26 July 2009

Police Wrap - 26 July

| johnboy
Join the conversation
17

1. Carmageddon comes to Greenway:

    ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to a collision involving a motor vehicle and two pedestrians early yesterday (Saturday, July 25) morning.

    About 2.20am, a 19-year-old Richardson man driving a Nissan Pulsar struck two pedestrians in the carpark near PJ O’Reilly’s pub, Reed Street, Tuggeranong.

    One of the males sustained leg injuries and the other minor injuries and were conveyed to The Canberra Hospital by ACT Ambulance.

    The 19-year-old driver of the vehicle was arrested and conveyed to the ACT Regional Watch house where he where he subsequently returned a positive blood alcohol reading of 0.074.

    He is expected to attend the ACT Magistrates Court on Monday (July 27) to face charges of culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm, drink drive and driving an unregistered vehicle.

    Police are appealing for any witnesses who may have seen the incident to contact Crime Stoppers.

    If you can help police contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

Join the conversation

17
All Comments
  • All Comments
  • Website Comments
LatestOldest
Woody Mann-Caruso6:13 pm 27 Jul 09

No extra step – you just give the forms you fill out to make a CTP claim to the Nominal Defendant rather than NRMA. I’m happy to pay for something like this too.

I figured they’d be able to chase soem fund or bucket, but it’s an extra step… and we all pay for it, I see. Still, I’d rather that than people left destitute by the injury.

Woody Mann-Caruso3:26 pm 27 Jul 09

Ah, here it is:

The Nominal Defendant is a statutory office which exists to enable persons injured by unregistered vehicles without CTP insurance or by unidentified vehicles (eg hit and run accidents) to be compensated. The Nominal Defendant is funded by levies on ACT CTP insurers (currently NRMA Insurance) and the ACT and Commonwealth Governments. Where possible, the Nominal Defendant also recovers costs of claims from the at fault driver of an unregistered vehicle.

Woody Mann-Caruso3:21 pm 27 Jul 09

ant said :

The car wasn’t registered, which means they’re not covered by compulsory third property for their injuries

Seriously? That’s pretty f.cked up. Isn’t there some ACT gubmint fund to cover this sort of case? I seem to remember reading about it, but probably getting my wires crossed with something else.

Igglepiggle said :

Jivrashia said :

So having a good night out (i.e. going on a bender) responsibly is to have a pillow and a doona ready in the back seat of your car? (and a couple of bottled water for re-hydrating)

No. Going on a bender responsibly is to either have a non-drinking designated driver, or enough cash for a cab home!

So personal responsibility is your least-favoured option?

It’s doubly rough for the people who were injured. The car wasn’t registered, which means they’re not covered by compulsory third property for their injuries, which means they have to sue the 19 year old driver for their medical costs/lost earnings etc. rotten.

Jivrashia said :

So having a good night out (i.e. going on a bender) responsibly is to have a pillow and a doona ready in the back seat of your car? (and a couple of bottled water for re-hydrating)

I can live with that.

No. Going on a bender responsibly is to either have a non-drinking designated driver, or enough cash for a cab home!

The bouncers couldnt do anything. For startes it was on the other side of the car park (near Dan Murphy’s) and what is a bouncer going to do… how are they supposed to stop a drunk idiot in a car.

If you were there you would have seen how crazy it was and that no one could help.

hahhahaha i wondered why glass, blood etc was all over the pj’s car park. Doesnt suprise me the bouncers their are as useless as tits on a bull.

So having a good night out (i.e. going on a bender) responsibly is to have a pillow and a doona ready in the back seat of your car? (and a couple of bottled water for re-hydrating)

I can live with that.

Those days have changed. The law regarding this has been overhauled and you only get done DUI if you are driving the vehicle (obviously) or attempting to put it in motion. Sit or sleep in it all you like but start it and put it in gear and you’re in strife.

bd84 said :

You can also get booked for DUI while sleeping on the back seat of the car if you have the keys in your possession or close to you (assuming you’re the only person in the car), I believe a way around that is by locking them in the boot of the car.

Not exactly true, refer to Section 21 of the Road Transport (Alcohol and Drugs) Act 1977.

If you have not started or attempted to start the vehicle, and you do not intend to drive until your blood/alcohol conentration is below the legal limit, then you would not be convicted.

Sleeping in the back seat with the keys in your pocket shows the intention not to drive. Sleeping in the drivers seat, or having the keys in the ignition (or both) might be a different story.

bd84 said :

The only place you couldn’t get booked is when you’re driving on a private property. You can also get booked for DUI while sleeping on the back seat of the car if you have the keys in your possession.

This used to raise a dilemma for me in younger days. Risk driving home or do the responsible thing and sleep it off in the pub carpark. Where is the incentive to not risk driving home and be in bed 5min later, or risk sleeping in the car for 2-3hrs, the whole time committing an offence of DUI. My solution was to park a short walk from the pub and sleep in the car, that way when the police do their carpark patrol, you’re nowhere near. Seems to defeat the purpose theyre trying to encourage of not driving drunk.

The only place you couldn’t get booked is when you’re driving on a private property. You can also get booked for DUI while sleeping on the back seat of the car if you have the keys in your possession or close to you (assuming you’re the only person in the car), I believe a way around that is by locking them in the boot of the car.

Anna Key said :

Can you be done for DUI and an unreg vehicle whilst still in the carpark? Is it because it is a public carpark?

Anna – I think you can be done for DUI anywhere. I had a friend who got smashed, walked to his car in Lonsdale street (winter), started the engine to clear the windscreen and warm it up and fell asleep. Even though the car wasn’t moving and he was asleep he was booked for DUI – effectively “in control” of a vehicle. Mind you, that wasn’t as bad as when he decided to urinate on the windscreen of a parked car in the same street a week later and when the frost melted he saw the two police who had booked him the previous week sitting in the front.

But that was years ago – he’s now a senior exec in the public service…

Can you be done for DUI and an unreg vehicle whilst still in the carpark? Is it because it is a public carpark?

Felix the Cat5:54 pm 26 Jul 09

I noticed a Magna station wagon that looks like it collided with a largish tree on the middle traffic island at the intersection of Drakeford Dr and Isabella Dr. No sign of any occupants.

Daily Digest

Want the best Canberra news delivered daily? Every day we package the most popular Riotact stories and send them straight to your inbox. Sign-up now for trusted local news that will never be behind a paywall.

By submitting your email address you are agreeing to Region Group's terms and conditions and privacy policy.