In Australia, it is legally permissible to hang items from car mirrors, but it is possible to get fined for items that impede the driver’s visibility. This law is different in each territory, meaning it is crucial for drivers to understand the laws regarding visibility in order to avoid road safety issues and legal problems.
Legal Overview: State-by-State Nuances
While some states like Western Australia have explicit bans on obstructing items hanging from the rearview mirror, others do not have laws that directly address the problem. This is the case in NSW and Queensland where the police have discretion to issue fines to drivers for obstructions. Fines are not uniform and this differs from Western Australia and this is most likely due to different interpretations of road safety.
Penalties And Common Offences
In Western Australia, for example, a driver incurs a $100 penalty and a single demerit point for a simple air freshener violation, while a driver in New South Wales (NSW) could incur a $410 penalty and three demerit points for similar offences. Victoria issues fines of more than $200 for overt vision obstruction and South Australia fine for severe breaches of the law could go up to $2,500. Regardless of the state, the police retain the discretionary power to issue on-the-spot fines for items which interface with visibility.
Public Awareness And Safety Concerns
The risks of hanging items and the obstructed vision they create increase the chance of an accident happening by making a driver miss a potential hazard and the details surrounding it, which could be a quick-changing flow of traffic or a pedestrian crossing the street. This phenomenon is likely to increase fines for offences related to suspended air fresheners, which many Australian drivers are likely to be oblivious to due to inconsistent enforcement of the law. Recently, safety awareness and advocacy for positive changes in driving behaviour has spiked through campaigns and social network usage.
Guidelines for Drivers
To avoid getting a ticket and for your safety’s sake, make sure to remove from the rearview mirror anything that might obstruct your line of sight. While items like rosary beads and slim air fresheners probably will not get you a ticket, obstructions do become a problem if you have large decorations or multiple items. When you are not sure, it is safer to place your belongings elsewhere in the car that do not obstruct your view or become a distraction while you are driving.
Table: Sample State Penalties for Hanging Objects
| State | Typical Fine | Demerit Points | Specific Law? |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $410 | 3 | Obstruction, not object |
| WA | $100 | 1 | Directly banned |
| Victoria | $200+ | None | Obstruction only |
FAQ
Q1: Is it illegal everywhere in Australia to hang things from my mirror?
No. The law is concerned with obstructed vision, not the item itself, and enforcement of the law varies from state to state.
Q2: Can I hang small things, like beads or slim air fresheners?
As long as they do not obstruct your view, they are usually fine. However, larger items will get you a ticket more easily.
Q3: Could I get demerit points for an air freshener?
Yes. In NSW and WA and several other states, fines for obstructed vision go along with demerit points.
