The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service (QPWS) has cracked down on vehicle owners who illegally entered Danbulla State Forest, with dozens of fines issued.
Ranger for the QPWS, Roger James said cameras installed at seven locations late last year had captured drivers illegally accessing the State Forest, often exhibiting a lot of poor and dangerous behaviour.
“The registered owner of every vehicle captured by our cameras is going to receive a $275 fine in the mail,” Mr James said.
“It is illegal to access some areas of the State Forest for safety reasons and we want people to read the signs and avoid the fines,” he said.
Mr James said the QPWS had photos of drivers ignoring the signage and cutting locks on gates, while some had created new dirt trails into the State Forest by chopping down trees.
“Illegal access is associated with other offences, including camping without permits, illegal littering and lighting unlawful fires, which has impacted on vegetation in the past,” he said.
“Some of these people have been using the State Forest tracks as their personal racetracks and often drive recklessly and cause damage by doing ‘donuts’ or digging mud holes when they get bogged.”
Mr James said the hidden cameras not only took photos of vehicle number plates, they also captured illegal driving behaviour.
“We have multiple photographs of people travelling unrestrained in the back of utes and four-wheel-drives, which, when combined with speed and careless driving, is a fatality waiting to happen,” he said.
“Rangers are sick of this dangerous behaviour.
“There are plenty of other places in our region where people can legally enjoy four-wheel-driving and camping,” Mr James said.
