THE period of grace for people selling vehicles and other articles on roads and road verges has ended, Port Macquarie-Hastings Council warned this week.
While council has been issuing warning letters to offenders for the past 12 months, the council’s development and environment director Matt Rogers said anyone breaking the law would now be liable to a $330 on-the-spot fine.
Mr Rogers said it was illegal to place cars, motorcycles, caravans, boats and similar articles on road reserves, including the footpath, for the purpose of sale.
“Apart from the practice being an offence, it also poses a potentially serious safety risk for both pedestrians and motorists,” Mr Rogers said.
For over 12 months now, council rangers have been placing warning letters on the windscreen of these vehicles, advising that it is illegal to sell cars on road reserves and requiring their removal.
Prior to that, council conducted an awareness campaign in the print and electronic media alerting people to the prohibition.
“The council is not trying to stop people from selling their vehicles from their own property but we are concerned with the continuing number of cars, motorbikes, caravans and boats being offered for sale on road reserves,” Mr Rogers said.
