Queensland motorist fights $1,000 seatbelt nice primarily based on overexposed site visitors digicam photograph

A motorist who was slapped with a $1000 nice for a passenger not sporting a seatbelt accurately mentioned he’ll combat the cost as a result of the site visitors photograph doesn’t present the true state of affairs.

Gavin Storkey from Queensland was hit with the nice from Queensland Transport and Important Roads after he was caught by a roadside digicam, along with his seatbelt tucked underneath his arm. 

The enterprise proprietor was in a automotive which was travelling alongside the Pacific Freeway at Higher Coomera, simply north of the Gold Coast. 

A Queensland driver who copped a $1,000 nice for a passenger not sporting a seatbelt mentioned he disputes the cost and can combat the penalty

Mr Storkey claims the picture from the digicam doesn’t present his passenger committing an offence. 

He mentioned he was supplied with a low high quality picture by Queensland Transport.

He claims his arm is throughout the seatbelt and never underneath the strap, however that the overexposure of the photograph fails to indicate this. 

‘I may see the seatbelt disappear within the picture, [it’s] clear on the left aspect of the picture, however on the proper aspect it is unimaginable to see,’ he mentioned. 

He mentioned he was not given an choice to submit a web based enquiry to attraction the nice when he was handed the penalty discover. 

He additionally mentioned he was not supplied with authorized varieties from Queensland Treasury. 

Mr Storkey mentioned the letter which issued the nice informed him to both take his matter to courtroom or pay the nice.

He informed Nine News he was shocked when he obtained the discover and is annoyed he he faces the prospect of getting to cough up the cash. 

‘I’ve been a very good citizen, [I’ve] by no means been in hassle with the regulation, I am struggling to pay [my] mortgage and maintain my small enterprise afloat…’ he mentioned. 

‘Now I’m being despatched to trial over a seatbelt photograph for a $1000 nice.’ 

Queensland Treasury mentioned there may be an choice to submit enquiries a few nice to the Queensland Authorities website. 

The Treasury says synthetic intelligence applied sciences are additionally used to catch seatbelt offences. 

Mr Storkey nonetheless, mentioned he was not informed in regards to the possibility by Queensland Treasury. 

Mr Storkey mentioned the passenger had been wrongly accused of not sporting a seatbelt and the arm is throughout the seatbelt and never underneath it, which is disputed by the Queensland Division of Transport and Important Roads

The person may face a nice as much as $2875. 

A letter despatched to Mr Storkey from the Division of Transport and Important Roads mentioned infringement notices will likely be despatched out if a digicam spots a driver or passenger in a car not sporting a seatbelt ‘that’s each correctly adjusted and fixed’. 

‘The picture reveals the seatbelt was positioned underneath the arm,’ the letter reads. 

‘If you happen to want to withdraw your courtroom election and pay [the] infringement discover please advise this workplace by return e mail and the infringement will likely be launched.’

Mr Storkey confronted Southport Magistrates courtroom in early August and pleaded not responsible to the cost. 

His case was postponed and will likely be heard in January 2024.