Motorist baffled after copping a massive $2,050 fine for a little-known driving offence
A car rental company employee has warned drivers about breaking the general traffic rule after a customer was fined $2,050.
The Sydney employee shared a photo of the hefty fine online, which showed the customer was arrested for improper seat belt use on the M4 at Greystanes in Sydney’s west on December 22.
“I work for a car rental company and I’ve seen more incidents like this pop up in recent months,” they posted on Reddit.
‘This poor guy got double demerit points.
“In this case, the passenger was wearing the seat belt under his shoulder.”
Because the driver used a rental car, he was fined five times higher than the fine imposed on private individuals.
“Once a driver is nominated, the fine will be reduced,” the message read.
“If you do not appoint a driver, you will be required to pay the full fine amount of $2,050 and will be required to pay an additional fine of over $1,400.”
A driver was fined $2,050 after he was caught wearing his seat belt under his arm while driving a rental car (stock image)
The driver ultimately paid a $400 fine and lost six demerit points.
Hundreds of commenters expressed confusion as to why the driver ignored a general traffic rule.
‘I can’t believe anyone born before 1970 doesn’t wear a seat belt as standard. I’m pretty sure this was the law long before I was born and I’m in my 40s,” one person wrote.
Another added: ‘This is literally part of the Driving Skills Test and Road User Handbook.’
One suggested the driver may not have been local.
“Many of the police tools we use here are unheard of abroad,” they noted.
Because the driver used a rental car, he was fined (photo) five times higher than the fine imposed on private individuals
‘Although you must always follow the rules, I wonder to what extent some tourists are aware of how strict we are unless it is made clear to them.’
Another added: ‘I got into an Uber in Italy and as we immediately put on our seat belts the driver turned around and said “Australian?”.’
Seat belts double the chance of surviving a car crash and significantly reduce the risk of serious injury, the NSW government says.
On average, 29 people die and 76 people are seriously injured every year in crashes while not wearing a seat belt on NSW roads.
Laws require drivers and passengers to wear seat belts properly, and state that to be considered safe, the seat belt must be “low, level and secure.”
Phone and seat belt detection cameras were rolled out across NSW from July 1 last year, with drivers only allowed to avoid wearing seat belts in very limited circumstances.
Drivers with a full license are not required to wear a seat belt when reversing or when driving a garbage or van that travels less than 25 km/h and stops frequently.