fined for a beer while fishing - definitely unaustralian

[Ken Gargett]

all i can say is thankfully they have never tried this on fraser island. there would be revolution. 

ANGLER CALLS BEER FINE ‘UN-AUSTRALIAN’

15th June, 2018 by Rupert Millar

An Australian man enjoying a beer while he fished for octopus earlier this month fell foul of the country’s public drinking laws and was slapped with a AU$200 fine – a punishment he described as ‘un-Australian”.

Doug Vickery, an electrician from Western Australia, called the fine ‘un-Australian’ and has referred his case to the state’s police minister who has proved sympathetic to his plight.

Vickery was down at Perth’s marina on a Friday afternoon earlier this month fishing for octopus with a beer after work when he was approached by two policemen.

Apparently alerted to reports of a man drink driving in the area the officers breathalysed Vickery and checked his licence.

By the time the police arrived, Vickery had finished the beer and put the bottle in his pocket.

He explained: “I had nothing on my person, no bag, no esky, just my one beer bottle in my pocket and my occy stick and gaff.”

Having passed the breathalyser test the police then informed him he was being fined AU$200 for having an open container of alcohol in public.

Vickery later told local news channel 9News: “I didn’t know it was illegal to have a beer while fishing, it’s a joke really, it’s un-Australian if anything.”

The police minister, Michelle Robert, has remarked that the penalty was excessive, “I’m sure he’s not the only person fishing off the beach or rocks who has ever had a beer,” and said she would raise the matter with the commissioner.

Vickery’s lawyer added he was sure “common sense” would prevail when the fine was appealed.

Angry as he was at the fine Vickery did conclude: “On a lighter note, I did catch an octopus.

[teewinot]

Who fishes without a beer?   In lovely Teton Valley Idaho where I am,  I can have a cocktail strolling down the street.  

No octopus however......

[garbandz]

so........ $200.00 Australian......that's about 25.00 US ?

[dvickery]

I can almost guarantee his heritage at some point originated from Devon/Dorset part of England ?

And yes ... we are boat rockers ?

derrek ??

[Ken Gargett]

26 minutes ago, garbandz said:

so........ $200.00 Australian......that's about 25.00 US ?

i do love the states enormously and almost moved there permanently many years ago with work, but just at the moment (and with no reference to any matters that may not be considered appropriate for this forum), dumping on other countries for almost any reason is real thin ice stuff. 

[luv2fly]

So that is about $150 USD.  That is the going rate for an open container where I live.  Happened to a friend.  Until around 1995 it wouldn't have been an issue here.  

No beer while fishing does not sound like fishing to me.

[Ken Gargett]

12 hours ago, Weaponiz'd1 said:

"Vickery was down at Perth’s marina on a Friday afternoon earlier this month fishing for octopus with a beer after work when he was approached by two policemen."

"Having passed the breathalyser test the police then informed him he was being fined AU$200 for having an open container of alcohol in public."

 

Was the marina owned by the local government, or private?

almost certainly not private. 

[westg]

I can see why they did fine him....in that particular area....and thier is a chance he probably should have not been thier with a gaff and a beer in hand...fishing for occy...most marinas have no fishing notices up...

A caution and move along would have been sufficient....the police over here are not to bad....I wonder what attitude he may have given....hmmmmm 

 

[RijkdeGooier]

Incredible and crazy stuff.... fined for an open empty beer bottle that was in his pocket....

 

What's next fining people at the glass collection containers for binning empty winebottles?

[RijkdeGooier]

4 hours ago, Weaponiz'd1 said:

Now you're thinking like a city manager.

Hahaha - one in desperate need of tax dollars after the housing bubble burst and brought down property tax income