Worst Fears Realised.
It finally happened - I drove my unregistered car out on the streets, and got pulled over by the police.
Bottom line is, I took a risk and got caught out, and now (they're sending out infringement notices) I will pay the price (probably literally).
The Details
I was going to use the car originally to go food shopping. We were going to go food shopping Monday night. Kevin was too tired so we put it off to Tuesday night. Come Tuesday night Kevin was feeling stuffed again, so I suggested using the car on Wednesday. There was a Queer BBQ at the Bar on the Hill Wednesday evening, Kevin could visit Jenny, and later we could go food shopping at Wallsend Plaza.
It was my plan, though I kept on feeling that we should park the car at the Plaza, and take buses to Jenny's and the university. Instead I drove the car (via West Wallsend Hot Bread Shop and Wallsend Plaza) direct to Jenn's (fearing very nervous and apprehensive all the way). The original plan was to get there early afternoon but neither of us were ready until 2:30pm. Didn't get to Jenn's until after 3pm. I left about 4:20pm to catch a bus to the uni, and got back (after 1/2 a bus trip and a walk the rest of the way about 9:30pm.
I stayed and watched an episode of Medium on TV, and then we left for the Plaza. An unmarked police car pulled us over and then that was that. AS it hasn't been registered since December 19th (and therefore uninsured) I shouldn't have been driving it. Therefore, I couldn't continue to drive it, and had to park it in the car park at the Henny Penny at Wallsend. After removing a selection of personal items from the car (including all the tarot card reproductions I had stuck up on the rear windows) Kevin and I waited for a 101 bus to Glendale.
The bus was about 20 minutes late, but we did eventually get to the BP at Glendale, where I went to the toilet and Kevin bought us food and paid for a taxi home. Go home, fed the pets, and now I'm typing this.
Well, I knew that if I kept using the car one of three things would happen (accident / breakdown / police), and it did. I guess the temptation to use it "just one more time" was too much. Either way, now I bear the consequences of my actions, and though I'm not very happy about it (and nobody better dare saying "I told you so") I have to accept that. No one forced me to drive the car - I did so because it was an easy option to do so, rather than let it go and/or save up for repairs.
The least I'll get will be a fine - I guess there goes this years "advance" from Centrelink (last year's went on paying panel beating costs on an accident I don't remember). However, now I have an additional problem, of having the car stuck in Wallsend at in the Henny Penny car park. Don't know what to do about that. Kevin suggested that I just call a wreckers and give her to them. Not keen on that, and as I don't know of anyone who'd tow the car for me (and am uncertain about paying someone to tow it) I don't know what to do.
Suggestions anyone?