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New South Wales Police has recently been criticised after an Instagram user spotted a Highway Patrol car wearing learner plates while driving.
Initially posted by user "its_called_straya", the BMW was posted driving on L-plates with the caption "when you see the 5-0, but they're just learning".
The comments section garnered several negative opinions, with many criticising the police officers for their sneaky tactics while on patrol.
"They should be fined and hit with three demerits, as any normal public citizen would under the law in NSW," wrote one user.
"Yet, if your mum drives down to the local shop with your L-plates on, she can get a fine? Why can't they," said another.
"I lost my licence due to not having P-plates. Where is the difference here?" was simply stated another way.
Was this a case of a new police officer learning to drive while on the job? Or a matter of going incognito to catch drivers doing the wrong thing?
In Australia, police officers are required to have a full, unrestricted licence before they can get behind the wheel of any police vehicle.
If they were trying to blend in with traffic as a means to catch people breaking road rules, it would not be the first time this tactic has been used. In fact, New South Wales Highway Patrol has come under fire numerous times before.
In 2017, an unmarked Ford Falcon XR6 was spotted wearing green P-plates after it was posted to the official police Facebook page. However, the officers involved later claimed it was a harmless joke on social media.
"The car was not used operationally, and using P-plates on Highway Patrol cars is not a tactic used by police to detect speeding drivers," said a NSW Police spokesperson.
In 2015, a photo posted to social media showed a black VF Holden Commodore unmarked NSW Highway Patrol car with red P-plates.
Then, in 2013, an unmarked VF Commodore was the subject of an internal investigation by Victoria Police after it was spotted with the popular "My Family" sticker and L-plates on it while pulling over motorists.
At the time, on Fairfax Radio, senior police member Superintendent Graeme Collins said that it was a "practical joke" among officers.
"I can say wholeheartedly that it's not Victoria Police policy, it's certainly not our practice, it's not professional, and it's not condoned," Superintendent Collins said.
As for the police officer spotted recently, NSW Police told Yahoo Australia that the police car was at a community event and was showing young drivers how to correctly attach L and P-plates to their cars.
With so many 'practical jokes' among the Highway Patrol, is what they are doing illegal?
Is it illegal to have P and L-plates on your car as a fully licensed driver?
It is illegal in most states to have L or P-plates on your car as a fully licensed driver. Drivers in the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Western Australia, Queensland, Northern Territory and Tasmania will all be fined up to $250 for forgetting to remove L and P-plates while on their full licence.
However, in New South Wales and South Australia, there are technically no laws that cover the use of L and P-plates while on your full licence.
While not illegal in those states, you could still be stung for speeding over what is marked on the L and P-plates themselves (90km/h for L and red P-plates, 100km/h for green P-plates).
Zane Dobie comes from a background of motorcycle journalism, working for notable titles such as Australian Motorcycle News Magazine, Just Bikes and BikeReview. Despite his fresh age, Zane brings a lifetime of racing and hands-on experience. His passion now resides on four wheels as an avid car collector, restorer, drift car pilot and weekend go-kart racer.
