While Mr Williamson is well within his rights to disagree with the police decision to fine his partner for allowing him to ride unrestrained in the back of a utility after Saturday’s Cavalcade, airing those views very publicly was probably a mistake.

The real issue – and one a number of our readers have picked up on – is the principle of the rule of law.

We live in a society – fortunately – where the application of the law does not vary depending on who you are, what you do or how much money you have.

We have one law for all.

Events such as the Cavalcade, where vehicles are driven at slow speed under highly controlled conditions, do permit passengers to sit on the boot lids of convertibles, ride on the backs of trucks and stand up in the trays of utes.

Once the Cavalcade has ended and the vehicles have left the Festival precinct the drivers and passengers are mixing it with heavy Marius St traffic at speeds of 50km/h. At this point very different rules apply.

Commonsense would dicate that you wouldn’t try to ride from the end of the Cavalcade route back to a motel at least half a kilometre away in the tray of a ute in the full view of Festival crowds.

This is doubly the case if you happen to be nationally-recognisable music figure.

One point to consider is basic health and safety. Mr Williamson is a living national treasure. We would hate to lose him to a freak accident in Tamworth.

Then there is the need to set a good example. Noblesse oblige, so to speak.

We beg to differ with Mr Williamson when he says this incident does not reflect well on Tamworth on the police.

The police did an excellent job over the course of the Festival – on this occasion and on many others.