WA Main Roads Officers now weighing Caravans/Motorhomes

Silver Anchor · Member

WA Main Roads Officers now weighing Caravans/Motorhomes

KFT · Guru

I will believe it when I see it myself

far too many stories like this going around the internet to know which is fair dinkum and which is fairy tales.

No saying yours is a fairy tale it is just my skepticism acting up.

Silver Anchor · Member

I could post a photo of 1 of these Vans on the back of a drop deck trailer del to a Transport yard in Karratha from the Pt Hedland turnoff for ($500 folding) but that may cause the owner even more embarrassment than they are already suffering.( and they did pay upfront)
Veh Holden Colorado, Van New Age total gross weight was 6740 and yes it has all the fruit plus some. Penalty as yet unknown as it has to go to court

Hylife · Guru

Holy cr@p! six and a half ton!

What was in it?

And behind a Holden Colorado!

Bill B · Guru

Hylife wrote:

Holy cr@p! six and a half ton!
What was in it?
And behind a Holden Colorado!

GCM = Car + Caravan

Desert Dweller · Guru

Hopefully it's implemented in every state & territory. We've spoken to quite a few people that know their rig is overweight but don't give two hoots about it.

Ge · Senior Member

I agree with KFT, we here a lot of these stories even before the new revised laws came into affect last year.
As a transport employee in Perth i do know the dept of transport made a new section called vehicle compliance.

They have vehicle compliance marked on the side, how many vehicle i'm not sure but think no more the five.

They are to busy and under staffed to to concentrate on caravans, on the lookout for trucks and couriers with unsafe loads and vehicles.

Now if this true it would be a first and they must have been bored as i say bigger fish than caravans.

Swoffer · Senior Member

Doubt it would go to court.
Be an on the spot fine and a yellow id reckon .

Salty · Veteran Member

so how/where can we go to check weight compliance and driving rig that doesn't require upgraded, do they get pulled up (Tamworth area till 14th Feb)

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Hi Salty. Unfortunately its up to you to find out all the various weights and if youre compliant, unless you want to go to someone like a caravan repairer and pay him to do it for you (would cost you a bomb). But you need to go to a weighbridge and get your two vehicle weighed, then your caravan (both with all your gear in it) and also get your tow ball weigh measured and then see if your caravan complies (on the VIN plate) and your tow vehicle when hitched together.

For most of us, its akin to rocket science - but no doubt I will get plenty of adverse replies now for saying that.

And for those that disagree - no, I don't support overloaded RVs, although most are - just like most other heavy vehicles (trucks)

If Ge is right, then this recent WA move will be a revenue raising one because the State has dropped so low in its financial standing, it is only ahead of SA and TAS, whereas 2 years ago it was No 1 in Aust. All the govt depts are having deep revenue cuts made to them and being told to find more ways to pay their own way, rather than the usual generous annual budget handout. No doubt that's why the Dept of Transport have suddenly done this, as the fines are substantial I'm told

Delta18 · Guru

Salty wrote:
so how/where can we go to check weight compliance and driving rig that doesn't require upgraded, do they get pulled up (Tamworth area till 14th Feb)

Any public weigh-bridge (google for one local to you) will let you weigh your total rig plus van alone & car alone . Usually no charge unless you want an official ticket.

dogbox · Guru

Swoffer wrote:
Doubt it would go to court.
Be an on the spot fine and a yellow id reckon .

it would go to court if they protest /not guilty or mitigating circumstances. if you play the fine different story

-- Edited by dogbox on Friday 29th of January 2016 12:09:41 PM

Swoffer · Senior Member

dogbox wrote:
Swoffer wrote:
Doubt it would go to court.
Be an on the spot fine and a yellow id reckon .
it would go to court if they protest /not guilty or mitigating circumstances. if you play the fine different story

-- Edited by dogbox on Friday 29th of January 2016 12:09:41 PM

Yeh true , but who ever challenges the heavies ?

You pay your ticket , make the necessary changes and go over the pits (meekly ) and be on your way .

Hey Jim · Guru

Swoffer wrote:
dogbox wrote:
Swoffer wrote:
Doubt it would go to court.
Be an on the spot fine and a yellow id reckon .
it would go to court if they protest /not guilty or mitigating circumstances. if you play the fine different story

-- Edited by dogbox on Friday 29th of January 2016 12:09:41 PM
Yeh true , but who ever challenges the heavies ?
You pay your ticket , make the necessary changes and go over the pits (meekly ) and be on your way .

Me full stop.

Not Guilty every time x 3 Not for being over loaded though. Tiny little worms hiding behind trees. revenue raising council people with a stop watch.

If you know the law, the law is on your side. biggrin biggrin biggrin

Jim

Swoffer · Senior Member

Hey Jim wrote:

Me full stop.
Not for being over loaded though.
Jim

But isnt that what this thread is about ?

Ge · Senior Member

Just dug this out for those who are interested.

caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/australian-rv-rules-and-regulations/

http://caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/rv-compliance-heres-know/

go to the link it might just amaze some.
Happy reading.

-- Edited by Ge on Saturday 30th of January 2016 06:24:41 PM

wendyv · Guru

Desert Dweller wrote:
Hopefully it's implemented in every state & territory. We've spoken to quite a few people that know their rig is overweight but don't give two hoots about it.

They may not give two hoots about being overweight, but do they realize that if they have an accident and the rig can be shown to have been overweight, then they are likely to not be covered by their insurance company? It is a big risk to take.

Ge · Senior Member

Hi Guys
Yes Wendyv it is all over Australia it comes under the Chain of responsibility laws ( COR) that have been around since about 2006.
the new revised addition came into effect in June 2015. The laws are all about work place safety
The case of transport if a truck is found to be defective or it's loads not secured properly the the driver, forklift driver company sending
goods and the company receiving them in fact all concern in the chain can be find with big $.
Last year when the revised laws started we heard within days how a person down Bridgetown way was find $3000.00 for not having his
lunchbox/eskie secured in the tray of his ute think its a load of bull.
Anyhow don't read to much into internet rumors be aware and do your own research.
After 45 years as a truckie in livestock and general with some eastern seaboard interstate thrown in i have never seen a caravan pulled over
by the heavies.

Good luck happy traveling and now i am joining the GN set i am no longer the enemy.

GE

-- Edited by Ge on Sunday 31st of January 2016 10:35:16 PM