permits

[getin]

g'day all,i'm after information on permits for the pennefather river region and was wondering if it's necessary to get the permits needed now or just get them when we're there,there's 5-6 trucks with 2 bodies in each cheers

[ant]

You can get the permits when you are in Weipa. There are a few places to get them from. Either the Napranum Shire Council (don't go there if you have any grog in the vehicle), or the Weipa 4wd fishing and camping store in the Woolies complex.

Don't forget that Pennefather falls under the Alcohol Management Plan and the current legislation is zero alcohol, unless of course you are on the northern side, then you come under the NPA region.

Hope this makes sense.

[getin]

thanks ant, i was under the impression you could'nt get to the other side because they had closed it to the public

[ant]

thanks ant, i was under the impression you could'nt get to the other side because they had closed it to the public

Not sure of that one. Best to check with the Mapoon Shire Council.

[getin]

whats the consequence of getting caught with alcohol in your possession mate ,do they get really upset or is it only if your selling the stuff to the locals because whatever booze i take up there with me is for personal use only cheers:

[Scorcher]

whats the consequence of getting caught with alcohol in your possession mate ,do they get really upset or is it only if your selling the stuff to the locals because whatever booze i take up there with me is for personal use only cheers:

Getin,

This may not be the most recent link, but it will give you an idea. There are different alcohol limits, varying from community to community, so it's worthwhile checking. There is another thread on Alcohol Limits under General Discussion (page 2), so have a squiz there at the3 comments also.

http://www.atsip.qld.gov.au/communities/alcohol-limits/community-information/

$37,500 fine & confiscation of vehicle isn't what I call "getting really upset" !!

Regards

Scorcher

[geoffjy]

I agree with Scorcher. It would all depend on the copper pulling you over. If he/she is having a nice day and believes you are genuinly un-aware of the alcohol limit you might get off with a stern warning.

It is not worth the expense for the sake of having a couple of beers in the back of your car.

[getin]

thanks fellas thats useful information because i thought you could have a carton with you any where on the cape as long as you weren't selling it to the locals so thanks for that

[Scorcher]

I agree with Scorcher. It would all depend on the copper pulling you over. If he/she is having a nice day and believes you are genuinly un-aware of the alcohol limit you might get off with a stern warning.

It is not worth the expense for the sake of having a couple of beers in the back of your car.

Hey Geoff,

Have you got any recent stories of anybody being caught up your way defying the alcohol limits?

It would be interesting to know whather the new regulations are actually being REGULATED ?

Regards

Scorcher

[geoffjy]

Hey Geoff,

Have you got any recent stories of anybody being caught up your way defying the alcohol limits?

It would be interesting to know whather the new regulations are actually being REGULATED ?

Regards

Scorcher

Yes Scorcher, they are regulated. Alcohol is being confiscated a bit lately. The worst case scanario i heard was 2 guys near Weipa. They got fined pretty bad. That happened about 2 years ago. A few people have been pulled up as well who have been bringing alcohol from Thursday Island across to the mainland in their boats.

[Nedly]

Hey Geoff,

Have you got any recent stories of anybody being caught up your way defying the alcohol limits?

It would be interesting to know whather the new regulations are actually being REGULATED ?

Regards

Scorcher

I heard of a bloke getting nailed for carrying alcohol into Hope Vale, I think that was the place.
Supposed to have happened in early '07.

Also heard that following a rodeo, or something, in Hope Vale the cops blocked the road and inspected every vehicle.

I'm not prepared to test the regulations, I'd rather have the 37.5k in my pocket, not in governments general revenue.

[getin]

the fine for having a carton of beer in your truck is not going to be 37.5k, you may get fined,but the maximum fine is only going to be issued if you were caught selling it by the truck load,or something like that,all we want to be able to do is maybe get a fire going,cook a chop on it and have a beer sitting around it

[plucker]

Still I wouldn't risk anything. These AMP are in place for a reason and if you knowingly break these rules then there is no reason why the maximum fine shouldn't apply.
If you doubt this then perhaps you should go back to when the Govt. officials flew into Lochart river community and had one bottle of wine on board for the trip home. I think she was only the office worker taking notes but it cost her a job and a reputation. That would possibly be similar to the fine. Everyone spent lots of time in the media spotlight and in the courts. - Legal fees etc.

[getin]

i understand there are laws for a reason,no problem but if the queensland courts would throw the book at you for having a case of beer in your truck then the courts down south could learn a lesson or two from them to throw the book at low lifes who really deserve it,ie;druggies, murderers,peodofiles etc

[plucker]

Yeah but fines are much easier to administer than jail terms.

[getin]

Yeah but fines are much easier to administer than jail terms.

too true mate,i issue a few myself everyday

[geoffjy]

I honestly cant see them being lenient with a person who knowingly breaks the law by even having one carton on board in a dry zone.

[getin]

I honestly cant see them being lenient with a person who knowingly breaks the law by even having one carton on board in a dry zone lifes tough at the top/tip lol

[geoffjy]

We are lucky enough up here to be allowed midstrength beer, premixed spirits and wine. Some areas are not so lucky though and are completely dry.

[ant]

I lived in Napranum for a few years and that was a total dry zone. There were regular road stops where police would search vehicles at random and people were caught. Not sure about the strength of fines but I know that vehicles were confiscated. I am sure that as a traveling tourist the inconvenience of losing your mode of transport would make you think twice.

I know that the last trip I did (late October into mid November last year) we paid particular attention to where we could and couldn't carry alcohol. Lets just say the the GPS came in very handy when we had to hide our grog outside certain areas and then pick it up again on the way back. Waypoints are a wonderful thing.

Bottom line: if you are willing to risk getting caught just so you can have a drink, then you are braver/crazier than I.

[Stacky]

Lockhart area is 100% dry.

There is also frequent roadside checks of any vehicles passing by.

The law is set in writing, so if you carry grog into a dry community (even only one carton) then the cops will pin you or otherwise it wouldn't be fair on all the indigenous that have been pinned for the same offence.

[xina]

HOORAY! We're back to normal.
Cheers,
xina.

[Stacky]

HOORAY! We're back to normal.
Cheers,
xina.

Hi Xina,

sorry my visits have been a bit random the last couple of months

[plucker]

Vehicle confiscation would be cheaper than the fine but wouldn't it kill your holiday. Much more inconvenient and cutting to the bone than a monetry fine.
Ant is right, you can hide/bury your stash outside the no take zone before you go there and all would be sweet, obviously as long as it fits into the restrictions of the hidden zone.

[getin]

Lets just say the the GPS came in very handy when we had to hide our grog outside certain areas and then pick it up again on the way back. Waypoints are a wonderful thing. sounds like good advice to me, i think we might do the same,this thread might have saved us a lot of grief cheers kev

[Nedly]

Apparently the bloke I referred to in post #11 was hit with the maximum penalty.
Why?
It's rumoured he was carrying 15 cartons, and this was considered to be too much for personal consumption.

[geoffjy]

Oh, i dont know Nedly, he could have been planning to drink it over the following 2 years.:)

A bloke i know up here who is going to loose his licence and job because of alcohol over new years. He went to a party in New Mapoon, picked a fight with a guy, went to leave and was warned that police were outside. He ignored them, police put him on the bag and he registered 0.4 and was booked. They took him home and after they left, he hopped on his quad and went back to the party and kept drinking. He then went to hop on his quad to go home and wound up pranging it. Alison the paramedic was called out as well as the police and he was booked a second time for drink driving. He also has 2 broken ribs. They took him to the hospital but they couldnt control him and they wound up flying him to Cairns on Careflight.

He goes to court in February and he expects to keep his licence. I just think he is an idiot for acting like that. He will lose his job because it requires him to drive a car. And on top of that, the police have allowed him to keep on driving until the court case.