Antonella Abbate • 12 March 2024

Examiners prosecuted for sight unseen inspections

Examiners signing off on sight unseen inspections face harsh penalties and fines.

False safety inspections result in multiple charges and fines


A Wagga Wagga examiner was fined $14,000 for inadequate road safety inspections last year. 

The examiner pleaded guilty to 55 charges relating to the issuing of 27 false or misleading vehicle inspection reports in 2023.
 
Between March 1 and March 8, 2023, the examiner issued false or misleading inspection reports on vehicles. 
 
He failed to use the madatory brake-testing equipment when conducting the vehicle safety inspections and Magistrate Philip Stewart said his actions were "criminal" rather than laziness. 

Brake tests are a vital part of the annual safety checks, to keep people safe on NSW roads. 

Transport for NSW (Transport), with support from the courts, is cracking down on AIS examiners and proprietors who do the wrong thing, including issuing inspection reports for vehicles they have not inspected in person. 
 
Late last year Transport successfully prosecuted an examiner from Southwestern Sydney.


The magistrate convicted the defendant of all charges, and imposed the following: 

  • Community Corrections Order for 12 months, supervised by the Liverpool Correctional Centre 
  • Community service: 90 hours (in total) 
  • Over $7000 in fines. 


The defendant pleaded guilty to all charges, including: 

  • 9 x false or misleading documents (Section 307C of the Crimes Act 1900) 
  • 10 x issuing false or misleading inspection reports (Clause 68(10) of the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2017) 
  • 1 x breaching the conditions of the examiner’s authority (Clause 68(9) of the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2017) 
  • 10 x permit issuing of false or misleading inspection reports (Clause 69(6) of the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2017) 

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