Driving Manual On Auto License.

[jezza boii]

Couldn't find a solid answer anywhere on the net about this.

Have heard multiple stories. Some people say "no demerits lost and $150 fine" and another said "$400 fine and 3 demerits". Very confusing.

Last night I was caught standing next to a manual car which is in my name. Obviously yes I do drive it illegally, but I wasn't at the time.

They told me I would be receiving something in the mail.

A) Can they fine me for standing next to my car?

B) If they did, what are the penalties? Not so much worried about the fine. The demerits are my concern.

Before you flame me, yes I realise I was in the wrong. I'm not denying that. Only doing this temporarily because I won't be able to resit my license for another month or so.

[blind_elk]

According to the VicRoads website (http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Licenc...intOffences.htm), this is not an offence that attracts demerit points.

[jezza boii]

That's what I thought when I decided to break the law in the first place...

And wouldn't they have issued me a fine on the spot rather than mailing it?

[Birds]

I thought you were off your P plates? Because on full licence you can drive a manual even if you got an auto licence in the first place...

As for fines on the spot and mailing...you'll get one. I got told sometime last year that I'd get a fine in the mail and I did. Cop couldn't tell me on the spot how much the fine was going to be or how many points...so I'd say they mail them out to you if they either CBF or they don't know off by heart what the offence incurs as a penalty.

As for standing next to your car...well unless it was at your house I guess the clear assumption is you were driving it. To draw a long bow I guess it's like carrying a gun around and being done for carrying a weapon without a licence even though you weren't using it at the time or had no intention to.

[jezza boii]

Thanks Birds. That clears things up a little bit.

And nah I'm still on my P's for a while. I don't turn 21 until towards the end of the year.

[GTR-N1]

EE-AW-EE-AW...Flashing lights...

You mean you didn't chuck it into 1st > putt along in 1st > brake whilst in 1st > kangaroo it in 1st > stall it in 1st and then...

ask the nice policeman, "Why is this damn footrest going into the floor?"

Oh edit: you were only standing next to it? I can't understand then, how you could stand next to my car and get booked for that too!

In NSW, my mechanic's wife owns his car - and she doesn't even have a licence. She pays the insurance because she works in the credit union that insures it ie. her own car.

[Jack-]

Yeah it would be easy to get out of it if you write a letter after you receive the fine.

[paulr33]

no idea re: points and fines but...

your insurace could be void if they are looking for excuses to not pay out a claim and realise its a manual car and you have an auto licence

[saff_cossie]

Was the pic in your avatar taken shortly before the cops arrived or was that as they told you to expect something in the mail?

Off P's is not an issue as someone else has said. On P's, I have seen nothing either from a few years back but given that the the P plate legislation has been tightened with different colour P's etc now in the past 2 ish years, it wouldnt surprise me if something has snuck in.

Standing next to it, would be an interesting to see how they approach it. FYI - I wouldn't admit anything on the forums.

[Ruffels]

hahah unlucky, although you broke the law and you know it... im all about getting out of silly offenses such as these!

fight it on the grounds that it is not illegal to register any car based on your licence conditions... eg you could register a lamborghini if you really wanted too... just cant drive one,...

and that they did not specifically witness you operating the vehicle... so therefore no laws broken

dont like your chances, but who cares, give it a go i say,

having said that, i got caught riding a gsxr-750 on my bike restirctions the other day, everyone told me... dont worry about it... its just a $109 fine.. no points

boy were they all wrong lol

[KURAUN]

lol mark wat was the outcome for it?

[Ruffels]

3 points, $255 fine

LOL.. expensive... but fun test ride of my mates bike!

the cop was cool about it though, went about it very professional way, didnt talk down to me, and didnt make me feel like an idiot... just told me what i did wrong, and what the fine will be.

even took me for a spin in the highway patrol SS and showed me how the radar detector works (now thats some scary shit people... dont speed)

[Charles89]

My mate got done a while back, maybe mid last year?

He just got a fine on the spot and the officer had to park his car in the side street.

[UNR33L]

ok im not even going to read the replys cos i can speak first hand. and it was petette so it would of been max penalty

when i got my car i had a auto license (my cars manual) booked the test in at vic roads but 2 month delay, and within those 2 months i got pulled over, just a fine around $148 i think it was no points.

edit: and no he didn't care that i had it booked in to resit the test oh and also when you resit the test it doesnt reset your Ps just print you off a new license without the "A"

[W0rp3D]

Did you admit to driving it, unless you did then i doubt that you will hear anything more about it.

[KURAUN]

3 points, $255 fine

LOL.. expensive... but fun test ride of my mates bike!

the cop was cool about it though, went about it very professional way, didnt talk down to me, and didnt make me feel like an idiot... just told me what i did wrong, and what the fine will be.

even took me for a spin in the highway patrol SS and showed me how the radar detector works (now thats some scary shit people... dont speed)

lol yeh, expensive thats for sure

ah thats pretty sick never heard of a cop doing that before

[R31Nismoid]

Ye standing next to the car is not grounds for being fined for it, not a chance.

If you had a friend with you, manual license, for all the Officer knows that person was driving the car.

Its not illegal to own or register a manual car on auto license, just illegal to drive it.

I think that is one EASY fine to disprove. As that is all the law is. What you can and cannot prove.

If the officer cannot prove you were driving (ie, saw you), then it was incorrect for them to fine you.

[Birds]

Well the basics of it are...if you didn't have a friend with you then they have something of probable cause given the car had to get there somehow - unless it was parked at home. And if you admitted to the cop that u were driving it well that's as good as him seeing you drive it and they can/will charge you on that. Also, Ash and I both know that some police aren't afraid to say what they "saw" and have the energy to follow it up in court. If you did have a friend on the otherhand you have a very plausible situation as long as you didn't admit anything...I.e. You're getting off your Ps soon so you bought a manual car and your friend is taking you out for a spin in it. Unfortunately we don't always think this clearly on the spot in a situation with red and blue lights. Regardless, no harm in challenging it...you don't have much to lose by writing a letter. Don't take it to court though, shit will not be worth it.

[BeEnAr]

just pay the $100 or so dollars it is and go and get your Manual license! I did it when I was on my P's and went from an auto to manual car, you don't get L plates either, just a sign on the car that says "Driver Under Instruction" takes all of 15mins and you're done, you don't have to do the written test just the driving one.

It may just save you money in the long run.

[krzysiu]

Ye standing next to the car is not grounds for being fined for it, not a chance.

If you had a friend with you, manual license, for all the Officer knows that person was driving the car.

Its not illegal to own or register a manual car on auto license, just illegal to drive it.

I think that is one EASY fine to disprove. As that is all the law is. What you can and cannot prove.

If the officer cannot prove you were driving (ie, saw you), then it was incorrect for them to fine you.

He told me he was sitting in the drivers seat when it happened.