Man faces shocking penalty charges for common driving habit

Navigating the roads of Sydney can be a challenge at the best of times.

However, for one driver, a simple act behind the wheel became a financial and emotional ordeal that serves as a cautionary tale for all motorists.


The incident unfolded when a 62-year-old Sydney driver suddenly received a $387 fine and a staggering ten demerit points for what the authorities claimed was illegal phone use while driving.

The fine was particularly hefty, as it doubled during the Easter Monday holiday period.

Due to the fine and issued demerit points, the man's driving licence is on the brink of suspension.


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Drivers must mount their phones on a cradle, should they use it for navigation. Image Credit: Pexels/Lisa Fotios


The driver was adamant about not using his phone when a mobile detection camera caught him.

He insisted he held his wallet and secured his phone in a cradle.

The shock of the fine was so severe that the man collapsed and required assistance to get back on his feet.


His son witnessed the distressing scene and has since been advocating on his father's behalf.

The photo evidence sent to the man seemed to be in his favour.

'I went to the computer, downloaded the image, and saw a wallet in his hand. You can see his phone is in the cradle,' he said.

'In his left hand, you can see the wallet, and in his right hand, he's holding a $50 bill.'

The son also pointed out that his father is 'old school' and rarely uses his phone, especially while driving.

'For the older generation who don't understand the technologies and stuff, it's scary,' he added.

The incident highlighted the potential for errors with automated enforcement systems.


Another driver faced a similar situation despite never owning a mobile phone or a computer.

He was fined after being caught by a mobile phone detection camera. However, his fine was revoked after a strong appeal.

This reminds drivers to mount their phones in a cradle or keep them away while driving.

If you are in this situation, know your rights and appeal any fines you believe were wrongly issued.

Keep records of your driving habits, and have a passenger who can vouch for your actions.

The emotional and financial stress of receiving such a fine can be overwhelming.

It's essential to stay informed about the rules and to keep abreast of any changes to traffic laws.
Key Takeaways

  • A Sydney driver collapsed in shock after receiving a $387 fine and ten demerit points for allegedly using his mobile phone while driving. However, he claims he was holding his wallet.
  • Mobile detection cameras caught the driver during the double demerit point period, potentially risking his licence.
  • The driver's son appealed the fine, supporting the claim with evidence that his father's phone was in a cradle and that the item in question was a wallet.
  • Another driver, who does not own a mobile phone, faced a similar fine but had it revoked after appealing.
Have you or someone you know been in a similar situation? Please share your stories with us in the comments section below.
 
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Phones are a distraction yes but so is taking your eyes off the road continuously to check your speed, dodging pot holes, screaming and crying children in the back seat, billboards taking your eyes and mind completely off the road and the list goes on. But it's only mobile phones that are addressed and people are fined incorrectly causing anxiety and stress and potential heart failure and then having to prove their innocence, guilty until proven innocent. Are we heading towards the need of requiring internal car cameras to record our activity as the law is changing to not protecting the innocent.
 
Phones are a distraction yes but so is taking your eyes off the road continuously to check your speed, dodging pot holes, screaming and crying children in the back seat, billboards taking your eyes and mind completely off the road and the list goes on. But it's only mobile phones that are addressed and people are fined incorrectly causing anxiety and stress and potential heart failure and then having to prove their innocence, guilty until proven innocent. Are we heading towards the need of requiring internal car cameras to record our activity as the law is changing to not protecting the innocent.
This type of "in car camera" which also catches the outside view in an accident are easily available today and are not that expensive.
 
The only time my phone sits in the cradle is when I need to use maps. I have a bluetooth device in the car that I can make and receive calls on but I never talk while I’m driving. If I’m not using my phone for maps then it stays in my bag.
 
Typical IT ruling our lives, doesn't anyone check these fines, and if they do fine them.
 
Revenue raising and police entrapment. It's all about the money for the government. I don't trust cops or judges as far as I can spit and that's not very far.
 
Technically he should not have been reaching into his pocket and taking out his wallet and extracting money. That is a distraction from driving just as much if not more than pushing a button on your phone.
Have I missed it? I didn’t read anywhere that the man reached into his pocket to extract his wallet & the $50 bill while driving. My phone is always in my handbag, if it rings with my medicine alarm I just let it keep ringing or pull over, stop the car, turn off the engine AND remove the key before turning the phone off or checking who the caller is. I believe stopping, turning off the engine AND removing the key is part of the rules.
 
Technically he should not have been reaching into his pocket and taking out his wallet and extracting money. That is a distraction from driving just as much if not more than pushing a button on your phone.
Totally agree, what he did was just as dangerous as holding a phone, or more so. He obviously wasn’t concentrating on his driving, and why did he need to get his wallet out and extract $50 out of it while he was driving. Both his hands were compromised, he definitely didn’t have proper control of his vehicle.
 

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