Thread: Driver fined for putting beer's safety before child's

An Australian motorist has been fined for putting a seatbelt around a case of beer instead of a five-year-old passenger.
Police who pulled over the man's sedan on the Ross highway near the outback town of Alice Springs found the child sitting unrestrained in the back of the vehicle with the driver and other adult passengers apparently unconcerned for the child's safety.
Constable Wayne Burnett said he was "shocked and appalled" by the incident, which happened as he and a colleague carried out routine searches on vehicles entering Aboriginal communities, where alcohol is banned under a government crackdown as part of an attempt to stamp out child abuse.
"I haven't ever seen something like this before," he told local reporters. "Sure, we get beer out of vehicles that is being taken into restricted areas but this is the first time that the beer has taken priority over a child."
The police officer said the driver looked at him "blankly" when he was issued with a $750 (£365) fine for failing to ensure a child was wearing a seatbelt and for driving a car that was unregistered and uninsured.
Four adults were in the car, two in the front seat and two in the back, said Constable Burnett. The carton of beer, which contained 30 bottles, was strapped in between the two adults in the back.
"The child was sitting in the lump in the centre, unrestrained," the police officer added.
Superintendent Sean Parnell of Alice Springs police said: "This serves as a timely reminder to all drivers to ensure they wear seatbelts and ensure as is their responsibility that all passengers in their vehicle are secured in the appropriate manner."


Barbara McMahon in Sydney

What's the chances the fine will never be paid?

Originally Posted by Gallowspole

What's the chances the fine will never be paid?

Taken into consideration that the car was unregistered and uninsured, I think very likely will be never paid...

Originally Posted by matsalleh

Aboriginal communities, where alcohol is banned under a government crackdown as part of an attempt to stamp out child abuse.

Beer is the cause of child abuse? How did they work that out?

Originally Posted by Bluecat

I've got a child seat in my car where I always religiously belt up my 2 years old son and it is of great interest to all the Thais having a look at the inside of the car.
It seems nobody here ever saw a child in a child seat...

Or even a seat! Usually the roam the back of a pickup truck, or are perched on the handlebars of a motorcycle...