Company AS 69526: fined $5,000, vehicle standards, 9 October 2026

Party

Party

Company AS 69526. The NHVR publishes court outcomes without the defendant's name.

Type

Company

Role

Role not stated

Reference

AS 69526

The proceeding

Decision

Convicted

Court

Goulburn Local Court (Local or Magistrates)

Jurisdiction

New South Wales

Hearing date

9 October 2026

Law

Heavy Vehicle National Law

Provisions

s 529(a)

Offence

Vehicle standards

Facts

On 15 July 2026, authorised officers of the NHVR observed a heavy vehicle travelling on Hume Highway, Marulan New South Wales. The authorised officers spoke to the driver at the Heavy Vehicle Checking Station and inspected the vehicle, its components and its load. Authorised officers conducted a registration check and identified an outstanding minor Defect Notice issued on 9 July 2026. The Defect Notice was issued in relation to axle one on both the right and left sides for excessive spring shackle movement at the lower bush/pin area, and required repair and clearance by an authorised inspection station. The Defect Notice was to be cleared within 4 days of the Defect Notice being issued, which had expired at 9:40am on 13 July 2026. At the time of the intercept, 15 July 2026, the defects on the vehicle were still outstanding. Section 529(a) of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) prohibits a person from permitting the use of a heavy vehicle on a road in contravention of a vehicle Defect Notice. The Court noted the defendant has a history of non-compliance. Having regard to the company’s history of previous non-compliance, the matter proceeded to court, where the defendant was convicted and fined. The Court also ordered the suspension of the vehicle’s registration for a period of six months.

As reported by NHVR.

Penalty

Fine

$5,000

Fines under s 529(a) on the register: $5,000 to $45,000, median $17,000 across 4 matters.

Educational point

Section 598 of the HVNL empowers the Court to cancel or suspend a vehicle’s registration in specified circumstances, including where a person is convicted of an offence involving a mass, dimension or loading requirement that constitutes a severe risk breach, or any other offence against the HVNL that does not relate to a contravention of a mass, dimension or loading requirement. In this matter, the offence concerned a minor vehicle defect and could have been dealt with by way of a Penalty Infringement Notice (PIN). However, having regard to the company’s history of previous non-compliance, the matter proceeded to court, where the defendant was convicted and fined. This outcome highlights the significance of an operator’s ongoing failure to address identified vehicle defects and comply with regulatory requirements. It also demonstrates that continued vehicle use despite an unresolved Defect Notice, particularly when considered alongside a history of prior non-compliance, may result in consequences beyond the imposition of a financial penalty, including the suspension of vehicle registration.

As reported by NHVR.

Comparable actions

Sources

• NHVR: Court outcomes (read 14 October 2026)