Truckie wins court case against RTA
Posted
The solicitor for an Adelong man involved in a road blockade at Gundagai says the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) tried to make an example of the driver by taking his licence from him.
Truck driver and advocate for an industry safety group Bernard 'Bunny' Brown won his appeal against the RTA decision in court yesterday.
Mr Brown's solicitor, Peter Gain, says the magistrate found there was no evidence Mr Brown had been involved in the blockade as a driver and ordered the RTA to pay court costs.
Mr Gain says his client has been a professional driver for 45 years and has been singled out by the RTA while campaigning for industry reform.
"What he and his organisation have been passionate about is trying to get some safety in the industry. They've actually succeeded in some of those things, but ... he's certainly been made a scapegoat," he said.
Police have 'move-on' powers to break up blockades and can lay charges against truck drivers who fail to comply.
Mr Gain says his client cannot be charged now because the statute of limitations has expired.
But the solicitor expects police will act in other blockades.
"I would be very surprised if in future blockades the police didn't take immediate action to arrest people who were blockading and impound their trucks," he said.
