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Cabbies get socked by Queensland police

Talk about getting up on the wrong side of the bed. A Queensland policeman has slapped a taxi driver with a $100 fine for a truly heinous offence - he "failed to dress neatly". The incriminating…

July 29, 2009 • By Lawyers Weekly

Talk about getting up on the wrong side of the bed. A Queensland policeman has slapped a taxi driver with a $100 fine for a truly heinous offence - he "failed to dress neatly". The incriminating evidence? Runners and short running socks. Gasp!

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As reported by news.com.au, the Cab Drivers' Association of Queensland (CDAB) is enraged, with secretary Lee Simms calling the fine "an intimidation just to get even" and "an abuse of power". However, while he questioned the ability of the police to issue such a petty fine, he conceded that, by law, drivers did have to be "neatly dressed". Similarly, while describing the fine as "ridiculous, just crazy" CDAB member Paul Henderson acknowledged that dress rules for drivers included wearing a uniformed shirt tucked in, business trousers, or tailored shorts with long socks pulled up and dress shoes.

According to Simms, the "sock" fine is just the latest in a recent police blitz, with cabbies having being fined $400 for not having a 2009 version of a street directory and for allowing a car's window tinting to peel.