QUEENSLAND Police have slammed a Facebook page that publicly shames examples of alleged bad driving across Ipswich.
Sh*t Drivers and Parking of Ipswich is littered with photos and videos of drivers filmed on mobile phone and dashcam, including locations around Rosewood.
The social media site which boasts more than 18,000 followers features vehicles driving erratically or parked askew.
Many users post anonymously and often include images of rego plates and times and locations of supposed driving indiscretions.
Facebook threads ridicule the driver of a ute with trailer parked over two bays, the motorist of a car in a disabled spot parked off-centre, and the officer who stopped his car on yellow diagonal chevrons at a mall.
Sh*t Drivers and Parking of Ipswich dubs itself “a group dedicated to educating sh*t drivers of Ipswich and surrounds on how to drive better; this group also showcases sh*t parking, because to be able to park, you have had to have driven.”
Queensland Police warned against posting on social media about supposed neighbourhood transgressions.
“While taking photos in public is not a criminal offence, police urge the community to be mindful of responsible social media use, particularly when posting on public pages,” a police spokesman said.
“The Queensland Police Service urges anyone who believes a criminal offence has been committed to report it directly to police.
“Police condemn people taking matters into their own hands and recommend members of the public do not engage in tactics to disrupt criminal activity which may involve risk of personal harm or further legal recourse.”
Griffith University School of Law and Society Professor John Flood said
social media sites make it easy to post without “engaging the brain”.
“People think because it’s social media, there’s no consequence to it,” Professor Flood said.
He said the 1988 Australia Privacy Act covers Facebook but not individuals.
“Licence plates are common knowledge, but it would be preferable to pixelate the plates in the photos,” Professor Flood said.
“Yes, it’s possible to defame someone on social media and there are plenty of cases on that now, but you would have to show your reputation in the eyes of others has been damaged.
“The posters would have the defences of truth (yes, that is bad parking) or fair comment (could have parked more considerately); both would work, I believe.
“You can request Facebook to take down the image since it shows the licence plates clearly, but it won’t cover any action against an individual who posts these photos.”
Ipswich City Council, which regulates parking, declined to comment.
