Drivers confused over police decal on cleaning company’s van in Williamstown Victoria

A cleaning van with a decal design that looks identical to the checkered pattern on police vehicles has been surprising other drivers.

An image of the Renault Trafic covered in a distinctive blue and white pattern running along the sides and rear was posted on social media on Tuesday.

The van surprised drivers in Williamstown, Melbourne’s Bay Area, who mistook the commercial vehicle for a police van.

One motorist said it “gained attention but not for the right reasons”.

Social media commenters took issue with the use of familiar branding (pictured)

‘Surely this can’t be legal, right? How is it that this traditional vehicle does not imitate a police vehicle? the title of your post is read.

“It should have been uploaded and changed a long time ago,” they added.

‘I have passed [this vehicle] on the freeway a couple of times and had a mini heart attack each time,” another driver complained.

‘[This van] it made me slow down to 60’, said a motorist.

Other commenters thought it was a good way to keep road users at bay.

“If it makes even a muppet stop accelerating and stay left unless you pass it, fine,” said one.

Williamstown police said the design of the van (pictured) was a “good deterrent” for drivers.

Other motorists said the design was legitimate claiming that the authorities had no problem with the driver wearing the colors blue and white (a police vehicle in Victoria is pictured)

‘Ideal for exhibition/advertising [but] It’s also great for slowing down other cars,” another commenter wrote.

The person who posted the photo later realized the design was “legitimate” after following up with authorities.

‘[Police] they were aware of the vehicle and actually had to consult lawmakers to determine the legality of the decals,” the driver wrote.

‘The officers at the station did not know how far the law went.

“It’s legal, but it was questionable enough that even VICPOL members weren’t sure and needed to seek clarification.

‘But it’s legal, so fair game, carry on!’

“Okay, police car controls are blue and white, this one is white and blue,” one online commenter quipped (a police car in Melbourne is pictured)

local authorities said Yahoo News Australia the van was “fully” compliant and did not infringe the Victorian Police Act.

Williamstown police said the van’s design was a “good deterrent” for drivers.

The van’s owner, Jason Thurley, runs his JT Services business with the vehicle in the Williamstown area of ​​Melbourne.

She’s gotten a lot of calls since she changed the design a year ago, and she chose the print because she wanted her business to stand out.

“I thought to myself, ‘What gets people’s attention?'” Thurley said.

‘So he’s really paid for himself quite a few times to tell you the truth.’

But Thurley, who worked for Victoria Police between 2010 and 2014, didn’t expect the new image to cause drivers to slow down.

“If I can kill two birds with one stone and get a little bit of business and slow people down at the same time, well, that’s even better.”

Meanwhile, online commenters continued to joke about the viral post.

‘Okay, police car controls are blue and white, this one is white and blue,’ said one.

‘I wonder if his checkered past caught up with him.’ wrote another.

“Both he and his former employer have a very checkered record,” another quipped.