BULLBAR owners are continuing the fight against the NSW police force's crackdown on illegal bullbars, saying there needs to be a common sense approach to the issue.
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The Land has fielded a large number of calls from vehicle owners across the State, who say the ban is a city rule being enforced in country areas.
After The Land's story on the bullbar crackdown was published last Thursday, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall raised the issue in NSW Parliament, saying he had been inundated with phone calls, emails and letters from people who had been issued with defect notices or warnings from police.
Mr Marshall said Australian standards, which had been in place since 2003, outlaw five-poster bullbars, which lean forward from the vehicle and protrude well above bonnet height or the side of the vehicle.
"Many drivers in my electorate have been caught and have been issued with defect notices by highway police patrol for bullbars that have been factory-fitted or fitted by accredited smash repairers and they have unwittingly been driving around - some of them for many years - with bullbars that do not comply with Australian standards," Mr Marshall said.
"They are incurring expenses of sometimes in excess of $4000 to replace those bullbars with that are compliant with the rules."
Mr Marshall said bullbars were an "absolute necessity" on vehicles in rural areas.
"Bullbars are essential for many people living in rural areas, protecting vehicles and, more importantly, protecting people's lives, especially on our roads with huge numbers of kangaroos and other animals around," he said.
"It's completely reasonable for people who buy a new vehicle from a dealership fitted with a bullbar or have one fitted by accredited businesses assume that it meets with Australian standards. After all, why would a car dealer or a smash repairer fit a bullbar that is illegal? Why would bullbars that don't comply be allowed to be manufactured and distributed?"
Mr Marshall said he had raised the issue with Roads Minister Duncan Gay and Fair Trading Minister Matthew Mason-Cox, requesting them to act to address the concerns.
"By and large people are trying to do the right thing - they are trying to protect their vehicles and their loved ones yet they are being penalised," he said.
"Somehow common sense must prevail here. These bullbars should not be allowed to be manufactured and the word must get out in the community that people with bullbars on their vehicles should have them checked and certified by Roads and Maritime Services.
