‘What’s wrong with this?’ Cryptic highway patrol photo sparks a heated debate over why a driver was fined $337
- Photo of driver behind the wheel posted to Facebook and sparked online debate
- NSW Traffic and Highway Patrol Command posted the picture on Thursday night
- Driver is sitting behind the steering wheel with mobile secured in nearby cradle
- Above the photo police posted a brief and simple comment in the post: ‘$337’
A photo of a driver behind the steering wheel has sparked an online debate as to why he was slapped with a hefty fine.
New South Wales Traffic and Highway Patrol Command posted the picture to their Facebook page on Thursday night.
The driver is dressed in a long-sleeved shirt and his hand is placed on the steering wheel.
Attached to the windscreen is a phone cradle holding a mobile.
A simple caption above the photo reads: ‘$337’.
A photo of a driver behind the steering wheel has sparked an online debate as to why he was slapped with a hefty fine
While the post refers to the amount a person can be fined for using a mobile phone while driving, the photo left social media users divided as to why the driver was in the wrong.
‘What’s wrong with this?’ one confused person commented on Facebook.
Another person added: ‘Disgusting that the police just see people as dollar signs.’
Under NSW law, a driver can make or answer a call so long as the phone is fixed in a cradle and does not obstruct their view.
They can also use the phone to play music, so long as the device can be operated through bluetooth or voice activation.
A navigation app can also be used on the phone so long as the device is secured in the cradle.
Despite the phone being secured in a cradle, the driver pictured appears to be watching a video on the device.
Many social media users who picked up on the small detail have thrown their support behind the police for fining the driver.
‘Should be much more fines so that they think again and again before touching phones,’ one user commented.
Another one commented: ‘He deserves more fine and demerit points too.’
Drivers caught inappropriately using a mobile phone while behind the wheel risk heavy fines and demerit points.
A driver can be slapped with a $337 fine and five demerit points, but the fine is raised to $448 if they are found breaking the law in a school zone.
Drivers caught inappropriately using a mobile phone while behind the wheel risk heavy fines and demerit points (stock image)