Mum hit with $410 fine while juggling parenting in the car
- Replies 2
We all know that being a parent comes with its fair share of challenges, from sleepless nights to endless nappy changes.
But one Aussie mum recently discovered a new and unexpected hurdle—one that ended up costing her a whopping $410.
All she was trying to do was the right thing for her baby, yet it still landed her in hot water.
Let’s set the scene: Iliya, a busy mum-of-two, was heading home from a charity event at Randwick Racecourse with her husband.
Like many parents, she’d arranged a babysitter for the night and, in the rush of getting out the door, had to skip her usual 7:30 pm breast pump session for her seven-month-old.
Instead of pumping at the event (because, let’s face it, who wants to whip out the breast pump in the middle of a function?), she decided to use her wearable, cordless Bubka pump in the privacy of the car while her husband drove them home.
Sounds like a clever bit of multitasking, right? Unfortunately, things took a turn when a traffic camera snapped a photo of Iliya in the passenger seat.
The issue? The seatbelt was positioned a bit lower than usual—under her breast—because of the pump.
Despite wearing her seatbelt, she was fined $410 for 'not wearing a seatbelt properly'.
When Iliya disputed the fine, the authorities stood firm. Their response was clear: 'The lap portion of a seatbelt should lie across your hips, and the sash should fall across your chest and mid-shoulder. Seatbelts should be adjusted firmly and laid flat with no twists in the webbing or fabric. They should not be removed, even for a short period of time.'
The photo, they said, showed the sash not across her chest as required.
Iliya paid the fine, but she couldn’t help but feel the situation was a bit strange.
'I totally get if I was holding the baby or if the seatbelt wasn’t on, but it was,' she said.
Like so many mums, she was just trying to juggle her responsibilities—feeding her baby and following the rules.
For many new mums, sticking to a pumping or feeding schedule isn’t just a preference—it’s a necessity.
Delaying a session can lead to discomfort, clogged ducts, mastitis, or even infection.
And with modern wearable pumps, it’s easier than ever to express milk discreetly, even while out and about.
But as Iliya’s story shows, the rules haven’t quite caught up with the realities of modern parenting.
Alicia Segal, co-founder of Bubka, the pump brand Iliya used, weighed in: 'Feeding looks different now. Many mums follow a strict pumping schedule to maintain their milk supply, and sometimes that means expressing milk while travelling as a passenger. That’s something our community and our systems need to be more supportive of.'
She called for clearer, updated guidance for mums who need to pump on the go, so they’re not left to figure it out alone.
Of course, the rules around seatbelts exist for a reason. According to Transport NSW, wearing a seatbelt properly—low, flat, and firm—doubles your chances of surviving a crash.
In 2024 alone, 33 people in NSW lost their lives in crashes because they weren’t wearing a seatbelt correctly.
Every one of those lives was someone’s loved one, and the impact on families and communities is devastating.
So, while it’s vital to follow the rules for your own safety, Iliya’s story highlights a gap in the system.
As technology and parenting practices evolve, perhaps it’s time for a conversation about how to support mums who need to pump on the go, without putting themselves at risk of a hefty fine.
Iliya’s experience is a reminder that sometimes, the rules don’t quite fit the realities of modern life.
As more mums use wearable pumps and juggle busy schedules, perhaps it’s time for clearer guidance and more support.
After all, mums have always done what they need to do to care for their babies—shouldn’t our systems help them do it safely?
Have you ever been caught out by a little-known road rule, or had to juggle parenting duties on the go? Do you think the rules need to change to better support modern mums? We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences—share your stories in the comments below.
Read more: Are the new seatbelt fines fair? Drivers say the system is flawed and it's costing them big
But one Aussie mum recently discovered a new and unexpected hurdle—one that ended up costing her a whopping $410.
All she was trying to do was the right thing for her baby, yet it still landed her in hot water.
Let’s set the scene: Iliya, a busy mum-of-two, was heading home from a charity event at Randwick Racecourse with her husband.
Like many parents, she’d arranged a babysitter for the night and, in the rush of getting out the door, had to skip her usual 7:30 pm breast pump session for her seven-month-old.
Instead of pumping at the event (because, let’s face it, who wants to whip out the breast pump in the middle of a function?), she decided to use her wearable, cordless Bubka pump in the privacy of the car while her husband drove them home.
An Aussie mum was fined $410 for improper seatbelt use while pumping breast milk as a passenger. Credit: Depositphotos
Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.
Disclaimer: This is a stock image used for illustrative purposes only and does not depict the actual person, item, or event described.
Sounds like a clever bit of multitasking, right? Unfortunately, things took a turn when a traffic camera snapped a photo of Iliya in the passenger seat.
The issue? The seatbelt was positioned a bit lower than usual—under her breast—because of the pump.
Despite wearing her seatbelt, she was fined $410 for 'not wearing a seatbelt properly'.
When Iliya disputed the fine, the authorities stood firm. Their response was clear: 'The lap portion of a seatbelt should lie across your hips, and the sash should fall across your chest and mid-shoulder. Seatbelts should be adjusted firmly and laid flat with no twists in the webbing or fabric. They should not be removed, even for a short period of time.'
The photo, they said, showed the sash not across her chest as required.
Iliya paid the fine, but she couldn’t help but feel the situation was a bit strange.
'I totally get if I was holding the baby or if the seatbelt wasn’t on, but it was,' she said.
Like so many mums, she was just trying to juggle her responsibilities—feeding her baby and following the rules.
For many new mums, sticking to a pumping or feeding schedule isn’t just a preference—it’s a necessity.
Delaying a session can lead to discomfort, clogged ducts, mastitis, or even infection.
And with modern wearable pumps, it’s easier than ever to express milk discreetly, even while out and about.
But as Iliya’s story shows, the rules haven’t quite caught up with the realities of modern parenting.
Alicia Segal, co-founder of Bubka, the pump brand Iliya used, weighed in: 'Feeding looks different now. Many mums follow a strict pumping schedule to maintain their milk supply, and sometimes that means expressing milk while travelling as a passenger. That’s something our community and our systems need to be more supportive of.'
She called for clearer, updated guidance for mums who need to pump on the go, so they’re not left to figure it out alone.
Of course, the rules around seatbelts exist for a reason. According to Transport NSW, wearing a seatbelt properly—low, flat, and firm—doubles your chances of surviving a crash.
In 2024 alone, 33 people in NSW lost their lives in crashes because they weren’t wearing a seatbelt correctly.
Every one of those lives was someone’s loved one, and the impact on families and communities is devastating.
So, while it’s vital to follow the rules for your own safety, Iliya’s story highlights a gap in the system.
As technology and parenting practices evolve, perhaps it’s time for a conversation about how to support mums who need to pump on the go, without putting themselves at risk of a hefty fine.
Iliya’s experience is a reminder that sometimes, the rules don’t quite fit the realities of modern life.
As more mums use wearable pumps and juggle busy schedules, perhaps it’s time for clearer guidance and more support.
After all, mums have always done what they need to do to care for their babies—shouldn’t our systems help them do it safely?
Read more: Are the new seatbelt fines fair? Drivers say the system is flawed and it's costing them big
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Thanks for the cheeky call-out!
