Driving Unregistered Vehicle Permit after Sunset in Victoria

Hi everyone this is my first post on this forum.

I need some suggestions on the fine I received from the Victoria police. I am a careful driver with a clean driving record, I bought a car from an auction and I drove it home with a UVP (Unregistered Vehicle Permit). It took me few hours to clean the car and put a new battery and it was 8 pm when I finish, the car wash was just 500 meters from my house. I still got pulled over and got fined for driving an "unregistered car". I had the permit but have overseen it that I was not allowed to drive it after sunset. the fine is around $900 which I am not happy to pay, are there any options for me to get out of this?

(Please respect my first post in the comment )

Thanks, everyone.

Comments

  • +27

    https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/limited-use-per…
    The vehicle can only be used on the road between sunrise to sunset

    What time was your drive to the car wash?

    If the sun has truly set, pay the fine…

    • What time was your drive to the car wash?

      I would guess around 6pm, as the OP said it took them a few hours to 'clean' the car and got booked after 8pm when the OP was heading home. Which in Victoria is a good 30 mins after sunset.

      • -3

        Got me wondering. This may not have been the first time, with OP doing this run in an unregistered vehicle.

    • +3

      How long has that rule applied for? I got an UVP back in 2010 and never remember seeing that clause. Had to drive from NSW to Vic as well so kind of had to drive after sunset.

      • Yeah I got one in about 2003 and the only condition I remember was that it was time-limited.

        • +8

          What a strange rule indeed, with the sun rising and setting…

  • +72

    You agreed to the terms and conditions when you downloaded the permit.

    You did not read the terms and conditions.

    Your penalty for agreeing to but not reading and complying with the terms and conditions is $900

    • +5

      I agree… why is it when people break the law or terms and conditions and cop a fine over it, the next call is "BuT tHiS iS jUsT ReVeNuE rAiSiNg!!1!!!1!"

      People don't seem to realise or care that their license is a confirmation slip that says they have read and will adhere to the terms and conditions of that license.

      • +1

        “ignorance of refutation”

      • +2

        I personally have a problem with rules if they go against common sense. But I guess that's just me.

        • +4

          You’ve got every right to object to the rules. I think there are plenty of stupid rules. You can lobby to have them changed if you really object to them.

          Unfortunately you don’t get to choose which rules you obey unless you are prepared to face consequences for breaking them.

          • +2

            @Euphemistic: And of all the silly road rules I can think of, not letting some idiot drive around without personal injury insurance is not really one of them…

      • Because we all know the terms and conditions these days would take a year to read!

    • +7

      What? It's on the (profanity) permit it's not hidden in a wall of text

  • +7

    What if you'd been involved in an accident?

    Police are deadly on unregistered vehicles. While the fine may appear excessive to you I bet you'll never drive an unregistered car again outside permit times.

    Do the crime. Pay the fine.

    Why do you think you should get out of it?

    • +1

      You get a permit and and have insurance.

      • +12

        The insurance is only valid while the permit is valid. As pointed out in the rest of the replies, the permit does not allow you to drive after sunset or to a carwash. Therefor the OP had no insurance.

        • +5

          The insurance is only valid while the permit is valid.

          I don't know why so many people don't understand this. If you're operating outside of the terms/conditions/rules, insurance does not (usually) apply: you'll probably find your policy is now void. (note: am not talking from experience)

    • +1

      I always find that the fine system is screwed. It is like you get the max penalty if you commit the crime without considering your history. Seriously, I you hit someone in the face and go to court, if you have a good character history and can get away with just good behaviour bond etc. So is not a cent in penalty.

      However, if you are driver with a perfect record for 25 years but one day you went 3ks over the speed limit and you get ping for few hundred dollars of fine….

      Every time they say it is to save lives not for money raising. Death toll is still similar every year. Education by penalty is not the best method doesn't fix the real problem.

      • +3

        The fine is not the max penalty. The fine is your admission of guilt and automated penalty. You can elect to go to court if you want.

        • +2

          99.9999% of drivers won't go to court because is not worth their time. Why can't driver with very good driving history get fined without a warning?

          The system should penalise repeat offenders, not good people!

          • +4

            @kfcfatfat: you know there is a system of appeals for drivers with good driving history right?

            https://www.police.vic.gov.au/official-warnings

          • +6

            @kfcfatfat:

            Why can't driver with very good driving history get fined without a warning?

            You get plenty of warning. You learn the road rules, pass a driving test, get a licence accepting the conditions to drive - which includes knowing the rules about what will cause you to get a fine. Then you get signs everywhere, advertising campaigns and plenty of news articles and threads about fines.

            For many fines there is leniency, but you need to apply. As above, the fine system is a shortcut to guilt and penalty. You can choose to fight it in a court, with the risk of copping court costs if you lose and losing a day’s wages while you attend.

      • +2

        It is like you get the max penalty if you commit the crime

        You're not meant to enjoy paying fines.

      • +2

        It is like you get the max penalty if you commit the crime

        do it a few more times and you'll find out what the max penalty is

      • +2

        The maximum penalty for driving an unregistered vehicle is over $4000 for first offence. Also you get a criminal record.

        However, if you are driver with a perfect record for 25 years but one day you went 3ks over the speed limit and you get ping for few hundred dollars of fine…

        That sounds pretty far fetched. The usual case is that the driver with the "perfect record" has been driving well over 3 km/h on many occasions before one day getting caught.

      • People will say all sorts of reasons and good intentions etc. But at the end of the day the government / councils and everyone is involved in it for the no.1 reason of revenue raising. Secondly it is to actually show they are trying to do something or making changes etc. If they really wanted to make change, i think it would be more around planning of roads as well as simplification of road signs, having only a few different speed changes so people all know what speed to go at / what speed the others are going at. Better town planning for high density areas. Encouraging students to use public transport as opposed to having parents go slow then speed up, double park and triple park, do U-turns etc, all desperately trying to get as close a parking spot to the schools to drop the kids off. I see so many accidents occur because of this.

        Saying all that, you will never get it to 0 Death tolls, as i guess there will always be the freak incidents. Bringing in so many toll roads and making sydney the most tolled city in the world, just pushes majority of traffic to side streets and other roads packed up with people and lights which again will have more accidents. I remember when they brought back the already paid for m4 toll (due to one flimsy extra lane for part of it), The sheer amount of traffic increases i saw in other roads not just near that area but quite far from it, as the amount of people who were going through all sorts of alternate routes to avoid the tolls…

        • You call it revenue raising. I call it stupidity tax. Do something stupid (break a well known law) and contribute to the hospitals and schools. It’s a voluntary tax. You don’t have to pay it if you don’t want. It’s not like they hide the rules so no one can tell what they are doing wrong.

          Some people pay thousands to attend concerts, others pay to enjoy higher speed driving.

          • @Euphemistic: Well not really, Because there are on some roads crazy speed changes from one part to another. And then you have a cop waiting at a speed change point and down the bottom of a hill. Just trying to catch out people. Nothing to do with safety.

            • +1

              @lonewolf: "Yeah nah bruv I can't see speed limit signs or use my brakes but I'll totally see if a kid runs on the road and stuff"

              • @GrueHunter: Actually yes because then your eyes are on the road and not off the road looking at signs…

  • +7

    are there any options for me to get out of this?

    Not really…. All the details you have given don't change the conditions on the permit or provide a valid reason to be out after sunset.

    Going to a car wash is a pretty grey area for use of the UVP permit even during the day time on a preparing the vehicle permit.

    BTW Which permit did you have? Was it a single trip/journey or preparing the vehicle for registration permit? How many days?

    • +1

      it was preparing the vehicle for registration, I was late from the garage, and then took me time for the battery to be changed and then I washed and vacuumed it.

      • +37

        Washing and vacuuming is not required to prepare the vehicle for a RWC and registration.

        • +6

          Agreed. When I got a UVP for my car and drove it from interstate, I made sure to drive direct to the Blue Slip shop (during daylight) and parked it 10m from its entrance. I didn't even want to drive it home and then to the shop the next morning (drove in on a Sunday) in the event police decided to chuck a fit and fine me, even though I had a reasonable explanation.

          Washing and Vacuuming can easily be done at home and really isn't necessary other than aesthetics. All Blue Sip place check from is VIN and Engine number matching among other normal roadworthy items, so really OP's fault that he got booked.

          I feel for OP though, its not a fine I'd think is fair but given the potential consequences its a risk you took and failed at. I hope you didn't disclose to the officer that you were washing the car, because there's no way out then. If you didn't then you might as well just try and ask for leniency and say that you were delayed from leaving the mechanics/auction site as you needed to source and install a new battery and you were on your way home. Try and use your good history to some use.

          Don't know the rules in VIC but in NSW, if you have 10 years clean history you'd likely have some luck in this sito based on clean history alone, but it'd be highly unlikely to get off scot free for driving against the terms of a UVP.
          If you like to gamble, you can go for whatever the Section 10 equivalent is south of the border, and admit guilt without being penalised at court. This carries risk of the judge disagreeing with your opinion and increasing the fine and having court fees included. It depends on the mood of the judge, as I have had a High School teacher get off being unlicensed as he forgot to change the mailing address after moving and thus forgot to renew, but admitted full fault and renewed his licence before attending.

          • +1

            @JDMcarfan:

            I feel for OP though, its not a fine I'd think is fair

            On face value for what the OP has said, it seems 'tough' to get this fine, but as I hinted at below, I wonder if there was a piece of the puzzle the OP forgot to tell us? Clearly something was done to draw the attention of the police. Maybe the OP came out of the car wash sideways? :)

            Which if this was the case, then the fine wouldn't be tough anymore in my books.

            • @JimmyF: Yeah fair comment, can't talk to their specifics of the incident but I'd reasonably expect an officer to show some discretion given the circumstances that have been described. OP may truly have brought this on himself, by acting out and hasn't been willing to disclose the fact here.

            • +1

              @JimmyF:

              I feel for OP though, its not a fine I'd think is fair

              On face value for what the OP has said, it seems 'tough' to get this fine,

              I feel for OP and it's tough to cop the fine, but I wouldn't say its unfair. What if OP had an accident and crippled/killed someone? They're operating outside the terms of the permit so will likely find themselves completely uninsured. Could OP afford to pay expenses/fees/damages to whoever they killed/crippled?

              • @Chandler: You quote makes it look like I said it wasn't fair. I never said the fine wasn't fair that was someone else… I said it was tough to get.

                The OP was outside the terms of the permit. The 'tough' part was as per the OP story, less than 500m from home and not long after sunset. The police could have issued a warning etc if they wanted to. Which is why I feel there is more to the story ;)

                • @JimmyF: Based on how many people seem to estimate distance and time it was probably 2k-5k from home and OP had dinner and washed up after it got dark and then went for the ill fated drive.

              • @Chandler: Actually, in Victoria the TAC Covers ALL vehicles and people regardless if they are registered or not. So any injuries would be fully covered to anyone…

                However normal insurance wouldn’t cover damage to vehicles (although judging by the other thread there are lots of people driving without insurance anyway).

                OP, your only real option would be to challenge and say you purchased/picked up the vehicle that day and it took longer to get home (you are allowed to drive after dark providing it’s the most direct route home after purchasing the vehicle)

        • +1

          I mean you could argue it is

          Cleaning the headlights etc to get to a safe standard, cleaning any seeping oil etc

          Like its a stretch, but could could maybe argue it.

      • +10

        I doubt the officer would be concerned about you being out after sunset, it is going to the car wash which isn’t needed for RWC.

        • Yes I think it is this as well. As I said above, even during the daytime it is a pretty grey area to be using a UVP permit for a car wash visit as this isn't needed as part of preparing the vehicle for registration.

          I mean you're pretty unlucky to get pulled over and fined like the OP did on this '500m trip'. But then maybe the OP left out the bit about how they came out of the car wash sideways and then screamed down the road before getting pulled over. Who knows.

          • +2

            @JimmyF: So it was a commodore.

          • +1

            @JimmyF: You don't need to DO anything to get pulled over. Ever heard of ANPR (automatic number plate recognition systems) ?
            In this case the police most likely used something called "eyes". It lets them see that a car doesn't have a license plate since it's supposed to be removed on unregistered vehicles.

            • @wyrmy:

              You don't need to DO anything to get pulled over.

              No you don't, but generally the people pulled over are doing 'something' that draws attention. In the OP case it could have been driving a car without a number plate as per the UVP permit rules or coming out of the car wash sideways ;)

              Ever heard of ANPR (automatic number plate recognition systems) ?

              Yes, but they are not standard issue in every car, so highly doubt this was the case.

  • +3

    you are so unlucky.

    • -4

      Why?

      • +6

        the car wash was just 500 meters from my house

    • Do cop cars in Vic have tech that automatically detect unregistered number plates?

      If so, just unlucky not 'so unlucky'

      • -1

        Yes but probably no plates at all. Just an A4 permit stuck to windscreen (bottom left I think it stipulates)

        • "Just an A4 permit"

          after sunset.

          I'm not sure I'd have been that silly [Sans plates] @ 18, tho…

  • +9

    I think you’ll find the onus is on you to read the conditions of the UVP, driving at night makes sense to be one of them and the other is that you can’t use it like a normal car (doing shopping etc) until it is registered.

    The usual conditions include… (Full conditions here https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/registration/limited-use-per…)

    • drive it from the place of purchase to place of storage or final registration (i.e if you are driving it interstate)

    • drive it to the mechanics for repairs or getting a rwc

    The conditions wouldn’t allow you to take it to be washed. Even if it was a ex rental and is perfectly roadworthy that is the conditions.

  • +2

    Depending on the day, you can use this in your favour:
    https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/australia/melbourne

  • +10

     I had the permit but have overseen it that I was not allowed to drive it after sunset. 

    To dark to read the permit I suppose.

    P.s. Carwashing an unregistered vehicle.. epic.

      1. unregistered could be UN-radworthy (headlight may not work , windscreen may need replacement)
        2, unregistered vehicle usually does not have any number plates , restriction help to reduce crime
  • +1

    Member since….almost 2 years ago.

    Good to see people are now preparing and creating Ozbargain accounts before they need to ask for advice.

    Oh, and pay the fine if you were driving the car past Sunset.

  • I'm sure the police get all kinds of excuses and reasons for someone doing something they're not allowed to.

    It seems you now know that you shouldn't be driving an unregistered vehicle contrary to the conditions of the temporary permit.

  • +3

    What was the exact day and time? The official sunset times have been towards 8pm this month. Last month, it was up to 8:30pm.

    If it's within 5 minutes or so, then I'd argue it. But anything else.. .well… it's $900.

  • +2

    Go contest it in court and ask for clemency. Might cost more, though. Sucks that we're not rich, eh?

  • +2

    Oof $900 for that.
    That's like the same as low range drink driving.
    But yeah, pretty sure you're only allowed to drive it between the auctioneers and home.

    Bloody lousy luck though, surely you could've timed it better, unless the cops were watching your for hours in which case maybe you're subsidising their stakeout fees.

  • Username does not check out

    • +1

      On the contrary

      Got offered a fine and now needs to deal with it.

  • Pay the fine.

  • I'm just "I can remember the last time I used a Car Wash costing less" lol

  • Write a letter and ask for an official warning. You have a good record and its not a serious, safety offence. Can't hurt to try. Good luck.. https://www.police.vic.gov.au/official-warnings

    • +5

      driving without compulsory third party insurance is not serious? I disagree.

      • +3

        What risk is there to other road users?

        • The risk is probably no different to driving a registered vehicle. Are you saying it’s not important to register a vehicle?

          • +3

            @Euphemistic: How did you come to that conclusion? All I'm saying is that it doesn't cause risk to other road users like speeding, running red lights etc. Maybe try reading the policy if you want further understanding. I didn't think it was that complicated.

            • +1

              @Fredorishi: I think you're missing the point: he was driving unregistered. You may consider that the risk of causing enough damage to ruin his life is low, but the consequences of such an event would be enormous. Any sane person would consider the consequence in conjunction with the risk, and never under any circumstances be behind the wheel of an unregistered vehicle on a public road.

              • +4

                @SlickMick: Anyone would think some members of this group had never done a thing wrong in their lives. Sheesh. Again. Tell me what the risk is for someone else on the road from this offence? I'm not missing the point at all. I'm ex-Vicpol, I think I have a pretty good understanding of the offence/risk.

                • +3

                  @Fredorishi:

                  I'm ex-Vicpol,

                  Then you of all people should understand the risks associated with driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle on public roads.

                  The risk is not associated with the road conditions or the mechanical aspect of the car, but the ramifications of what can happen if an unregistered vehicle is involved in an accident. Who is covered by insurance and who is not and the burden this places on everyone.

                  If it wasn’t such a big deal, or wasn’t a risk, then the fine would be much lower or not exist at all. So no, I’m not buying that you have a “pretty good understanding” of what is at stake.

                  • +2

                    @pegaxs: Once again. Tell me the risk to other road users instead of pontificating. You can't because there is none. Part of the reason the fine is "so high" is people used to not bother paying rego and just cop the fine on the rare occasion they got pulled over. You will notice its now basically the equivalent of rego costs. As has been explained elsewhere, TAC covers injury costs. Your vehicle being registered and insured is covered. All onus is on the op. The policy is there for this exact scenario, a good driver making a rare slip up that has minimal if any affect on anyone else. If you have such an issue with the policy then maybe write a letter and have a whinge to VicPol.

                    • @Fredorishi: Take it from a risk rating perspective: The likelihood is very low. The consequences are quite high. Look up he risk rating table and the risk turns out to be high high. The fine is a reflection of that risk.

                      Extremely unlikely fatality is a high risk. Very Likely minor injury is also high risk.

                      In you time in the force so you let people off with a warning for driving unregistered if they were not 500m from home and collecting the milk for grandma?

                      • +3

                        @Euphemistic: Lol. Now you're just having a laugh, surely? I know I am. Here's the same question asked a different way. Does having an unregistered vehicle INCREASE the risk of fatality to other road users? You folks are good at ignoring the basic question.

                        • +1

                          @Fredorishi: As an exmember of the police force I don’t get why you are defending someone driving unregistered. You are basically saying it’s ok to duck down the street in an unregistered car because it’s not going to cause harm. Is it the same as driving while disqualified? Because if I lost my licence doesn’t mean I can’t drive safe.

                          Yes, driving an unregistered vehicle increases the RISK. It’s already been decided, that’s why we have registration and big fines. Yes, it’s also JUST a piece of paper, but our spiciest works like that.

                          • +3

                            @Euphemistic: Youre making stuff up again. Im not defending him. I'm suggesting he apply for a warning. You have to admit to the offence to get one. Have you actually bothered reading the policy I linked? And you still haven't told me how the op put other road users at risk. You want him to pay the fine. I think he's got a good chance of getting a warning. Let's just agree to disagree. Maybe the op can let us know how he goes.

                • +1

                  @Fredorishi: You're the first cop I've known to minimise risk.
                  Okay the risk might be considered low. There are incidents everyday, but they always happen to someone else.
                  However, you're not considering consequences. What happens if a lawyers' kid runs out on the road?

                  There would be no insurance industry if you were right. But there is, because you're not.

                  Do you own any insurance, or register your vehicles? Why?

                  • @SlickMick: I insure my vehicle and register it to cover myself. Not other road users. I dont think you really know many cops if you don't think they let the odd offence slip through to the keeper. Cops aren't robots..

                    • +1

                      @Fredorishi: The cops I know are anal about risk. It's drilled into you. I bet you were popular with the people who were trusting you with thier lives.

                      You need to think this through. You insure to cover yourself from enormous bills. If you wouldn't drive a car uninsured, you also wouldn't drive a car unregistered (because the registration includes the most important insurance of all).

                • @Fredorishi: Amen! Couldn't agree more.

      • Once again, Victoria doesn’t have compulsory third party, vehicles are covered by TAC EVEN IF THEY ARE UNREGISTERED….

        A friend of the family crashed an unregistered car on private property (farm) and all his medical costs/rehab were covered.

        This isn’t America 😊

        • -3

          Let's not let the facts get in the way of the outrage over this heinous offence!

          • @Fredorishi: clearly, I enjoyed how you segued from police being risk-adverse to whether they are lenient in issuing fines, and have ignored the potential consequences of an incident in an unregistered vehicle from the start.

            • -2

              @SlickMick: Boo hoo. "Potential consequences". Let me.guess, you live in your mum's basement and never go out "in case" you are struck by lightning? The amount of angst over a pissy offence in this thread is honestly ridiculous. Seems there are several people on here who don't live in the real world. The op stuffed up. He'll probably pay the fine and suffer the consequences. I for one really don't care that much any which way. Again, you clearly know ZERO cops. Plenty of them LOVE risk. Why would they join a high pressure, high danger job in the first place of they were "risk averse"? A lot enjoy driving fast, dealing with conflict, etc etc. You really seem like you have very little clue.

              • @Fredorishi: You are totally ignoring that small risk that if he hit a kid or a lawyer in a mercedes he would now be bankrupt.

                There's a big difference between enjoying a dangerous job and not controlling risk.I'm sure any partner you ever had was begging for a transfer, but I'm wondering how you got into the police force with that attitude. I'm guessing there would be an interesting story re why you're an ex-cop.

                I work with people who aren't cut out to work in software development, your colleagues apparently were working with someone not cut out to be a cop.

                • -1

                  @SlickMick: LOL. Zero.cops as I said. You have no clue about my career and just as little clue of what the job is like. You have also reiterated my point that there is no risk to anyone else but the OP. And I bet you still haven't even bothered to read the good driver policy. I mean, do you even have a drivers licence? You sound extremely bitter towards both me and the OP. All over an extremely minor offence. I wonder if you applied for the job and couldn't get in? Issues with being over-zealous? OCD? Hmmm.. Maybe Let's try and stay off the personal stuff and go back to the original point. Minor offence. OP is perfectly entitled to apply for a warning whether you believe so or not.

                  • +1

                    @Fredorishi:

                    All over an extremely minor offence

                    We’ve been trained for ages that driving unregistered is not a minor offence. The size of the fine backs that up. There is an unregistered permit system to allow minor use of a vehicle without rego, but it’s got conditions.

                    • -1

                      @Euphemistic: Yawn. Doesn't attract demerit points and i've already explained why the fine is "so high" You folks are really like dogs with a bone. Wish I was as perfect as you people. Not.

                  • +1

                    @Fredorishi: okay deam cop, over and out. I'm out of negs.

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