What is this offence called? In WA anyway.

[PHANTMXR6]

I was just reading my local Police newsletter and came accross a statement that was a little surprising.

It reads 'it is an offence to leave your keys in the ignition while your car is unattended - so don't do it'.

Does anyone know what this offence is called and/or have any more information relating to it?

I've never heard of it before.

[Dave R]

There was a thread a little while ago about an offence relating to leaving your car unlocked, perhaps this is related? It was a Victorian thing, but apparently other states have similar guidelines.

http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=11297496

[Scott]

The nuts and bolts are that if you're moving 3m from your car and it is unattended, take the keys and lock it.

[Ben73]

So putting the keys under the sun visor is not acceptable?

[Revolver]

Same as locking it here in QLD. You must lock your car if leaving it unattended.

[P6LTD351]

Pretty common sense. Why people wouldn't lock their car is beyond me. Some may ask what the offence is if you choose not to; how about the associated costs and time for police to follow up your stolen car report?

[buggo]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

Pretty common sense. Why people wouldn't lock their car is beyond me. Some may ask what the offence is if you choose not to; how about the associated costs and time for police to follow up your stolen car report?

I think for some people, they see it as it's worse off having your window smashed and the bloke finding nothing at all, then the bloke opening an unlocked door and finding nothing at all.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

Pretty common sense. Why people wouldn't lock their car is beyond me. Some may ask what the offence is if you choose not to; how about the associated costs and time for police to follow up your stolen car report?

So you take your keys and lock the car when you pay for petrol then?

[Mechan1k]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

So you take your keys and lock the car when you pay for petrol then?

I always do.

Definitely an offense in NSW as well. Comes under leaving vehicle unsecured/unattended ... or something along those lines. Can ask some for the correct terminology if needed.

[mik]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

So you take your keys and lock the car when you pay for petrol then?

i don`t lock the car, but i do take the keys.

[Lotte]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

So you take your keys and lock the car when you pay for petrol then?

Always. Like hell I'm leaving my car unlocked at a fuel stop for who knows how long while the person in front of me pays for their fuel in 20c coins. With a laptop, mobile, ipod, 600 bucks of text books etc sitting in the cab, I'm not doing anything to help anyone take my ****
Hell, my car's usually locked before I start fueling up, because I have a tendency of mind wandering....

[zdcol71]

Section 213 of the Queensland Road Rules provides that when a driver has
stopped and is leaving the vehicle the driver must first apply the parking
brake and switch off the engine. If the driver is going to be more than 3
meters for the vehicle and there is no-one 16 years or older remaining in
the vehicle, the ignition key must also be removed. If no-one is remaining
in the vehicle the doors must be locked.

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by eb2monty

Pretty common sense. Why people wouldn't lock their car is beyond me. Some may ask what the offence is if you choose not to; how about the associated costs and time for police to follow up your stolen car report?

i leave mine unlocked and the keys in the ignition at the loading docks on buildings i work on and in the trade section in hardware stores incase it needs to be moved. might rethink that now

[PHANTMXR6]

So just to give a couple of scenarios: I leave the keys in the ignition of my car parked on my driveway in my yard and I can get done for it?

Or, I live on acreage and feel safe leaving my keys in my car in the shed and I can still get done for it?

Surely if the vehicle is on private property this 'offence' wouldn't apply?

[Chilliman]

Originally Posted by PHANTMXR6

So just to give a couple of scenarios: I leave the keys in the ignition of my car parked on my driveway in my yard and I can get done for it?

Or, I live on acreage and feel safe leaving my keys in my car in the shed and I can still get done for it?

Surely if the vehicle is on private property this 'offence' wouldn't apply?

Not sure if its an offence, but try explaining how you left the keys in your car in the driveway to your insurance company while you're trying to make a claim because your car was stolen!

[AWD Chaser]

Originally Posted by PHANTMXR6

So just to give a couple of scenarios: I leave the keys in the ignition of my car parked on my driveway in my yard and I can get done for it?

Or, I live on acreage and feel safe leaving my keys in my car in the shed and I can still get done for it?

Surely if the vehicle is on private property this 'offence' wouldn't apply?

Not too sure, but if it falls under the traffic act, then isnt it that you cant get done for it on private property? Sorta like doing a burnout on your front yard?

Please correct me if Im wrong as I would like to know...

[HVAC PRO]

that means i broke the law for at least 2 hours on the weekend when i was washing mine and the misses cars and had my keys in the ignition and radio on while i was washing the misses car over 3m away...but i do take my keys with me at the servo and always lock it as I'm walking inside force of habit i think.

[PHANTMXR6]

Originally Posted by Chilliman

Not sure if its an offence, but try explaining how you left the keys in your car in the driveway to your insurance company while you're trying to make a claim because your car was stolen!

Insurance is a different scenario that I don't want to debate in this thread.

I'm just after more info relating to it in WA as I've not heard of it before.

[billy302]

There was a guy at our local service station, in such a hurry he pulled up by the door got out, went in to get cigarettes and left the car running. A young teenager at the servo pumping up his bike tyres saw the car jumped in and drove off. True story. The guy got his car back about a week later, badly damaged. He put in an insurance claim for the damage which was promptly refused.
It has been illegal in WA to leave a vehicle UN-attended or unlocked for some time. Stupid to do it in the first place.

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by AWD Chaser

Not too sure, but if it falls under the traffic act, then isnt it that you cant get done for it on private property? Sorta like doing a burnout on your front yard?

Please correct me if Im wrong as I would like to know...

Im sure your safe on your own land....

However im surprised police dont go past all these mechanics workshops where cars are left unlocked with keys in them on the road!

[TheZHLANE]

Okay, so say im washing my car on the front lawn with keys in ignition and i run inside to get the phone (say 20m away), would i get pinged for my vehicle being un-attended?

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by TheZHLANE

Okay, so say im washing my car on the front lawn with keys in ignition and i run inside to get the phone (say 20m away), would i get pinged for my vehicle being un-attended?

Er... if the car is on your property no....

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by TheZHLANE

Okay, so say im washing my car on the front lawn with keys in ignition and i run inside to get the phone (say 20m away), would i get pinged for my vehicle being un-attended?

Interesting thing to ponder isn't it.

Anyway... I don't bother removing keys and locking the car when getting diesel, but then again I always look over towards my car while in the line.

I guess with the newish car I drive I should change my lazy habit?

My parents also have acreage, and I leave my keys in the car when parked there.... I bet there is a loophole in the insurance PDS that voids my insurance should it get stolen.

Ok, you have convinced me, will no longer leave keys in the car, because knowing my luck I will do it this week or weekend and it will go missing (now will that be irony or Murphy's law?)

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

Im sure your safe on your own land....

However im surprised police dont go past all these mechanics workshops where cars are left unlocked with keys in them on the road!

The flipside is where I work. There is 1 doorway, whereby a car can get in and out of the workshop. I constantly get uummmm....people that'll park right in front of the door way, lock the car up and walk into the office.

These people can plainly see, there is a car in the workshop ready to come out, yet they still persist in doing silly things like that.

Sorry about the sidetrack, but surely some copper wouldn't book someone leaving their car unlocked and walking away from it in that scenario.

BTW, any workshop driveway is classed as a public access road, therefore you must have a registered car and be licenced to drive in that area.

[Jim Goose]

Found this on another forum, parents take note:

Thank you for your email below about the legal implications of leaving
children alone in a vehicle.

There are two aspects to this question; firstly, the obligations of a
driver leaving a vehicle and secondly the duty of a person who has care of
a child.

Section 213 of the Queensland Road Rules provides that when a driver has
stopped and is leaving the vehicle the driver must first apply the parking
brake and switch off the engine. If the driver is going to be more than 3
meters for the vehicle and there is no-one 16 years or older remaining in
the vehicle, the ignition key must also be removed. If no-one is remaining
in the vehicle the doors must be locked.

Section 286 of the Criminal Code Act 1899 (CCA) provides that it is the
duty of every person who has care of a child under 16 years to take action
that is reasonable in all circumstances to remove the child from any
danger. Section 326 of the CCA provides an offence for any person to
expose a child under the age of 7 years, to a situation whereby the life of
such child is or is likely to be endangered, or the child?s health is
likely to be permanently injured.

Consequently, it is permissible to leave a child under 16 in a vehicle at a
petrol station provided the parking brake is applied, the motor is switched
off, and the key removed.

If you need more information, please contact me again either by return
email or using the details below and I'll be happy to help you.

Regards

John *******
Policy Officer (Legal and Cabinet)
Land Transport and Safety Division
Telephone: 3253 4505 Fax: 3253 4110

[Jim Goose]

213 Making a motor vehicle secure

(1) This rule applies to the driver of a motor vehicle who stops and leaves the vehicle on a road, except so far as the driver is exempt from this rule under another law of this jurisdiction.

(2) Before leaving the vehicle, the driver must apply the parking brake effectively or, if weather conditions (for example, snow) would prevent the effective operation of the parking brake, effectively restrain the motor vehicle�s movement in another way.

(3) If the driver will be over 3 metres from the closest part of the vehicle, the driver must switch off the engine before leaving the vehicle.

(4) If the driver will be over 3 metres from the closest part of the vehicle, and:

(i) there is no-one left in the vehicle; or

(ii) there is only a child or children under 16 years old left in the vehicle; the driver must remove the ignition key before leaving the vehicle.

(5) If:

(a) the driver will be over 3 metres from the closest part of the vehicle; and

(b) there is no-one left in the vehicle; and

(c) the doors of the vehicle can be locked; the driver must also lock the doors of the vehicle immediately after leaving the vehicle.

[mik]

i suspect the charge would be negligence .

[BFZF8]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Interesting thing to ponder isn't it.

Anyway... I don't bother removing keys and locking the car when getting diesel, but then again I always look over towards my car while in the line.

I guess with the newish car I drive I should change my lazy habit?

My parents also have acreage, and I leave my keys in the car when parked there.... I bet there is a loophole in the insurance PDS that voids my insurance should it get stolen.

Ok, you have convinced me, will no longer leave keys in the car, because knowing my luck I will do it this week or weekend and it will go missing (now will that be irony or Murphy's law?)

Probably won't help too much if someone gets in your car and nicks off with it as you look on from the line. At least you should get a good look at them!

[Russ]

I always lock mine especially if it's not within my view, unless of course I have a passenger sitting in the car waiting, even then I usually remove the keys from the ignition, nowadays you just never know who's lurking around the corner watching your every move

[Ben73]

When we go away for work we are out in the bush on private property, and we leave the keys in the car all night/day. Reason being is because there are more people then cars, so employees can come and go as they please instead of waking up the key holder every time they want to go get a feed.

But if you are leaving your car idle at a servo or out the front of a shop, then yes that is not the smartest idea. I can see why that is illegal.