VACC, the peak automotive industry body in Victoria, has fully endorsed new legislation which allows Victoria Police to issue on-the-spot fines for theft of petrol from service stations – ‘drive-off’ theft.

Under a three year expansion of the Crimes Act 1958, section 74A “…a member of the police force may serve an infringement notice on any person if he or she believes, on reasonable grounds, that the theft is shop theft”.

The Infringements and Other Acts Amendment Act 2008, Trial Expansion of Enforcement by Infringement Notice, defines shop theft as “…theft from retail premises of property which is goods valued at, or displayed for sale at, a price less than $600”.

“VACC applauds the introduction of on-the-spot fines for goods valued at less than $600. This figure covers the cost of filling up most vehicles with fuel. A $227 penalty notice for the offence will deter those who think they can get away with it,” VACC Executive Director, David Purchase, said.

“Deliberately driving off without paying for fuel is stealing and there is no excuse for it, no matter what the price of petrol is.

“Now the message is clear. If you commit drive-off theft, not only will you be caught, but you will be penalised.

“Careless driving by fully licensed drivers will also be subject to on-the-spot fines, with a penalty notice of $272. This means someone stealing petrol then speeding away from a service station, or over the footpath from a service station forecourt, could be hit with both on-the-spot fines: one for petrol theft, another for careless diving, taking total on-the-spot fines for the offences to nearly $500, in addition to paying for the petrol taken.

“Many independent service stations run on the thinnest of margins on the fuel they sell. Many are struggling to survive under the domination of the oil majors, and several have closed.

“Thieves who drive off without paying are hurting a fellow Aussie who is also battling to survive in these challenging economic times.

“This is why more and more service stations have introduced pre-pay schemes. While some motorists may consider the ‘pay up-front’ system to be inconvenient or offensive, it is also proving to be a successful method of deterring drive-off theft,” Mr Purchase said.