Man hit with $1,100 seatbelt fine despite buckled-up passenger: 'Can’t believe people consider this an offence'
- Replies 40
Driving is a responsibility that comes with its own set of rules and regulations, which were designed to ensure the safety of all road users.
However, a recent incident involving a Brisbane motorist has sparked a heated debate about the interpretation and enforcement of these rules.
One driver was slapped with a whopping $1,100 fine for what authorities deemed as his passenger's incorrect use of a seatbelt.
But was the passenger really buckled up incorrectly? Let's delve into the details.
The driver, who remains anonymous, was left dumbfounded when he received the hefty fine notice.
He insisted that his partner, who was seated in the front passenger seat, was indeed buckled up.
However, her wet weather jacket had obscured the seatbelt, leading to the misunderstanding.
To seek advice and share his frustration, the driver turned to a popular social media platform and uploaded a series of images showing his partner wearing the seatbelt, albeit obscured by her jacket.
'I got hit with a $1100 fine for my partner not wearing her seatbelt “correctly” in the passenger seat,' the driver wrote.
'As you can see in the photos, the seatbelt is worn correctly, but her jumper is covering the seatbelt across her chest.'
The images show the lower part of the seatbelt strapped to her waist, while the shoulder strap appears to be hidden under her jacket.
The driver's post quickly garnered attention, with hundreds of users expressing their confusion and outrage over the fine.
Many agreed that the seatbelt appeared to be worn correctly, and the fine was unjust.
'To me, it looks like it's [seatbelt] being worn correctly,' one commented.
'$1,100 for that is insane,' another replied.
While a third said: 'Wow. Cannot believe people consider this an offence.'
However, others questioned the passenger's decision to wear her seatbelt underneath her jacket, sparking a debate about the correct way to wear a seatbelt.
'That is a silly way to wear a jumper,' one commented.
Others said seatbelt laws do not specify whether the seatbelt must be visible when drivers or their passengers are inside a vehicle and travelling on the road.
The Queensland Revenue Office, responsible for enforcing road safety laws, uses fixed cameras equipped with artificial intelligence to detect potential offences.
These cameras operate 24/7, capturing multiple images of passing vehicles.
A spokesperson for the office declined to comment on the specific matter but stressed that potential violations are investigated.
'If a possible offence is detected, the images are reviewed by an authorised officer within QRO to determine whether to issue an infringement,' Queensland Revenue Office said.
In Queensland, drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt are fined $1,161 and receive four demerit points.
Furthermore, the driver is held responsible for ensuring all passengers are wearing their seatbelts correctly.
Those who believe they have been incorrectly fined can submit inquiries online for a review or contest the matter in court.
What are your thoughts on this incident? Have you ever experienced a similar situation? Share your experiences and opinions in the comments below.
However, a recent incident involving a Brisbane motorist has sparked a heated debate about the interpretation and enforcement of these rules.
One driver was slapped with a whopping $1,100 fine for what authorities deemed as his passenger's incorrect use of a seatbelt.
But was the passenger really buckled up incorrectly? Let's delve into the details.
The driver, who remains anonymous, was left dumbfounded when he received the hefty fine notice.
He insisted that his partner, who was seated in the front passenger seat, was indeed buckled up.
However, her wet weather jacket had obscured the seatbelt, leading to the misunderstanding.
A man fined $1,100 for a seatbelt violation claimed his passenger was indeed wearing a seatbelt. Image source: Reddit.
To seek advice and share his frustration, the driver turned to a popular social media platform and uploaded a series of images showing his partner wearing the seatbelt, albeit obscured by her jacket.
'I got hit with a $1100 fine for my partner not wearing her seatbelt “correctly” in the passenger seat,' the driver wrote.
'As you can see in the photos, the seatbelt is worn correctly, but her jumper is covering the seatbelt across her chest.'
The images showed that the passenger had a seatbelt strapped to her waist. Image source: Reddit.
The images show the lower part of the seatbelt strapped to her waist, while the shoulder strap appears to be hidden under her jacket.
The driver's post quickly garnered attention, with hundreds of users expressing their confusion and outrage over the fine.
Many agreed that the seatbelt appeared to be worn correctly, and the fine was unjust.
'To me, it looks like it's [seatbelt] being worn correctly,' one commented.
'$1,100 for that is insane,' another replied.
While a third said: 'Wow. Cannot believe people consider this an offence.'
However, others questioned the passenger's decision to wear her seatbelt underneath her jacket, sparking a debate about the correct way to wear a seatbelt.
'That is a silly way to wear a jumper,' one commented.
Others said seatbelt laws do not specify whether the seatbelt must be visible when drivers or their passengers are inside a vehicle and travelling on the road.
The Queensland Revenue Office, responsible for enforcing road safety laws, uses fixed cameras equipped with artificial intelligence to detect potential offences.
These cameras operate 24/7, capturing multiple images of passing vehicles.
A spokesperson for the office declined to comment on the specific matter but stressed that potential violations are investigated.
'If a possible offence is detected, the images are reviewed by an authorised officer within QRO to determine whether to issue an infringement,' Queensland Revenue Office said.
In Queensland, drivers caught not wearing a seatbelt are fined $1,161 and receive four demerit points.
Furthermore, the driver is held responsible for ensuring all passengers are wearing their seatbelts correctly.
Those who believe they have been incorrectly fined can submit inquiries online for a review or contest the matter in court.
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