4WD owners at a popular trade show have erupted after several visitors were slapped with defect notices by police patrolling the visitors’ car park. Videos circulating online show multiple revellers at the Australian 4WD and Adventure Show in Perth returning to their cars to notice a yellow sticker on their windscreen over the weekend.
A defect notice is issued to cars found to be unroadworthy and must be inspected at an Authorised Inspection Station or location before a set deadline. Police confirmed to Yahoo News 11 defect notices were issued in South Perth on Friday, November 7.
“WA Police are authorised under the Road Traffic Act to inspect vehicles in public areas, including car parks, without the owner present,” a spokesperson told Yahoo News.
“Where unsafe or illegal alterations are detected, a defect notice can be issued.
“This requires the vehicle to undergo inspection at a Department of Transport centre.
“This provision exists to protect all road users from the risks posed by non-compliant and potentially dangerous vehicles.”
4WDs commonly make modifications to upgrade tyres, suspension and add protection like bullbars and improve visibility with lighting and increased off-road capabilities like snorkels and recovery gear.
“Just walked back to the rig, and they’ve just given me a sticker,” Jono Santoro said.
“I’ve gotten a yellow sticker for being f***ing chilling at the 4WD show.”
Debate erupts over police action against 4WDs
Posting to social media, clothing brand Dirt Born Clothing branded the police move “ridiculous”.
A second video shows police confronting a 4WD owner beside their car.
“Come to the 4WD show and get defected,” another Aussie said.
“How rude,” a driver said. “In the car park?”
A spokesperson for Dirt Born Clothing claimed the defect notices were issued over “things that don’t hurt or endanger anyone”.
“Aussies who spend their weekends out four-wheel driving, going to [4WD] shows like this poor bloke in the video are getting pinged left, right, and centre,” they said.
“Bigger tyres, a lift kit, or even an aftermarket bumper seems to be enough to cop a yellow sticker these days. 99.9 per cent of us who drive 4x4s aren’t out causing trouble.”
They argued cops are “more interested in hardworking weekend adventurers than dealing with real issues”.
Viewers were divided by the footage, while some argued that those who have defected cars should simply “have legal cars” and that car owners were “asking for it”.
Others described the action as “insane” and a “bloody outrage”.
“Setting a speed limit of 100km/h is actually creating circumstances where people are going to get killed.”
Australia’s growing road death toll
The defect notices come after WA recorded the worst road death toll results across the country, with police fighting a huge battle to reduce numbers.
According to the latest benchmarking report released by the Australian Automobile Association, road deaths in Australia are up 6.8 per cent in the last year.
That translates to 1,350 people losing their lives on Australian roads, with thousands more seriously injured.
Western Australia had the worst result, with road deaths rising from 16 to 31 in the 12 months to 30 September 2025, an increase of almost 94 per cent.
That is, despite the largest state in Australia having the only road safety commissioner in the country.
The national Road Safety Strategy, which was put in place in 2021, would see road deaths and serious injuries halved by 2030. Sadly, no state or territory is on track to meet those targets.
The Northern Territory and Tasmania are the only states or territories that saw road deaths decrease, while the average rose across all other states.
Yahoo News contacted event organisers for comment.
with AAP
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