's only $4 more than the record-low price we saw during Black Friday last year. If you're planning on having a barbecue or grilling this Memorial Day weekend, a meat thermometer should be an essential. Grilling or cooking your meat to the correct internal temperature will help you make sure the meat is safe to consume and it helps give you the best bite, too. The ThermoMaven wireless smart meat thermometer is a great choice. It is wireless and uses Bluetooth to send information and alerts to your phone. This meat thermometer has a pretty large range of 3,000 feet in unobstructed environments and 700 feet in obstructed environments. Plus, it has an LED screen so you can read the temp right on the thermometer or on your phone. Its accuracy is also NIST certified, so you know what you're reading is correct. Usually, it runs about $80, but you can save $30 right now, bringing it down to $50. With so many deals on Amazon, deciding which ones are worth your money can be difficult. But CNET combs through what the world's largest online retailer has to offer and gathers the best deals for you.
