Navigating the road rules can sometimes feel like a minefield for Australian drivers, and it seems there’s yet another potential pitfall that could hit your wallet hard. A little-known act is causing a stir, and if you’re not aware of it, you could find yourself facing a hefty $410 fine.
With Australia striving for safer roads and fewer fatalities, authorities have intensified their focus on compliance. However, this push for stricter enforcement has left many drivers feeling like they’re constantly at risk of fines, even for what they consider minor or obscure infractions.
As more drivers discover this costly mistake, frustration is mounting over what some see as an overly strict enforcement of road rules.
Hayder Shkara, a principal lawyer at Walker Pender, has voiced concerns after a recent report highlighted that drivers could face a hefty fine if their passenger reclines the front seat too far to take a nap, potentially compromising the correct wearing of their seatbelt.
This rule may come as a surprise to many, and according to Shkara, it’s ‘just another’ way drivers can find themselves facing fines. He believes that this particular regulation is a ‘step too far,’ arguing that allowing passengers to rest properly could actually contribute to road safety by ensuring they’re able to take over driving duties from fatigued drivers during long trips.
‘People are annoyed. The common response I’m getting is that New South Wales is becoming overregulated,’ Shkara told Yahoo Finance.
The backlash isn’t just from legal experts. After Shkara posted a video online explaining the seatbelt rule, he was inundated with responses from Australians, some of whom had already been fined for this very reason.
@hayder_legal Drivers in NSW beware, reclining your passenger seat might result in a hefty fine #driving #laws #nsw #legal ♬ original sound – hayder_legal
‘Why do car seats recline then?’ commented one person on Shkara’s video, while another one wrote, ‘[It’s] crazy that they’re just finding everything to fine people for when it comes to safety inside the vehicle yet they don’t fine councils for not keeping roads to a safer standard.
‘It’s definitely a $ making scheme. Revenue keeps rising but the roads aren’t any safer. They look for ways to take your money to fill their own pockets,’ opined someone else.
‘Might as well charge us to breathe too,’ quipped a different commenter.
Meanwhile, Shkara’s advice to drivers is straightforward: ‘Be careful’ on the roads. While it may seem far-fetched, he said there are real-life examples of people being charged for reclining their seats too far.
Traffic offences can be unforgiving, and with the introduction of AI-powered mobile and seatbelt detection cameras, the number of fines being issued has skyrocketed. In just 21 days after their implementation in NSW, over 11,400 fines were handed out, leading to a surge in appeals from drivers who feel they’ve been incorrectly penalised.
The images from these cameras, sometimes grainy and unclear, are being used as evidence of offences, and Shkara encourages anyone who feels they’ve been unfairly fined to challenge it. However, he acknowledges that the cost of contesting fines in court can be ‘prohibitive’ for many Australians, creating an ‘unfair’ system that favours those with financial means.
The frustration is compounded by the varying fines across states, with Queensland imposing the highest penalty of $1,209 and 4 demerit points, while in Victoria, it’s $395 and 3 demerit points.
With the cost of living crisis biting hard, a $410 fine can equate to several weeks’ worth of groceries for some families, making the impact of such fines particularly harsh.
The Centre for Road Safety’s recent plea to passengers to wear their seatbelts correctly and keep their feet off the dashboard was met with intense backlash, with many accusing authorities of ‘revenue raising.’ In defence, the Centre stated that all funds from camera fines go directly into the Community Road Safety Fund for important initiatives.
This situation highlights the delicate balance between enforcing road safety and maintaining public support. While the intent behind these laws is to protect lives, the execution and perceived fairness are crucial in ensuring that the public remains on board with these measures.
We at YourLifeChoices understand the importance of road safety, but we also empathise with the concerns of our readers who may feel targeted by what they see as overzealous regulation.
If you’ve had an experience with this or any other road rule that you feel is unjust, we’d love to hear your story. Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below, and let’s navigate these road rules together.
Also read: Eyes on the road: Perth’s new cameras could cost drivers millions in fines
