Roads minister Duncan Gay last Friday directed the NSW Vehicle Standards Working Group to conduct a detailed examination of rules for bull bars, with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall welcoming the minister’s quick response to the issue.

“The minister asked the group to come up with a fair transition period for people who have been swept up in the campaign and inadvertently found themselves on the wrong side of the law,” Mr Marshall said.

“Breathing space to work with the authorities and manufacturers is a fair outcome and I commend the minister for delivering a common-sense outcome.

“A Ministerial Order was issued on Tuesday which will allow those motorists who have been issued with defect notices or have concerns about the legality of their bull bar, to continue driving their vehicle during the two-year period.

“Anyone unsure about their bull bar compliance, will now be able to have their bull bar inspected by Roads and Maritime Services (RMS).”

The MP said that he had spoken to many constituents directly impacted by this blitz and in some cases they were facing thousands of dollars in costs to have bull bars replaced.

“This decision will be a great relief to many of my constituents who have been swept up in this recent blitz,” Mr Marshall said.

“This exemption period is to give vehicle owners, who thought that they were doing the right thing, the advantage of some breathing space to rectify any problems.”

The minister has undertaken to ensure that clear guidelines are provided to relevant agencies about what bull bars are compliant, what bull bars will be exempt and what are clearly illegal.

Any owners who are unsure or who have already received a defect notice for a bull bar they believe should be exempt, should then have their vehicle inspected at an RMS Authorised Unregistered Vehicle Inspection Station.

The relevant agencies have been made aware of the Ministerial Order and will work to address outstanding infringement notices.