A sunny day at the beach turned into a financial nightmare for a 24-year-old Brisbane woman who was slapped with a whopping $5,805 fine for a reckless four-wheel drive (4WD) stunt at Rainbow Beach.

The incident, caught on camera and subsequently shared on social media, has sparked a wave of criticism and served as a reminder of the importance of road safety, even on the beach.

The video footage showed a silver Toyota Landcruiser speeding along the sandy beach, with five people precariously hanging from or sitting on top of the vehicle.

Queensland Police confirmed the fine, which was issued for five separate traffic infringements.

The dangerous 4WD was caught on camera. Credit: Facebook

The incident has drawn the ire of locals and law enforcement alike, with many condemning the driver's reckless behaviour.

Wide Bay Burnett Police Acting Superintendent Paul Algie didn't mince words when commenting on the incident, labelling it as 's**** driving behaviour'.

His sentiments were echoed by Gympie Patrol Group Inspector Brad Inskip, who issued a statement reminding motorists that the same road rules apply when driving on the beach as on regular roads.

'Road safety is everyone’s responsibility, and I would like to thank the members of the public who assisted with providing information on this incident,' Inspector Inskip said.

'Don’t put your life, or the lives of others, at risk—drive safely and responsibly, especially when you’re on our beaches.'

In another story, the Queensland Police caught a 41-year-old man driving through the floodwaters in Corfield last month, ignoring two road closure signs in the area.

The man was subsequently charged and required to pay hefty fines. You can read more about the story here.

Driving on the beach can be a thrilling experience, but it comes with its own set of rules and challenges.

The same road rules apply on the beach as on the road, and failure to adhere to these can result in hefty fines, as the Brisbane woman discovered.

Here are some tips for safe beach driving:

1. Slow down around parked vehicles: kids could come out unexpectedly.
2. Be aware of hazards, exposed rocks, weed banks and large holes left behind by sandcastle builders.
3. It is illegal to travel outside the vehicle: that means no hanging out of windows or riding in the back.
4. Everyone in the vehicle must wear a seatbelt when it's moving.
5. Never drive too fast, tired or hungover.

Key Takeaways

• A Brisbane woman was fined $5,805 for allegedly dangerous driving on Rainbow Beach, caught on camera.
• The woman's alleged 4WD stunt involved people hanging from or sitting on top of the moving vehicle, contravening traffic laws.
• Local police condemned the act as 's****d driving behaviour' and reminded that road rules apply even on beaches.
• Authorities urge drivers to be responsible and remember that beach driving falls under the same regulations as road driving.

Have you witnessed any beach driving incidents or near misses? Share your stories in the comments below.

 

[Iggydi]

This happens all the time at Rainbow Beach and Bribie Island. The idiots also race each other up and down the beach and do it at night as well. There are many injuries with car rollovers on the beach and a fair few deaths as well. All the gear and no Idea is what these idiots have

 

[Shane O'Neill]

It's classed as a road so why would you have people hang on the outside deserved the fine bloody dickhead

 

[SGH]

No sympathy, absolute idiots deserve what they get.

 

[Jo Piper3]

So very dangerous.

 

[Sloopy]

Good to see fines being issued.

 

[Rob44]

Ah well, why cars are allowed on any beach beats me.

However, if people can't be idiots somewhere, such as those who pay umpteen thousands of dollars to be guided up to the summit of Mt Everest, where can we be idiots? As for sky-diving............i.e. falling out of an aeroplane and hoping one's parachute works satisfactorily cannot be more daft than standing on a running board of a moving 4x4 vehicle on a soft sandy beach.......... Did I tell you about the time I carried 26 people in the tray of a Toyota Hilux some years ago? It saved them a 10 mile walk home. Lightened up the front wheel steering no end, especially going uphill. But that wasn't in Australia.

 

[Jest]

justice prevails for this stupid female.

 

[Scaveola]

It shouldn’t be legal to drive on beaches anywhere.

 

[relljube]

Good to see fines being issued.

Not enough in $

 

[Ezzy]

She received no less than could be expected. The fines possibly should have gone further & included those on the outside of the vehicle too.

At one time it was illegal in W.A. fora driver to have any part of the body outside the vehicle, which included an elbow. Perhaps Law Enforcers are turning a blind eye to some obvious incidents which can cause severe injury in an accident or rollover. Such was the case of the driver, elbow out the window, rolled his vehicle & severely damaged his elbow some years ago.

 

[Bob’s Buddy]

Plain old commonsense! Which is very much lacking now days.

 

[Rob44]

She received no less than could be expected. The fines possibly should have gone further & included those on the outside of the vehicle too.

At one time it was illegal in W.A. fora driver to have any part of the body outside the vehicle, which included an elbow. Perhaps Law Enforcers are turning a blind eye to some obvious incidents which can cause severe injury in an accident or rollover. Such was the case of the driver, elbow out the window, rolled his vehicle & severely damaged his elbow some years ago.

Perhaps simply being in a moving car should be illegal; hundreds get crippled or killed from doing just that.