WEAPONS LICENCES

If you are the holder of a current Qld Weapons Licence, I would remind you to check the expiry date of that licence to ensure it is current.  Ayr Police are experiencing an increase in the numbers of people attending the station after their Weapons Licence has expired.  

A brand new licence application then has to be submitted from scratch.  

There are a couple of benefits to renewing your weapons licence rather than it expire and they are (current as of 1 July, 2023):

New weapons licence application fee is $117.61 per year

5yr new licence is $294.20;

10yr renewal is $388.50;

Permit to Acquire is $44.47;

Further, if your weapons licence expires and you have a weapon, you can no longer possess that weapon.  It must be stored with a person who holds a weapons licence for that class of weapon but only for a maximum time of three (3) months.  Otherwise, it should be stored with a local firearm dealer possibly with a fee attached.

Take a moment and check the expiry date of your weapons licence now to make sure it’s current and when you need to renew it by.  Remember, it remains the responsibility of the licence holder to ensure their weapon licence is current.

Merging – who gives way

The situation where a driver merges from two to one lane of traffic, the question of who gives way is confusing for many drivers.  The below examples outline which driver is responsible for giving way and one of the key indicators that will be seen from the two diagrams, is the presence or absence of short broken lines at the end of the terminating lane.

Example 1

A driver in a line of traffic that is merging with another lane of traffic (travelling in the same direction) must give way to a vehicle in another line of traffic if any part of the vehicle is ahead of the driver’s vehicle.

Regulation 149 Transport Infrastructure (Road Use Management-Road Rule) Regulation 2009

While this sounds complicated to many, the below diagram clearly demonstrates what it required.

Vehicle B must give way to vehicle A.

Example 2

A driver on a road with 2 or more lines of traffic (travelling in the same direction) who is moving from one line of traffic to another line of traffic, must give way to any vehicle travelling in the same direction as the driver in the line of traffic to which the driver is moving.

Regulation 148 Transport Infrastructure (Road Use Management-Road Rules) Regulation 2009

Once again, while this sounds complicated to many, the below diagram clearly demonstrates what it required.

Vehicle B must give way to vehicle A.

Vehicle Security

From time to time, vehicles are unlawfully entered with belongings stolen and sometimes vehicles are stolen.  

Some easy steps will help avoid being a victim of these types of offences:

• Lock your car;

• Do not leave the key in the ignition;

• Do not leave valuables in the car.

Thieves don’t care whether you think you should have to lock up, they will just take advantage of any lax security.

Snr Sgt Steve Barton

OIC Ayr