Outrage over reason why truckie with load of hay copped $272 fine
A truck driver has copped a $272 fine for transporting a bale of hay on a highway and many are outraged at the reason behind it.
The man was travelling along a highway in Coolac, at the Riverina region of New South Wales, when he was pulled over by the NSW Roads and Maritime Service.
He was charged with failure to comply with dimension requirements as the bale of hay he was transporting was two centimetres too wide.
He was allowed to carry a bale that was 2.7 metres, but the one he had on board was 2.72 metres wide.
The driver said he was delivering hay to drought-affected farmers and was not allowed to continue on with the load until it adhered to the requirements.
“[The inspector] was not understanding at all. He had one thing in mind and just went straight after me and there was nothing I could do about it,” the driver told the ABC.
“The bales aren’t that tightly packed when they are lower quality so they do move around a bit. It is hard to keep the in the right spot”.
Fortunately, he knew a farmer close by who helped him rearrange the hay.
Many on social media were behind the driver and angered by the fine.
“Where is this truck driver I want us all to chip in and help pay his fine for helping our farmers,” one person wrote.
Another said: “Horrendous crime, I feel sooooo much safer on the road now. Sheesh”.
