Planking involves someone lying flat on their stomach in unusual and sometimes dangerous situations, with photographs of their exploits shared through social media sites.<\/p>\n
Facebook page Planking Australia currently has almost 10,000 fans and hundreds of photos of people lying on train tracks, escalators, fire hydrants, motorbikes, and other objects.<\/p>\n
The craze, though, has landed one 20-year-old in court in Queensland state after he was allegedly found “planking” on a police car Wednesday and charged with being on police equipment without lawful excuse.<\/p>\n
Sergeant Matthew Russell, of Gladstone police, told the Brisbane Courier-Mail newspaper that planking could be dangerous, and practitioners may find themselves facing criminal charges.<\/p>\n
“While we appreciate the activity is light-hearted fun, putting yourself and others at risk and breaking the law will not be tolerated,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The activity is potentially dangerous, as proponents of the movement try to out-do each other by planking on structures and in precarious positions, putting themselves and others at risk of harm.”<\/p>\n
He said offenders caught in dangerous situations could be charged with Unauthorised High Risk Activity.<\/p>\n
Planker Michael Brannon defended the so-called sport and accused police of overreacting.<\/p>\n
“Bloody ridiculous if you ask me, just a bit of harmless fun and they are wasting their time on this instead of catching (criminals),” he wrote on Facebook.<\/p>\n