Driver's bizarre number plate prompts $933 fine warning: 'Not legal'
A keen-eyed local photographed the strange-looking plates and posted images online, asking "what the F are these? Surely [they're] not legal?".
People from all around the country weighed in, with one person's response in particular generating a lot of traction. "They're plates which will guarantee SAPOL will pull them over at their first opportunity," they wrote. Another suggested the plates belong to a member of a so-called "sovereign citizen" movement — a growing group of fringe conspiracists, who believe laws don't apply to them and can be opted out of.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a spokesman for SAPOL confirmed the plates in question are highly illegal, and in fact, can attract an on-the-spot fine of $933. "These plates appear fake and are not plates that have been issued by SA Department for Infrastructure and Transport," he told Yahoo.
People online criticised the driver's decision to boldly break the law. "It's the best way to show off your dreadful understanding [of the law] to an already disinterested person," one person said. "You found a sovereign citizen in the wild," another commented. "Those are the 'please pull me over plates', otherwise known as sovereign citizen plates," joked a third.
It's not the first time the scenario has emerged on Australian roads. A photo, captured in Queensland in 2023, earlier showed the rear of a Holden with a plate that features the text "Private Property Non-Commercial, Living Woman, Terra Australia Incognito", along with an incorrect claim that removing the plate "incurs a $50,000 fine".
Bizarrely, it also contained a legitimate registration number in extremely small text. Some followers of the sovereign citizen movement can actually pose a serious threat. In 2010, a father-son team in the US murdered two police officers with an assault rifle after being pulled over.
In NSW in recent times, a police officer was forced to smash a car window after a "sovereign citizen" refused to get out of her vehicle and claimed she was not in the officer's jurisdiction.
Number plate with 'naughty' hidden message spotted
Dodgy detail in Aussie's number plate could attract $900 fine
Aussies lose it over motorist's 'sovereign citizen' licence plate
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Dr Ben Rich, co-director of Curtin University's Curtin Extremism Research Network (CERN), said police and intelligence agencies around the nation are concerned about the "sovereign citizen" movement. "The injection of increasingly extremist American ideas reflecting that country's own internal dysfunctions has caused the overall movement to take a darker turn over the past decade," Dr Rich earlier said.
"The Covid-19 lockdowns were a real catalyst for Sov-Cit political mobilisation in Australia, and we saw many of them turning out in anti-lockdown and anti-government protests in unprecedented numbers with their distinctive iconography."
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
31 minutes ago
- CNN
Wall street investors react to Trump-Powell squabble
'This is a soap opera': 'Einstein' & 'Ives' react to Trump-Powell squabble CNN's Erin Burnett talks with Dan Ives and Peter Tuchman about the awkward moment between President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell during their tour of the Fed's $2.5 billion renovation project. 02:12 - Source: CNN Automated CNN Shorts 10 videos 'This is a soap opera': 'Einstein' & 'Ives' react to Trump-Powell squabble CNN's Erin Burnett talks with Dan Ives and Peter Tuchman about the awkward moment between President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell during their tour of the Fed's $2.5 billion renovation project. 02:12 - Source: CNN Taiwanese TV drama shows what a Chinese invasion could look like Taiwan is gearing up for another election – this time to unseat 'pro-China' lawmakers. The vote could break the political gridlock the island is in, with disagreements turning into brawls in the parliament, hampering Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's ability to push forward his agenda that addresses key US concerns over Taiwan. The vote comes after the premier of Zero Day, a TV series which dramatizes what it could look like if China were to attack Taiwan, told from a Taiwanese perspective, and Taiwan's biggest military drill and civil defense exercise. CNN's Will Ripley breaks all of it down. 02:15 - Source: CNN American woman who funneled $17M to North Korea sentenced to jail An American woman was sentenced to 8.5 years in prison for helping North Korean operatives infiltrate American companies. Christina Chapman previously pled guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to launder monetary instruments. This is the latest in a series of charges and indictments related to the North Korean IT worker scheme in which North Korean operatives seek IT jobs at American companies to generate revenue for the regime and its nuclear program. 01:15 - Source: CNN Video shows Thai drones dropping bombs at Thailand-Cambodia border Thailand releases video of drones bombing military targets in Cambodia, as the border conflict between the nations stretches into another day. 00:37 - Source: CNN Macron says France will recognize a Palestinian state French President Emmanuel Macron said France will recognize a Palestinian state in an announcement to the United Nations General Assembly in September. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the decision saying it 'rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became.' 00:48 - Source: CNN How Hulk Hogan's historic lawsuit changed the face of media CNN's Chief Media Analyst Brian Stelter breaks down how a lawsuit brought by Hulk Hogan against the blog Gawker forever changed the media industry. The case, which was filed after Gawker published Hogan's sex tape, set the stage for a slew of A-list celebrities filing blockbuster lawsuits against media companies. 02:04 - Source: CNN Before and after photos show Trump's redesign of Rose Garden Before and after photos show the dramatic changes the Trump administration is making to the White House Rose Garden, including paving over the lawn. The garden has undergone several renovations since its creation by First Lady Ellen Wilson in 1913. 00:59 - Source: CNN Scientist unexpectedly finds shark devouring another shark Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante came across a rare instance of female spotted wobbegong devouring a young male shark in New South Wales, Australia. Discovery and CNN share a corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery. Catch Shark Week on Discovery all week long. 01:22 - Source: CNN All five acquitted in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial Within minutes of starting to read her verdict, the words of Justice Maria Carroccia resonated across Canada as she bluntly assessed that, 'I do not find the evidence of E.M. to be either credible or reliable.' Five professional hockey players -- Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube and Alex Formenton -- were all acquitted on Thursday, according to the Associated Press, on charges of sexual assault in connection with a June 2018 incident at a hotel room in London, Ontario, when they were members of the country's World Juniors hockey team. 01:19 - Source: CNN Palestinian Authority Prime Minister slams Israel for hunger crisis In an exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa reacts to Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer's assertion that 'there is no famine caused by Israel.' The government has denied responsibility and accuses Hamas of 'engineering' food shortages. 01:21 - Source: CNN
CNN
40 minutes ago
- CNN
Family farm under threat of town seizing land
Family farm under threat of town seizing land A New Jersey town told Andy Henry it can seize his land for affordable housing — whether he wants to sell or not. The fight has attracted national attention, including from the Trump administration. CNN's Meena Duerson reports. 02:42 - Source: CNN Vertical Top News 17 videos Family farm under threat of town seizing land A New Jersey town told Andy Henry it can seize his land for affordable housing — whether he wants to sell or not. The fight has attracted national attention, including from the Trump administration. CNN's Meena Duerson reports. 02:42 - Source: CNN Why are Thailand and Cambodia fighting? Tensions are rising between Thailand and Cambodia over a border dispute that dates back to 1907. CNN's Will Ripley explains how the conflict has escalated. 01:32 - Source: CNN CNN reports from Gaza aid crossing CNN's Nic Robertson is on the scene at the Kerem Shalom border crossing as aid agencies warn of rampant hunger caused by Israel's blockade of Gaza. Gaza's health ministry said on Tuesday that 900,000 children are going hungry, and 70,000 already show signs of malnutrition. Israel denies it is at fault and accuses Hamas of 'engineering' food shortages. 01:39 - Source: CNN Almost 50 missing as plane crashes in Russia Dozens of civilians are feared dead, including children, after a Soviet era passenger jet crashed in Russia's far east Amur Region. Burning wreckage was discovered by rescuers just 10 miles (16 kilometers) from the Tynda airport, the plane's destination. 00:30 - Source: CNN Erin Burnett on the significance of Trump knowing he's in the Epstein files CNN's Erin Burnett explains how reports that President Trump was briefed that he is named in the Epstein files shine a light on his recent denials of that exact claim. 02:13 - Source: CNN Judge declines to release Epstein grand jury documents A Florida federal judge declined to release additional grand jury documents from the criminal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein, marking the first roadblock in the Justice Department's efforts to quell the public backlash over the handling of the case. CNN's Evan Perez reports. 02:43 - Source: CNN Bryan Kohberger sentenced to life in prison Bryan Kohberger has been sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murders of four University of Idaho students. 01:29 - Source: CNN Fans pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne Fans have gathered in Ozzy Osbourne's hometown to pay tribute to the former Black Sabbath singer, who died yesterday at the age of 76. One of them told CNN's Salma Abdelaziz that Osbourne will 'live on forever in his music.' 01:07 - Source: CNN Hot Chinese brands are coming to America Chinese brands like Luckin Coffee, Pop Mart, and HEYTEA are expanding in the United States, despite the ongoing trade war. CNN's Vanessa Yurkevich and Marc Stewart report from two different continents on why the companies covet American customers. 02:10 - Source: CNN Metal legend Ozzy Osbourne dies at 76-years-old Ozzy Osbourne, the hellraising frontman of Black Sabbath and reality TV star, has died aged 76. CNN's Stephanie Elam looks back at the legendary career as the Godfather of Heavy Metal. 03:05 - Source: CNN Newly uncovered photos show Jeffrey Epstein attended Trump's wedding in 1993 Photos from Trump's 1993 wedding and video footage from 1999 Victoria's Secret fashion show shed light on Trump-Epstein relationship. CNN's Andrew Kaczynski has the story. 01:31 - Source: CNN Missing child case from 46 years ago reopened A federal appeals court overturned the verdict of Pedro Hernandez, the bodega worker who was found guilty in 2017 of kidnapping and murdering Etan Patz in 1979. Patz was 6 years old when he disappeared on the first day he was allowed to walk alone to his school bus stop in New York City. 01:50 - Source: CNN US citizen among Druze executed in Syria Hosam Saraya, a 35-year-old Syrian-American from Oklahoma, was among eight men, all family members, rounded up and killed in an execution-style attack amid an outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria this month. The violence flared between Syrian Druze groups and Bedouin tribes in the Druze-majority Suwayda province. Video geolocated by CNN shows a group of men, Saraya included, being marched to their death. 02:04 - Source: CNN Epstein's brother vividly details relationship between Trump and Epstein Jeffrey Epstein's brother, Mark, tells CNN's Erin Burnett about his brother's 'very close' friendship with Donald Trump in the 1990s. 02:01 - Source: CNN Stephen Colbert addresses 'The Late Show' cancellation 'Cancel culture has gone too far,' Stephen Colbert told the audience as he began his first post-cancellation episode of 'The Late Show.' The host went on to fire back at Trump's Truth Social post celebrating the announcement by CBS. The episode also featured cameos by late night talk show hosts including Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, John Oliver and Seth Meyers. 01:24 - Source: CNN Fire tornado rips through Turkish forest Turkey's forestry ministry has released video of a fire tornado tearing through the country's woodland. Hundreds of wildfires have gripped Turkey this summer, as well as Greece and other Mediterranean countries. 00:33 - Source: CNN Breonna Taylor's mother speaks out on officer's sentencing CNN's Laura Coates speaks with Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylor's mother, about the sentencing of former Louisville police officer Brett Hankison. He was given three years in prison for using excessive force during the deadly 2020 Breonna Taylor raid. 01:45 - Source: CNN
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Arizona woman sentenced in North Korean tech worker scheme
A woman in Arizona was sentenced Thursday to more than 8 years in prison for orchestrating a complex fraud scheme to help North Korean cyber operatives pose as Americans and obtain remote IT jobs at hundreds of US companies, including Fortune 500 corporations. The plot, described by the Department of Justice as one of the largest North Korean IT worker fraud schemes, used the stolen identities of 68 Americans, defrauded more than 300 US businesses and generated more than $17 million in revenue –– funds that could benefit the nuclear-armed North Korean regime, the department said in a release. Christina Chapman, 50, pleaded guilty in February after being accused of operating a 'laptop farm' from her home, where she 'received and hosted' company-issued computers on behalf of foreign IT workers to trick companies into believing the workers were living in the US. She was charged with nine counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. In its statement, the DOJ said North Korea has deployed thousands of highly skilled IT workers around the world, including to the US, to circumvent controls employed by US companies to prevent illegal hirings by enlisting the assistance of US-based collaborators. The DOJ said Chapman shipped 49 laptops and other devices to various locations abroad, including a city in China near the North Korean border. Authorities found more than 90 laptops in her home in an October 2023 search. Chapman also received and forged payroll records using stolen identities. Funds were deposited into her personal US accounts and then transferred to individuals overseas. Among the companies affected by the scheme are Fortune 500 corporations, a major national TV network, an aerospace manufacturer, an American car maker and a luxury retail store, the May indictment read, without naming the companies. Officials said that foreign IT workers unsuccessfully attempted to obtain employment at two US government agencies. The State Department and other agencies issued in 2022 a warning about schemes, where North Korean IT workers, posing as from other nationalities, offered to work remotely and applied for jobs in electronic gaming, IT support, and artificial intelligence, among other sectors. Some of these IT workers work closely with North Korean hackers, who are also a rich source of revenue for the regime, according to experts who spoke with CNN. About half of North Korea's missile program has been funded by cyberattacks and cryptocurrency theft, a White House official said in 2024. 'By directing its IT workers to gain employment at Western companies, North Korea has weaponized its tech talent and created the ultimate insider threat,' Michael Barnhart, a North Korea specialist at Google-owned cybersecurity firm Mandiant, told CNN in 2024. 'These operatives bypass sanctions by diverting their paychecks to help fund North Korea's nuclear program. Simultaneously, they're providing a foothold into major organizations for North Korea's more advanced threat groups,' Barnhart said.
