For countless Australians, a caravan isn’t just a recreational vehicle; it’s a substantial property investment, a second home, or even a primary residence on wheels.
Yet, a nationwide police crackdown on overweight rigs is exposing a critical vulnerability in these valuable assets, threatening their usability, insurance validity, and ultimately, their market value.
Owners are being served a stern warning: disregard legal weight limits, and your mobile property could become a financial liability, not a cherished asset.
In Queensland, for instance, towing an overweight vehicle carries a $333 fine and three demerit points.
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In New South Wales, the fine goes up to $562 and three dermit points, while in Victoria, it can range from $238 to $1,580 and three dermit points, depending on the extent of the overload.
Fines of up to $591 can be handed out in South Australia and between $130 and $735 in Tasmania.
Police action and public awareness
The heavy fine warning follows a viral social media post in which a Queensland caravan owner cautioned others that police were monitoring roads for vehicles towing over the legal weight limit in the Capricornia region.
“If the limits were excessive, the person would be spoken to about the consequences,” the man stated.
“We were pulled over by the police in Capella, who were doing RBT and weighing caravans. We were informed by the officer that they were weighing all caravans to check how many were on the road that exceeded their weight limits.”
A recent viral photo showing police intercepting heavy vehicles in Queensland has been debunked as old, but police say its resurgence is timely. Source: Facebook
Speaking to Yahoo News about the viral post, shared online last week, Queensland Police clarified that the accompanying photo is actually several years old.
However, they said its resurgence is very timely, as officers continue to focus on enforcing caravan weight compliance across the state.
Since the original photo was taken, police in the Capricornia District have continued to focus on driver education and road safety awareness.
“As part of our ongoing commitment to road safety throughout the Central Region, police will periodically intercept and weigh vehicles towing trailers, caravans, boats and horse floats, and provide unsafe vehicles with directions to fix any issues identified at the next available opportunity,” Yahoo News reports.
“Whilst many of the vehicles weighed have been overweight, the majority of the time this can be corrected by moving items between the vehicle and its van/trailer, and vice versa.”
Industry insights: A widespread issue
Others in the industry have also warned about drivers nonchalantly or unwittingly doing the wrong thing when towing.
Dave Jason, who runs a vehicle and caravan weighing service based in NSW and Queensland, told Yahoo last year that more than 80 per cent of vehicles his team checks before embarking on a trip are over the weight limit and don’t meet roadworthy requirements.
Aussie caravan owners are being put on notice as police look out for overweight rigs.
“Some people are conscientious enough to want to be safe and legal, and some just aren’t. They just don’t care and don’t want to know,” he says.
Throughout Australia, it is mandatory to comply with safety standards related to your vehicle when driving on roads or towing a caravan or trailer.
Drivers are required to secure their load and observe licence restrictions, particularly those applicable to learner and provisional licence holders.
Additional regulations include maintaining a distance of at least 60 metres from other caravans on roads outside built-up areas and ensuring that your speed does not exceed 100 km/h. However, driving at a lower speed is advised under certain conditions.
Above all, drivers must follow the safety guidelines outlined by their vehicle’s manufacturer.
The vehicle owner’s manual specifies the maximum weight and other trailer-related limits suitable for the vehicle. These limits must not be exceeded under any circumstances.
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