Big fines 'for safety'
THE Department of Traffic and Main Roads (TMR) responded to the Daily News queries about large fines suffered by local mechanics at noon yesterday, nearly 24 hours after the request was made.
The Daily News asked the department why fines of up to $3000 were being dealt out for human errors in roadworthy certificates.
A spokesman for TMR said road safety was their "number one priority".
"Vehicle safety inspections are an important part of road safety measures," he said.
"They ensure vehicles comply with safety standards and are safe to operate."
The spokesman said every approved examiner needed to be vigilant about every inspection.
"It's vital vehicle identification numbers on engines are recorded properly. Otherwise people could buy stolen vehicles without knowing."
