Mick Jackson was delivering mail as usual, in Mannering Park, South Wales Central Coast, last December when a Police Officer stopped him.
Three days before the Christmas, the police officer fined Mick for driving his bike on the footpath.
Jackson said that he told the Officer that he couldn’t deliver the mails if he can’t drive on the footpath. He was riding his traditional Australian Post red bike, had a regulation hi-vis on, and was carrying parcels and mails. His argument, however, was ignored by the officer.
His offense didn’t end there, the officer followed him to the post office and fined him for the second time. This time his offense was ‘parking the bike on footpath’.
However, the $330 fine he paid to the officer, arrived back to him through a post, a month later.
Jackson said that this is the same method everyone uses; the letterbox is not on the other side of the road like they have overseas. “You have no choice but to drive the bike on the footpath,” he added.
From one point of view, issuing of the fine was justified because the post officer and contractor, both did not have a formal identification.
However, Mannering Park Post Office said that office does not have any identification cards for postmen.
Jackson took the matter to court, and the offenses were dismissed by the Magistrate, Peter Feather on Monday last week. The Magistrate said that it was common sense, and the officer might be having a bad day.
Jackson was contracted as an Australia Post licensee. A spokesperson from Australia Post said that contractors and employees both have the right to drive on the footpath.
At this comment, NSW Police Force spokesperson issued no comment.
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