February 2016 - Disaster Preparedness Checklists

Storm & Cyclone Checklist

• Check home building & contents insurance sum insured
• Check & clear gutters & downpipes
• Check the roof for damaged or loose tiles & sheeting
• Trim overgrown tree branches. DO NOT attempt to trim trees near power lines
• Remove or secure loose items that could become projectiles during high winds
• Have an emergency kit, including a battery operated radio, reliable torch & spare batteries, canned food, can opener, water, first-aid kit & blankets.

Bushfire Checklist

• Prepare a Bushfire Survival Plan that details how you & your family will respond to an emergency
• Mow the lawn regularly
• Remove dry grass, dead leaves & branches from yards
• Move any flammable items such as wood piles away from the house
• Trim low-lying branches
• Keep gutters clear of leaf litter
• Know the fire risk in your local area
• Check & adhere to local fire restrictions

Wet weather/Storm Driving Checklist

• Park your vehicle under cover if possible – never park under trees
• Don’t speed up to beat a storm. Instead seek a safe place to shelter until it passes
• Turn on headlights to increase your visibility. If necessary pull off the side of the road to avoid being hit by other vehicles & turn on your hazard lights
• Never drive through flood waters- even shallow flowing waters can sweep vehicles away
• Don’t park in areas that have flooded in the past.

February 2016 - Schools Back - zero tolerance on speed

The new school year has now started which means there will be a lot of children walking or riding to school and not always paying attention to passing cars.

School zones are in force between 7-9am and 2-4pm.

Please be aware that you must not drive faster than 40km/hour between the speed signs at the start and end of a school zone as there is no tolerance in these areas.

Please drive safely and watch for children!

February 2016 - Police News

Readers will be concerned by the recent crime statistics for the North Tamborine Police Division in the month of January 2016.  I can confirm that a suspect has been nominated for some of these offences but is currently serving a term of imprisonment in Her Majesty’s Correctional facility in Goulburn NSW.  It seems the culprit committed offences in Queensland, then strayed over the border (not Boarder!), committed more offences there and was detained by New South Wales Police.  I believe on release from New South Wales Corrections, a few Queensland Investigators will wish to speak with him.  We also believe we may have nominated suspects for other offences, just awaiting outcomes from DNA swabs.

It would appear that a number of Break and Enters and Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicles have occurred due to houses being left insecure and the owners leaving their house and car keys in easy to reach locations, mostly laying on the kitchen bench or kitchen table.  The only requirement that the sneak thief has to action is to walk through an insecure door pick up the keys and next thing your pride and joy is gone.  In most cases the only way a new vehicle can be stolen is with its own key, the ability to “hotwire” new cars is virtually nil.  Please hide your keys, lock your doors.

We have been vigilant with our traffic responses and patrolling over the Christmas and New Year’s festive season.  Thankfully this Police Division has suffered no fatal traffic crashes during that period.  We however had several serious traffic crashes involving injuries during this time.  The new school year sees us heavily patrolling the school zones and issuing parking and speeding traffic infringement notices.

Last, but not least, a wilful damage report was received by Police, which occurred on or about the 18/1/2016.  I am talking about the severe damage perpetrated to the first hole green of the Tamborine Mountain Golf Course.  Some absolute fool has decided the green was the perfect location to execute a number of donut turns in their vehicle.

The vehicle in question is very likely a large 4x4, with very large “off roader” tyres.  If you know who is responsible for this wanton destruction, please call us at the police station, they can explain themselves to the Magistrate and pay for the damage.

Stay vigilant and stay safe!
Constable Pete BLUNDELL
NHW Liaison Officer

November 2015 - Police News

Crime stats for the period 1/8/2015 to 3/11/2015 are out and for a 3 month period are reasonably low. But they should be zero!! However, a crime spree of sorts did occur on one night in October.

A number of parked vehicles were wilfully damaged by whom we suspect are juvenile offenders.  The offenders on this occasion have used a key or other sharpened device maybe a screw driver or such to scratch the paint work of these vehicles, for no good reason that police can determine, being stupid is not a good reason!!.

Additionally, two houses where these vehicles were resident had their power boxes opened and power turned off.  That not being enough for our thoughtless criminals, they have then used an implement, possibly a pair of pliers or similar, to snap off the power switches within the power box in the off position, thereby making it very difficult to turn the power back on and this in the very early hours of the morning.  These individuals have nil capacity to understand their actions have inconvenienced ordinary people just going about living their lives.  The victims in these random criminal acts, have no enemies, are good citizens, pay their taxes and have not harmed anyone.  Now they are up for replacing the damage done, either out of their own pockets or making insurance claims and who do you think ends up paying for that in the long term?  All of us who pay the insurance companies.

If anyone has any information as to who these culprits are, please contact us at the Police Station or anonymously to crime stoppers 1800 333 000.  They need to be brought to task and dealt with.

Readers will notice a number of tyre burn out marks on several roads about the Mountain.  These idiot drivers are affecting our standard of living.  We have all come to the Mountain to live in a peaceful, no-nonsense environment and these hoon drivers are not welcome.

We have been able to track down a number of these fools and have seized their vehicles, information from the general public has been most welcome in being able to achieve these outcomes.

Another young driver was spoken to one night.  Previously warned not to be caught trying his luck by being a hoon.  But as soon as he thought police had left the area, he began to loudly rev his vehicle’s engine for no particular reason.  However, unbeknownst to him, the police crew, sensing his word was no good and he was going to be a fool, simply drove down the road, executed a U-turn, parked the police vehicle and switched off their driving lights.  This young hoon, thinking the coast was all clear to carry on, was then surprised to see the police he had just promised that he wouldn’t hoon, arrive within seconds of the offence being committed and issue him one large Traffic Infringement Notice.  Maybe he will learn something from this occurrence.  If we encounter hoons committing their “clever” antics on and/or about the Mountain and we are able to seize or immobilise, send them to court or issue Traffic Infringement Notices, well guess what, we will.

Reminder that school holidays are coming up.  If you see anything amiss at the schools over this period please call us – 5545 3473.

I hope to see you at the next NHW meeting at the Tamborine Mountain Golf Club 1.30pm Wed 25th Nov.

Constable Pete BLUNDELL
Police Neighbourhood Watch Liaison Officer

Illegal mobile phone use brings double the demerits – you’ve been warned!‏

Texting and driving

It’s the dangerous habit many drivers just can’t seem to break –  and if protecting your life isn’t enough incentive to put down the phone perhaps tougher penalties will be.

The State Government has brought in double the demerit penalties for repeat offenders as of 1 September, taking a tough new stance on using your handheld device while driving.

If you’re caught twice in 12 months you’ll cop double demerit points – a $353 fine and six points!

It’s estimated 20 percent of all fatalities are caused by distraction, with texting and talking on your phone a major contributor.

It’s time we all woke up to the dangers!!!

Source: RACQ

Drink driving......

Queensland Road Safety Week –      August 17 - 21, 2015

Join the drive to save Lives!!

Drink driving is one of the major killers on Queensland roads.

In 2013, drink driving accounted for 64 fatalities on Queensland roads – close to a quarter of all fatalities.

Drinking alcohol reduces your ability to drive safely. Alcohol affects your judgement, vision, coordination and reflexes – increasing your risk of crashing.

Tips for keeping safe

• Plan to stay at a friend’s place rather than drive.
• We’re all responsible for keeping our roads safe. If you’re going to be drinking, plan ahead and make arrangements to get home safely, and avoid driving the morning after.
• If you’re going out drinking, consider alternative forms of transport such as using a taxi or public transport.

Visit jointhedrive.qld.gov.au/road-safety-week for more information and to Speak up for Road Safety.

Queensland Road Safety Week is a joint initiative of the Queensland Police Service and the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
RACQ, the Motor Accident Insurance Commission, and the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q), are proud supporters of the event.

Show some restraint!

 

Queensland Road Safety Week – August 17 - 21, 2015

Wearing a seatbelt significantly improves your chances of surviving a crash.

The widespread use of seatbelts following legislation in the 1970s is regarded as having had a significant impact on the road toll, helping reduce this from over 3,382 deaths in 1968 to around 2,887 deaths per year 20 years later.

While wearing a seatbelt or restraint does not prevent a crash, it certainly can affect the outcome for individuals. Wearing a properly adjusted restraint reduces the risk of fatal or serious injury by 50%.

In 2013, there were 271 fatalities and 6,921 hospitalised casualties on Queensland roads, of which 35 fatalities and 155 hospitalised casualties were known to have been unrestrained.

Smart restraint

• Wear your seatbelt every time you are in your vehicle – even if you are only travelling a few kilometres. Most road crashes happen close to home because this is where you drive most frequently.
• Make sure everyone in your car is safely restrained before moving your vehicle.
• Make sure your seatbelts and child restraints are correctly fitted.

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Visit jointhedrive.qld.gov.au/road-safety-week for more information and to Speak up for Road Safety.
Queensland Road Safety Week is a joint initiative of the Queensland Police Service and the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
RACQ, the Motor Accident Insurance Commission, and the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q), are proud supporters of the event.

Wake up to fatigue!

Queensland Road Safety Week – August 17 - 21, 2015

Fatigue is one of the top five factors contributing to road crashes.

Fatigue isn’t just falling asleep at the wheel; it’s also lapses in concentration experienced by drivers that have serious consequences.

In Queensland, between 2008 and 2013, more than 15% of fatalities were identified as being fatigue-related crashes. The actual number may be much higher as it can be difficult to identify fatigue as a causal factor.

Research shows that being awake for more than 17 hours is similar to having more than two standard drinks and having a blood alcohol content of more than 0.05.

Avoid fatigue

• Avoid driving at night when your body naturally wants to sleep.
• Avoid long drives after work.
• Understand whether any medicine you are taking might affect your driving.

Source:
myPolice Logan

Queensland Road Safety Week – Take action against distraction

    
Taking your eyes of the road for just one second can have devastating consequences.
In 2013, driver distraction contributed to 19 fatalities and 1,343 hospitalised casualties on Queensland roads.

However, the true extent to which distractions (including mobile phone usage), contributes to road crashes is likely to be higher because drivers will not necessarily admit when reporting a crash to police that they were distracted when a crash occurred.

Despite the dangers and illegality, approximately 76% of Queenslanders use their mobile phone illegally in the car.

Stay focused

• In the car, switch your phone to silent so you’re not tempted.
• Keep your phone out of sight. Consider placing it in the glove box.
• Pull over safely before grabbing your phone or GPS.

*********************************************************************************'

Visit jointhedrive.qld.gov.au/road-safety-week for more information and to Speak up for Road Safety.
Queensland Road Safety Week is a joint initiative of the Queensland Police Service and the Department of Transport and Main Roads.
RACQ, the Motor Accident Insurance Commission, and the Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q), are proud supporters of the event.

August 2015 - How secure is your vehicle?

Logan District Police would like to advise that there has been an increase in the number of cars being stolen and/or broken into within our district. Disturbingly, in a large number of cases the vehicles were not locked.

There are a few simple things that you can do to reduce the likelihood of having your vehicle and/or valuables stolen.

• Always lock your vehicle and remember to fully close the windows regardless of where you are parked and regard less of how long you are leaving your vehicle unattended
• Wherever possible use off street parking or secure parking
• Park your vehicle in well-lit and highly visible areas, e.g. near shopping centre entrances and high pedestrian traffic areas
• Remove the keys from the ignition if your vehicle is parked or unattended – even if only for a minute
• Don’t hide spare keys on or in the vehicle
• Take your vehicle keys with you when you are going out, even if you are leaving your vehicle at home
• Don’t leave your vehicle keys lying around on tables,  benches, bedside tables or key hooks – keep them out of sight
• When parking in your garage, ensure both the garage and vehicle are locked and the garage remote is secured
• For older vehicles install an engine immobiliser that meets Australian Standards A4601:1999
• Secure your vehicle registration plates, e.g. affix with one way screws(see below). 
• Remove, or place out of sight, all valuables and personal documents when leaving your car unattended

The next free fitting for safe plates by Volunteers in Policing Garry and Marianne, will be held at the IGA shopping centre car park at North Tamborine on Saturday 26th September between 10am and 1pm. No bookings required.

Crime prevention is everyone’s responsibility.  By adopting better security practices you will minimise the likelihood of becoming a victim of property crime.

August 2015 - Police News

The crime stats for the North Tamborine Police division from 6.5.2015 to 5.8.2015 have now been collated and I am pleased to say are surprisingly low.  You may deduce from the stats that there is no particular area on the mountain that is being targeted and that offences have been committed all over. There could be a number of factors to explain why the stats are low: criminals not presently being active in our area, the recent cold weather, shortened reporting period, or that residents are being vigilant, by keeping an eye out for suspicious activity in their areas, securing their homes and business properties or all the above.

I was looking into crimes committed in other police divisions and saw a reported crime where a car was left parked on a public road, insecure and had a small property item stolen from within, to the value of $10,000!  Now, nobody can afford to lose property to that value, I would bet even a millionaire would be disappointed with that outcome.

Onto another matter which we are trying to put the kibosh onto is the irregular hooning and the dreaded black skid marks that you would see about.  I promise to those responsible, if you are observed and located undertaking this type of ridiculous driving behaviour, your vehicle will be seized and impounded, we don’t care who owns the vehicle and neither does the law. The vehicle will be towed off mountain to a storage facility and you will be responsible for all the costs involved, plus you can explain yourself to a Magistrate.  Not a position I would like to be in.

Another matter probably not directly aimed at NHW members (but certainly of interest) is the matter of registration of motor vehicles.  Please be mindful, now that registration labels are no longer issued, some motorists are being caught out driving unregistered motor vehicles.  This is occasionally the fact because some people are not updating their new addresses when they move in a timely manner. 

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) subsequently will forward the renewal registration papers or camera initiated speeding offences and/or toll violations to the previous address.  The first thing most offending drivers know that their driver’s licence has been suspended by SPER (State Penalties Enforcement Register) and they are currently unlicensed to drive or their vehicle is unregistered and possibly uninsured is when police intercept them and inform them. 

To check when your vehicle is due for registration go to the DTMR website and click on the “Check my registration status” tab.  (Ed: https://www.service.transport.qld.gov.au/checkrego )

Please be aware that most police vehicles have on-board electronic devices that are connected to the DTMR computer and very quickly can inform police whether a vehicle is registered or if the primary and secondary owner/drivers are licensed appropriately.  

My personal thoughts on the matter is that owners of vehicles can create their own small sticker that can remind you of when the rego is due and place that little sticker next to the other little sticker which reminds you when your next oil change is due.

You may find some interesting information on the Qld Police Website: www.police.qld.gov.au including links to NHW, Facebook postings, crime maps and ACORN (Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network www.acorn.gov.au ).

Stay safe and I hope to see you at the next NHW meeting on Wednesday 26th August.

Constable Pete BLUNDELL

NHW Liaison Officer

North Tamborine Police

The five road rules you didn't know you were breaking................

The State’s peak motoring body RACQ has put drivers on notice to refresh their knowledge of the road rules, releasing five of the most commonly forgotten laws.

RACQ’s Lauren Ritchie said ignorance wasn’t a valid excuse if caught out.

“Some people may think a lack of knowledge of a particular road rule might be enough to get them out of a ticket, but it’s not,” Ms Ritchie said.

“It’s the driver’s responsibility to know the rules before getting behind the wheel.”

Ms Ritchie said the Queensland road rules were regularly updated, making it important to stay up to date with the latest changes.

“Chances are the legislation has changed slightly since most people sat their driving exam, so staying across new laws is vital,” she said.

“While some drivers may not agree with all of the road rules, they’re in place for a reason and that’s to keep all road users safe.”

The five road rules you didn’t know you were breaking are:

• Your car must be locked, key removed from ignition and handbrake on if the driver is more than three metres away from their car
• It’s against the law for your number plate light to be out, as your registration plate needs to be clearly visible at all times
• You can’t leave your car locked and unattended with the window open any wider than five centimetres
• It’s an offence to use your horn unnecessarily, like saying goodbye or getting frustrated at other motorists
• Drivers only need to keep left unless overtaking when roads have a speed limit of more than 80km/hr.

Source:
RACQ
March 2015

Is your driving licence current?

A reminder to all drivers to check that your driving licence is current.  Your licence should also have your current residential address on it.

Did you know that if you lend your vehicle to another driver it is important you ask them if they are currently licenced - because if that driver is intercepted by police and they are unlicensed, your vehicle may have its plates removed or be impounded.

If  you are on a learner licence there are certain laws you must abide by, including being accompanied by a person with an open licence who has held that license for 12 months. If intercepted by police driving unaccompanied you will be issued with a Traffic Infringement Notice or a Notice to Appear in court.

Source:

myPolice Gold Coast

Check your vehicle registration!

In late 2014 the Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) abolished vehicle registration labels and moved more services online.

If you need to check if your vehicle is registered or when the rego is due it’s easy and can be done online.

Simply go to the DTMR website and check your registration status. All you need to do is enter the rego number and it will tell you the status and when the rego is due.

This is also a really useful tool if you are buying a vehicle privately as the VIN is also displayed. The website allows you to pay your rego on-line, update your address details and also renew your driver’s licence.

Driving an unregistered car can be very expensive: it’s a $273 ticket for a 4 cylinder car and $364 anything above that. Driving with an expired licence will set you back $174 and failing to update your address within 14 days $110.

Source:

myPolice Gold Coast

Getting to school safely

 

How to prepare your child to walk or bike ride safely to school and back

It is that time of the year when our children are back to school. In some cases walking or riding a bike is the best option to get to school. While this can be fun for your child, you still have to feel assured they are safe while doing it. If you are allowing your children to walk or ride to and from school then here are a few quick tips to help keep them safe.

• Choose the safest route possible. It is a great idea to practice riding or walking to school with your child. While on the practice run look out for the hazard spots and then decide which would be the safest route for your child to take.

• Teach your child to only cross at intersections. Show your child the intersections to cross at and to always look both ways before crossing. Make sure they always use a pedestrian crossing as a priority point to cross any road.

• Arrange for your child to walk with a buddy or as part of an organised walking school bus. It can be fun to walk with a friend, or with an organised walking school bus. It also helps everyone feel more safe.

• Never get into a strangers car. Make sure you advise your child to never talk to strangers and never get into a strangers car.

• Always obey traffic signs and lights. Traffic lights are there to keep you safe.

• Reassure your child daily. Discuss the route your child will take to school daily. This allows your child to have a clear understanding of what is happening for his/her trip to and from school.

• Have a family password. As a family decide on a secret word, that is only known by your family and is easy to remember. If plans change and a friend was to pick up your child, then they would need to disclose the family password before your child went with them. This allows your child to feel safe with the new arrangements.

Source:
Neighbourhood Watch Australasia

New way to report minor traffic crashes in Queensland from January 1, 2015

From January 1, 2015, motorists who are involved in a minor crash will have the opportunity to report the incident via the Policelink smart phone app or online instead of waiting for police to attend.

Road Policing Command Acting Assistant Commissioner Mike Keating said the new reporting via Policelink, would allow motorists to continue their journey without waiting for police.
“In 2010, a Queensland Police Service report estimated about 73,000 officer hours were dedicated, each year, to responding to non-injury crashes,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Keating said.
“By making amendments to our policy we will be able to reduce these hours allowing officers to respond to more urgent matters.”
However police will still be required to attend traffic crashes that involve any of the following circumstances:

• Death or injury (injury requiring medical treatment by a qualified paramedic, nurse or doctor);
• Suspected involvement of drugs or alcohol;
• Driver has failed or is refusing to provide required details;
• A hazardous environment or threat to public safety exists, including congestion;
• Impairment/disability (a driver with an impairment or disability requires police assistance); or
• Other situations where discretion would determine it was in the public interest to attend and/or investigate.

“Motorists still need to report a crash to the Queensland Police Service where any party involved is injured or killed (injury requiring treatment) a driver fails to provide their details and/or a vehicle involved in the crash requires towing,” Acting Assistant Commissioner Keating said.
“However, where a non-injury traffic crash occurs that does not require police investigation, members of the public are able to report these by downloading the Policelink smart phone app, completing a form online via the Policelink website or by calling Policelink on 131 444.”
The Policelink Smart phone app can be downloaded from the App store by searching “Policelink”. After the information has been collected motorists will be issued a report number that can be used for insurance purposes.


A PDF version of the crash reporting flyer is available here.