How to defeat new seatbelt cameras (revenue raisers) | Auto Expert John Cadogan

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[@nigelbarry4048]

As an ex copper having served in more than one state over 3 decades I can honestly say all of the fines are about revenue and nothing about road safety. We need to go back to the 70’s to find laws that were designed to save lives, today its all about money. The government salivates if we have a bad Easter road toll, they don’t give a shit about the public. Lmfao if you want justice you will never get it in Australia’s so called justice system. I can honestly say I’ve never seen justice in my whole life in any Australian court.

[@neelsmuller3716]

And this straight from a policeman, thanks man!!……. I moved from old f up country after it changed government to this here f up country, here it is just as f up, but in a different way

[@jparker1823]

It's not about seat belts, it's all about surveillance.

[@sheerluckholmes5468]

Control and compliance. ............ You will obey.

[@NatesToolbox]

Exactly my thoughts! I always have my sun visor flipped down ensuring overhead cameras can’t see my face lol

[@davidnobular9220]

@@sheerluckholmes5468 You vill eat ze bugz !!

[@davidturner6995]

And Revenue raising

[@Yes-Gi-Man]

If you want a fair go, go to a Brothel.......If you want to get "Screwed", go to Court

[@roadsofjapan6009]

😂

[@AJ56]

At least there’s no doubt with a brothel about how much you’ll pay..

[@olivier_the_dilettante]

no rubber supplied?

[@xpusostomos]

In my experience, like John says, judges tend to give you a pretty fair go, within what the law allows. Of course, anytime people are in court, someone will walk away disappointed.

[@The_Slavstralian]

Most of us don't need to have sex anymore. We get f**ked by the grubberment on the daily

[@sghworldwide]

Smart Cameras should be at all Government offices & fine the workers that are bludging too much...

[@Low760]

They are already overworked but sure

[@AutoEngineerVideos]

Don't forget to put them in Parliament House and all the politicians' offices. Make sure the politicians are actually doing something, instead of simply receiving instructions from their lobbyist/campaign donation overlords.

[@markstephens5118]

I'm not sure making these people work harder would have your desired effect.!?

[@lachlancook6718]

There isn't enough money in the world to collect those fines

[@jasonpeters2899]

Fuck that, when their goal is to fuck us all over, lazy and incompetent is preferential.

[@eraezr]

I'm one of the younger drivers. Had my full licence since 2018. This $410 seatbelt fine that I got back in July was my first ever 'traffic infraction' :( because my passenger was unwell and coughing so the seatbelt slipped under his armpit in the fits, all while I was focusing on the road when those cameras went off (just 5 minutes from our destination in Chatswood, NSW). It's made me a somewhat bitter knowing that even when you apply your full cognitive faculties and attentional economy to being a safe driver for others cars and your passengers, that they'd still want to get you out on some myopic obsession of revenue scraping. Dickheads.

[@gregorymalchuk272]

Are you doing anything about it?

[@afterthought3341]

I got done in Chatswood recently for phone that fell out and picked up and left on my knee for 2 minutes. 5 points, $550 fine but it's another $3000 as a commercial vehicles green slip is $700 if you have no points, $1200 if any loss of points. Takes 3 years to get points back but insurance companies require you to have no points for another 3 years to get the non inflated price. So $550 fine plus six years of $500 fee on compulsory third party insurance. Good times had for all!

[@NatesToolbox]

It’s actually impossible for a seatbelt to slip from over your shoulder to under your armpit on its own. Seatbelts are designed to stay securely in place when worn correctly. The angle and tension of the seatbelt, combined with its locking mechanism, keep it positioned across your shoulder and chest. For the belt to move under your armpit, you’d either have to physically adjust it yourself or wear it improperly from the start. So, it can’t just “slip” out of place under normal conditions. Nice try though 💪🏻

[@NatesToolbox]

@@gregorymalchuk272nothing because what they describe is impossible

[@NatesToolbox]

@@afterthought3341 not touching your phone whilst driving fixes that. Shouldn’t have even picked it up that’s pretty irresponsible man !!

[@dirkdiggler9174]

Funny how Australia manages to stay at the forefront of traffic camera technology yet our roads are like driving on the old Roman Empire horse trails . 🤔

[@BaberJacks]

Former soviet block contries.

[@davidnobular9220]

The irony of that is that if they get too bad it will be physically impossible to speed, and we'll need our seatbelts on in order to not hit our heads on the roof going over bumps....

[@dirkdiggler9174]

@@davidnobular9220 🤪😂

[@siiioxide]

riding a horse on the road is illegal 😂 no rego or fuel tax 😅

[@Jnr079]

Far King spot on mate 😉👍🏼

[@Jnr079]

Hands down the BEST summary of Aussies true relationship with Government over reach. Fking BRILLIANT 😂👍🏼❤️

[@DerykRobosson]

Were everyone to take the things to court, enforcement might stop. Be sure to demand your right to question the witness, i.e. the camera, its systems and software. If the state wants to stick it's hand in your pocket, make them work for it.

[@divineprosperity8]

Exactly

[@davidnobular9220]

They probably have a team of Photoshop people removing the seatbelts from the images......

[@Ghryst]

@@davidnobular9220 ai can do it in milliseconds.

[@turbyoulance]

Clog the courts up with cases .

[@philstabile173]

I think our friends in GB and Ireland have the most suitable solution to this problem

[@Cheeky-z8w]

Too right

[@seaeagles6025]

I enjoyed part 2 of the Seatbelt Segment, it was great viewing. I was watching this video in the Lounge room sitting in my RECARO Seat, wearing my Seatbelt 😂🤣. Great video John.

[@SteveEtheridge]

Won't be to long before some smart company starts printing T shirts with seatbelts on them 😂

[@partymanau]

U could buy them in the 70s.

[@Rampart.X]

Driver or passenger pattern?

[@meganjay30]

😂😂

[@davesouthey2619]

Need to be bright orange no mistake then

[@fattony7]

+1 for me, thanks!

[@phillipyates75]

Wouldn't an advisory letter , photo, and how to instructions be more in line with road safety than just demanding money?

[@Optimiser113]

Sure, but no revenue.

[@davidturner6995]

@@Optimiser113 And its all about the money , nothing less

[@AndrewFishman]

Silly you. That would cost money, the very opposite to the purpose.

[@coweatsman]

I was shopping today in one of Australia's 2 main supermarket chains. On entering the product search for avocados and bananas the checkout machine halted and called for the attention of an assistant. The overhead camera disputed the fruit, stating that this was not avocados and this was not bananas. The human checkout assistant overrode the determination of the automated system on both occasions. One can make a pun of the whole system being bananas. If this is how automated checkout work who is going to trust cameras to determine "properly" and "improperly" worn seatbelts?

[@77gravity]

Are these cameras being operated by "the government", or is it contracted out to a private for-profit company? I suspect the latter - and thus there is a major incentive to issue the maximum possible infringements - because that's what happens when things are done FOR PROFIT. If the latter, any court decision AGAINST the "infringement" should include that the for-profit company is then liable for ALL the costs of the person opposing the "infringement". This would encourage the company to do the job PROPERLY, not just to extract the maximum possible profit.

[@keithmacfarlane5907]

Looks like there's a shortage of "blade runners " in New South Shitstainia. Maybe a surge in the sale of battery angle grinders would alleviate some of the stress for the locals .

[@m80A]

We need more angry "bladerunners".

[@davidmorrison3814]

I managed to dodge exceeding the speed limit in a school zone once. A very enthusiastic cop was sitting with his radar at the sign marking the end of the zone. This was at 2:30pm, so just as the school zone was starting. I was pulled over and got a lecture about school zones. I said I did not think it was 2:30 yet, and looked at my watch. It showed 2:28. Faced with the evidence that I thought it was not 2:30 because of my watch, the cop had to back off. The moral, ofc, is to check the time immediately as some cops might jump the gun.

[@brentonl2631]

My mother is 94 and has a Pacemaker right where the belt sits over her shoulder, she has to place the belt under her arm as the doctor told her this was the safest way to travel in a car so not to damage the unit. Damage the unit = dead as a Dodo.

[@stevenmills327]

Get the doctor to exempt her with a letter

[@marktheblake]

QLD is $1200+ for this fine. Not only excessive, but fining the driver because a passenger slipped the seatbelt under her coconut. Begs belief that I em expected to compromise road safety by checking constantly, or my personal well being by telling her what to do.

[@suecharnock9369]

I presume the cameras are too high to be treated like the hated ULEZ ones in London?

[@bobeyes3284]

None float, all touch the ground somewhere.

[@davidnobular9220]

Give then the South Africn Necklace I say !!

[@butch8604]

Good work mate. We need more people like you telling it how it is.

[@bradgray123]

I August 2024 took a Red Light Camera fine to court. I was over the white line turning left and the traffic in front of me came to a sudden halt due to a truck 50 metres up the road stopping to reverse into a building site. I thought I had a fair case and I plead guilty (because I was over the line) and my driving record over 45 years had 5 minor fines against it which I thought reasonable for a person that's driven >1m km in that period. I felt confident as I sat in court watching others get "no case to answer" or massively reduced penalties despite quite terrible driving records but I did note that the magistrate was quite chatty and appeared to be running behind schedule treating each defendant to a lengthy lecture. Sure enough, at 11.45, five of us were sent to another court room with another magistrate who had worked through their list quite efficiently and had the afternoon free to complete their administrative duties. The magistrate was not happy to be recalled back to court to support their colleague and to quote him "You have a terrible driving record and the charge stands. You should not cross the white line until you see the intersection is clear." Which is fair enough in most cases but doesn't allow for the one-off exceptions when trucks decide to block the road and traffic is moderately heavy. My day in court cost me the original fine AND court costs AND a contribution to the Victims Compensations Fund. Around $660 IIRC. Will I go to court again? Probably not. Have I become one of those cocks that brake heavily on an amber light? Yes, and I know how annoying that is but what choice have I got?

[@robroysyd]

Many decades ago I was driving a van loaded with kit when a police car appears out of a minor side road ro my right and if I'd braked in time I would have risked the load in the back doing damage. I was charged with failing to give way to the right. Anyways I took the matter to court and pleaded guilty with extenuating circumstances. In the interim a give way sign had been erected in the minor side road. I had drawings and photographs to show it really was the driver of the police car that wasn't driving responsibly as there was a tree blocking any chance of a driver on the main road seeing a vehicle on the minor road at the intersection. Result was I got a $5 fine and no loss of points. The best piece of legal advice I have been given was when you're in the witness box was "tell the simple truth".

[@EleanorPeterson]

But... isn't driving a vehicle with an unsecured load also 'a thing'? It is here in the UK.🤔

[@tellyfaulkner3466]

@@EleanorPeterson One could argue that the load is secured because it's on the inside of the van and not just up on the back deck of a larger truck not tied down.

[@tomparker5000]

My wilted vegetables have risen to greet the low-hanging fruit. It's a miracle!

[@greghunter4383]

How many of those 29 were in stolen vehicles?

[@tellyfaulkner3466]

Yes and how many of them were underage little pricks that had stolen your precious audi ,merc because if that's the case 29 is not high enough.

[@rw-xf4cb]

The cameras do solve a problem the government has in that they are spending more money than they make and thus are out for more revenue raising.

[@mikejosef2470]

"Exhibit DD"!!😂😂. Love ya work John.

[@richloves46]

The state law enforcement wouldn't regard Rodney as someone who has driven sagely for 33 years, but a lucky bastard who hasn't been caught in 33 years. They honestly believe we're all a pack of mugs needing to be punished

[@ucangetme1]

Well said John.. I would love to see someone videoing themselves going through with a jacket on over the seatbelt and challenging the system for what it is... corrupt and deeply flawed.

[@benkingston5315]

Everything you say is spot on John , especially the free entertainment that can be had by a day at the local courthouse. I'd go a step further and in certain circumstances, depending on evidence, recommend representing yourself . It's free, and magistrates love reaming the police.

[@SaffaInNewZealand]

There must be a film you can put in your windscreen that reflects light back when viewed from above but still allows light through when viewed horizontal. Getting photographed from above just sounds pretty dodgy if you ask me! Screw the establishment 😂

[@NatesToolbox]

Yeah it’s called privacy screen that they use on PC screens lol. Don’t put it on your number plate it’s a $650 fine I would know 😂

[@psi23k]

Or some ir lighting on your dash.

[@bradgray123]

In Australia it's illegal to apply any film to the main area of the windscreen. you can put a band tint providing its outside the wiper sweep area

[@timh6845]

Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge had a plan for zero as well…

[@WR3ND]

Let's make an open street map decentralized listing of all public cameras and stores that sell paint guns.

[@davidnobular9220]

I'd like a directed EMP device that could be subtly aimed at these cameras and quietly take them out., while casually driving by.....

[@ianbray3580]

Well where do I stand if I’m prosecuted in my 67 mustang fastback fitted with only lap belts? It is roadworthy and registered since 2010 when I bought it as a birthday present to myself!

[@PhillipMikeHunt]

Front seatbelts became mandatory in 1969 and for all seats was 1971. They cant do anything except if you have any belts fitted you have to use them though.

[@ianbray3580]

@@PhillipMikeHunt thanks I hoped that was the case I think the only other option is full harness seatbelts!

[@BionicRusty]

I volunteer to personally hold her seatbelt in the perfect position.

[@johnwade1095]

That's a 2 man job

[@BionicRusty]

@@johnwade1095 😂

[@grantleyhughes]

@@BionicRusty Stop her get busted.

[@jl6693]

@@johnwade1095 that's a 2 man (blow)job.

[@CitizenCraftymethod]

Seatbelts are just too important! Having said that I just lost a delivery job missing a 30kph speed change prior to some new construction near my city. Road wasn't changed at all but missed a new 80kph sign past an airport. hadnt even got to the new road area yet. Loss of job and they have the balls to say they will send out warning notes now for first time? Didnt get mine! rough!

[@voltare2amstereo]

put ir film on your windscreen, block the infrared from the camera's night vision

[@Cloxxki]

Wear a T-shirt with reflective "belts" on it. Or just wear your belt for the sake of the first person to find you in your wreck.

[@voltare2amstereo]

@@Cloxxki i wear my belt all the time and correctly, i also run my phone through Android auto. But i don't approve of the overlords spying in my car

[@SeersantLoom]

@@voltare2amstereo Where I live, we have winter, subzero temps and, of course, winter clothing. I've heard that keeping seatbelt close to body is a good thing... but at the same time winter clothes may well obscure the view of belt being worn. What now, do I need my own car DVR video as proof?

[@voltare2amstereo]

@@SeersantLoom sadly, yeah. Like the uber drivers,

[@MarkFerre-j8k]

Hi John, my wife took a matter to court some time ago and the judge ruled in her favour and ordered no points to be taken of her license. However, some weeks later, she received a notice from the RMS stating that they had overturned the decision. I rang the Attorney Generals department and all they could say was 'yes we have heard about this happening from time to time' So much for taking it to court 😲

[@AndyM...]

Wow, how can that happen, that makes it a waste of time and resources even going to court, why do we have such a f&^$ed up legal system in Australia ? !!!

[@garreysellars5525]

​@@AndyM... Agree The scales of justice should be removed from all court rooms As you don't get justice You get a decision 😢

[@ColinMill1]

Thanks John - "... low-hanging fruit..." coffee all over my monitor.

[@Anthony-vm1jc]

Sounds like you need some blade runners from the uk them boys make it there mission to alter the capabilities or location of cameras ✌️

[@BundyToo]

If only 10% of traffic infringements were dealt with in court, the judicial system would explode....... Bring it on IMHO but I'm not going out of my way to get a ticket myself.

[@PeterPutz82]

I usually go to court in Victoria and NSW and have had good results each time keeping my record clean. I recently went in Tasmania for a 59kph in a 50 zone. The Magistrate held up the charge, gave me a lecture and applied costs. I felt the magistrate and all the staff wanted to make an example of me.

[@johnevans4015]

The key word here is (usually) I know that because you are a superior mainland citizen most probably from NSW or even more superior Victoria, and well, Tasmanian law doesn’t apply to you. Perhaps Tasmanian law just picked on you, A case for Discrimination as it is so unfair that 9 km over the limit is not dissmissed

[@rasta77-x7o]

Well you were doing 9 over the limit? I see no reason you should be let off.

[@philippicmen7558]

Next: same camera gets you for not having both hands on the steering wheel.

[@geoffhaylock6848]

Next, Next ...... hands aren't at the approved positions. Should be interesting for the few Tesla's that don't even have a steering wheel 😆

[@chrissmith2114]

In UK it is the responsibility of the driver to ensure any person under 14 in the vehicle is safely seated ( child seat, booster seat etc ) and uses the seat belt - but when a passenger is over 14 it is that persons responsibility, so if a 16 year old decides not to use a seat belt it is not the drivers fault in any way... and the passenger is liable

[@geoffhaylock6848]

Nothing like having a law that makes you rat your mates/kids out for $400 LOL

[@tellyfaulkner3466]

@@geoffhaylock6848 If it's your mates they should know better and if it's your kids, it's no seatbelt it's no go anywhere. simple

[@pantoqwerty]

It seems bizarre that you can take a matter to court only to plead guilty and then be considered to have saved the court time. Any reasonable person would consider that course of events wasting the court’s time, just less of it. It’s like an accounting trick.

[@maniacalmoz]

Hey John, before anyone decides to go to court, what they should do is contact the department of revenue and ask for leniency. Providing they have a good driving record, the fine may be forgiven after a "good behaviour bond" (so to speak) is complied with. If no other infractions are recorded against the driver within that "bond" period, the fine is forgiven. This goes for any driving infringement. If leniency isn't awarded, then a court attendance should be considered. I believe one can seek leniency once every 2 years.

[@waynezodiac8635]

They should lodge a class action against the government and every individual person should sue him directly...imagine the chaos if every single person with an infringement decided to go to court.

[@romandybala]

Got pulled over by road cop. He came up to my truck door and claimed I wasnt wearining my seatbelt. When I opened the door to show him I was in fact wearing it, a lap only belt , and somewhat sadly under my potbelly, he seemd rather disappointed and left .

[@hippiebroughton5564]

Not to mention the down top and up skirt photos that have been released And complained about on internet from these camaras

[@ma-li3935]

Looks like privacy and immoral infringement on the camera operators

[@andybee4236]

what about tailgating. that causes more injury, damage and time off than any other screw up.

[@martinwebster5881]

I understand and agree with your point that these cameras are just implemented to generate revenue. If everyone just wears the seat belt properly no revenue will be generated. I get that there will be errors where the belt is obscured by clothing but I’m certain you will have the right to appeal, and when found to be a mistake your name will be cleared and your legal bill paid by the losing party. It’s very simple wear your belt so it can be seen deny the leeches the income.

[@tellyfaulkner3466]

If that happens the camera will then be changed to surveil other things as well

[@martinwebster5881]

Possibly but that hasn’t happened yet has it. There are many cameras that survive many different things and again my view is you can watch me doing what you want cos I’m doing nothing wrong 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@mattigower1479]

Interesting points made. I did once get a speeding ticket, back in last century, when speed cameras were new and not well understood, and not so many were installed. Ticket in question, was for 63 kmph, in a 60 zone, and being suitably pissed off at the seemingly trivial nature of their complaint, went and got legal advice. At that stage the advice was, you were technically exceeding the speed limit, so you were illegal, it was a minor difference, so the likely outcome would be a fine reduction, still points lost, but the gotcha was the costs, and an estimated $300-400, was way more than the fine (at that time). So, just pay up and shut up. Since then, for the 3 or 4 tickets since, I have just continued with that strategy, however, now, with 10s of thousands of cameras, at nearly every second lamp post, and an aggressive AI booking policy (such is the condition of state revenues) , it is clearly time to review that strategy, should the need ever arise. Thanks for the heads up. And its true, an election is coming, it always is, however, such is the size of the motorist golden egg for state revenues, nothing will change, except maybe more new lamp posts, to hang more cameras.

[@dh2032]

I love how John, at that 8:04, just references the stereotyping. of Australian women: "Australia is the land where men are men! and so are the Weman too?" ...🙂😂😂🤣🤣😂😂🤣🤣😂😂

[@bonnevista]

John, if you manage to read this, I'd like to ask a (possibly silly) question. I own an old American car. It's left hand drive. If I'm driving it by myself, will the seat belt camera detect no seat belt on the traditional driver side?

[@anth123ish]

Honestly dude one of your best thanks John I learnt and Iaughed cheers

[@WPaul1]

Maybe if drivers wore a T shirt that was simply black then the cameras would be unable to determine the position of the seat belt. I believe this is commonly called camouflage.

[@michaelsprinzeles4022]

Things are different in the states. Here the "earliest opportunity to plead guilty" is when mailing back the ticket with a plea of guilty and your payment. The immediate payment is a guilty plea. You can choose a day in court instead but it isn't considered the "earliest opportunity" to accept guilt. Your court date may be seen as your first opportunity to plead "nolo contedere" (akin to accepting the charge without the guilt). I can neither confirm nor deny any personal experience in this matter;)

[@AcuraAddicted]

I'm curious to find out the amount of investment in these new revenue generation devices with a simple breakdown of "cost per unit itself", "cost per unit installation" and "cost per unit in running expenses and maintenance".

[@gs3-o4f]

yes since we pay for the camera system and pay fines, where does the money go?

[@sandman0123]

25:22 Many years ago I received a minor, parking related infringement notice that I thought was unfair and I had good grounds to fight it on. However, the notice also had a couple of sternly worded lines that yes, I can take the matter to court but then I can get a much higher fine and be ordered to pay court costs, blah-blah... It sounded very much more like threat than advice. Hey, just pay this fine, even if you think it's unfair, or else we'll really go to town on your arse! Of course, going to court also takes time and effort and possibly additional costs which not everybody can easily afford. They really just want to create a situation where you think you are better off paying up, even if it's unfair. Regarding adherence to traffic rules, government priority seems to be turning it into a revenue stream rather than actually doing things that matter. Just set up a bunch of cameras and rake the money in, seems to be their "solution".

[@Mark-ks9jj]

Most fixed speed cameras are NEVER positioned on black spots, they are most often found on straight roads where the average mug is more likely to speed... revenue raising to the MAX!

[@JT_771]

On that jacket-wearing example ... seems it is the gov's obligation to show he didn't have it on or had it on "improperly" and not his obligation to prove his innocence in this matter.

[@rag_man673]

ohhh you think "you're innocent until proven guilty" applies here? How cute. 🤣

[@JT_771]

@@rag_man673 Right? Sad.

[@Rollin8.0]

​@@JT_771 camera offences are a case of 'guilty until proven innocent' unfortunately. It's easier to get away with m urder than get out of a camera ticket.

[@blueyhis.zarsoff1147]

Did a secondary school trip to Melbourne Magistrates court many decades ago, was very entertaining

[@stevenloynds3691]

Get people to give up location of cameras that have been fined so at least the public are aware and can make corrections if need be to there belts at those locations...my mother was stung South Bowens fields (Lithgow) Great Western Highway east bound....

[@noosamike]

I would expect a SUP board, sea kayak or surf board correctly fitted to roof racks might obstruct downward facing cameras.

[@billharvey4744]

Having held a NSW driving license for over 40 years, I took an "obscured number plate" fine to court because it was just a mistake on my part while rushing to load bicycles on the car at 4:30am on the day of the incident. The fine was $435 plus 3 or 4 demerit points (memory fading) as it is apparently a "safety offence" similar to speeding in a School Zone with no opportunity to request a review for leniency. After sitting in the courtroom from 8:30am to 4:30pm and losing a full day of income, the magistrate finally got to my case, read my statement where I highlighted the police officer gave me the "digital fine" and allowed me to continue my short trip home without even caring whether I rectified the obscured number plate or not, which I pointed out did nothing to enforce the apparent lack of safety. The magistrate reviewed my driving record to make an issue of a couple of speeding fines I received in the first few years of holding my license, then reduced the fine to $30, I thought that was a win until the magistrate then added $300 of "court costs" and said the demerit points would stand. My experience taught me to just pay the fine and get on with life. Happy to hear you and wife #3 had better outcomes.

[@Spiderwebsider]

I have wasted a similar amount of time over a disputed speed limit where the road markings said 60 but a sign - partially obscured by a tree - said 50. I got the fine reduced, but by sheer coincidence the court costs plus the reduced fine came to the exact same sum as the original fine. Plus the points still stood. So I lost a day’s pay (significantly more than the fine) for sweet FA. These assholes know this.

[@xpusostomos]

Come on John, Pluto IS a planet, a dwarf planet, since 2006. Don't be ableist against dwarfs!

[@YouShouldThink4Yourself]

The thing that absolutely shits me is the best (almost only) way to fight these fines is to first admit guilt (even if you're NOT) and and grovel to the court saying what a good boy you have been and will never transgress again. In Vic. if you don't plead guilty you have almost NO chance of getting a reasonable result, more likely you get the original fine PLUSS process/late payment penalty.

[@geoffhaylock6848]

Late payment fees when you were only just found guilty? So it really is guilty until proved innocent.

[@captmulch1]

John, love your content. BUT - regarding batteries - I know it's an anomaly - I own a small 100 y.o. 3 bedroom house in Lismore, have a standard fairly new roof top solar installation, and solar hot water. LED lights, only run the dishwasher and washing machine during daylight hours, new small and efficient oven, yell at the kids if they are in the shower for more than 5 minutes etc. My last power bill (monthly) was $5.01. I have hacked together a battery system with an old chunky computer UPS (free, cost nothing) system that manages two 100 amp hour deep cycle batteries (cost $660), which is connected to our bar fridge, small chest freezer, and Internet connection (our main power consumption during dark hours, apart from the main kitchen fridge). The plan was to have the UPS/batteries supplying power to the fridges and Internet connection during dark hours, and the batteries recharging from solar during the day. When I received the last power bill, it hardly seemed worth it, apart from the geek factor. I'm about to implement it anyway to see if I can reduce my power bill to zero. The take-away from this is that many Australian households, with roof top solar power and hot water, with careful management, can reduce their power bills to a minimum.

[@muddertruker]

SHOTS FIRES ... "Pluto isn't a planet" ... 😁

[@gordonwarwick8535]

Hay John how about point to point there about to turn on the seat belt revenue will be a drop in the bucket compared to this cheers 😮

[@kevinbarry71]

Low hanging fruit? Well, one hopes they are, as Bob Seger said, way up firm and high

[@dchubworldsharenetwork]

Everyone who doesn't have a traffic ticket should go to court because you have nothing to lose. If they really cares about safety they would only send warnings for the first few months, because a lot of people probably don't even know that they have to wear a seat belt correctly. They would also make TV/internet commercials on how to wear seat belts properly if it was all about safety and not money. But here it is only about money and not safety while driving!

[@innocentbystander2673]

Rodney Price needs to make sure that his representation seeks costs, if he wins. Don't forget to ask if there is any possibility that the camera footage could have been tampered with. An internal camera facing rearward, would be a good idea for the future as well. On the jury duty issue, upon receipt of a notice requesting your attendance, do write asking them if they are a Chapter 3 Court in accordance with the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution, under the Crown. Not legal advice, just opinion that works.

[@Mart-u2u]

You appear to be the master of metaphors,sir

[@peebow1000]

I commented yesterday on that dudes 'seatbelt fine' story. IMO, this is actually making the roads less safe, by forcing more traffic, congestion and statistical likelyhood of crashes. When one (wo/)man takes this to court, he/she(/xim/xerb) may have to drive to a lawyer, then later themselves plus lawyer may require a driving trip to court, in the event of defense failure, the lost $s may need to be recovered via overtime work, requiring more driving trips to and fro' work, with greater amounts of driving fatigue all the way. It's a fantastically ingenious system isn't it? Charge people for being imperfect, enforce exponential amount of stress upon them, so they can fault even harder moving forward, thus accelarating the feedback loop.

[@DEVILTAZ35]

My Lexus coupe pretensions the seat belt as soon as you put it on and is always at the correct position on the shoulder and doesn’t deviate. It also clips onto the seat itself with a leather strap. I thought all modern cars had belts that fastened this way. I still agree this is a revenue raiser anyway as fixing the rubbish roads should really be a much higher priority.

[@geoffhaylock6848]

Maybe they will put all these extra millions towards fixing issues with the roads.... 😂

[@gazzafloss]

No money for government in fixing roads.

[@martinbarker7500]

I was caught driving whilst disqualified, thought my ban was up, my fault completely, the Judge threatened me with jail if it happened again, fair enough. Woman before me who collided with several parked cars whilst 3X over the limit (her 2nd DUI) , not a dicky bird

[@michaelgray7302]

Does this mean we need to wear high viz seatbelt to avoid being fined?

[@johntilsley9111]

Are full harnesses legal for use on the roads in Australia? If so, how do the camera algorithms deal with them?

[@5lcalais1]

Only if you have an engineers certificate to certify the modification, have to be adr approved, without one u can't use them.

[@IntegerOfDoom]

Please look up the definition of 'can't' I know, first grade was a while ago. ​@5lcalais1

[@complexedmind5739]

Just install infrared LED'S on your dash, it'll blind the camera. A passive form of counter surveillance.

[@garrywest8511]

Well John, apparently I drive one of the wosrt death traps on the road, a modified Series 1 Land Rover, and for engineering purposes I have lap only seat belts, thankfully I rarely travel to Sydney, hopefully these revenue raising cameras don't come to our area, Lismore, soon

[@mcmoose64]

Avoid the traffic lights on Ballina Rd . More cameras than you can poke a stick at , and only a software change away from seatbelt enforcement.

[@garrywest8511]

@mcmoose64 Thanks dude, hadn't thought of that. While we 'value our freedom' and go about our lives and doing our own thing there'll always be cash cows to milk, take care.

[@mickatlas3272]

So if you are driving lets say a 1955 FJ Holden that is unmodified which meet the laws for the road & has Rego I could be fined for failing to drive with a seatbelt even thou this car never came out with Seatbelts & by State law I don't need to install them if the car has never had them good luck they can take me to court & I will win

[@Mark-ks9jj]

and there is the "special" words John - fair & reasonable - how the legal system is SUPPOSED to work.

[@mickvonbornemann3824]

Put a visor in front/above the windscreen, it’s that simple. Or drive a car made in the 60’s that doesn’t have seatbelts.

[@glenmccarthy8482]

Is there a list of the locations of the seat belt cameras ?

[@afterthought3341]

I got done in Chatswood recently for phone that fell out and picked up and left on my knee for 2 minutes. 5 points, $550 fine but it's another $3000 as a commercial vehicles green slip is $700 if you have no points, $1200 if any loss of points. Takes 3 years to get points back but insurance companies require you to have no points for another 3 years to get the non inflated price. So $550 fine plus six

[@Your.Uncle.AngMoh]

$1,161 for the same offence in Queensland. Four demerits for the first one with double the demerits if caught a second time within twelve months of the first one. So, you can do your licence in two offences. YAY!

[@70chevs]

Now $1209 in the rip off state where everything is more $$$.

[@peregrinemccauley5010]

A four hundred dollar fine. That equates to a coupla' pouches of baccy. Australia gives away it's LNG and LPG, so they gotta claw the sovs back somehow.

[@electricarl7820]

So……. If I get a ticket and I’m a little short of points and the missus decides to graciously take the points, I could be done for “perverting the course of justice”. But if I get a fine for something that I’m sure I didn’t do, but cop it because fighting it in court is not worth the effort - then that is okay? I’m confused - am I committing an offence by paying the fine?

[@nikzak33]

hard but fair..best context ever

[@wafive]

Would one be able to mount a defence by bringing into question the wording of the relevant seat belt laws that you mentioned in the last video. IE "The sash "Should " be worn across the centre of the chest". That word "Should" seems a little ambiguous.

[@davidrayner9832]

The minister said in a recent interview, words to the effect of "we don't want to fine people, we want them to wear their seatbelts". OK, then it stands to reason they want everyone to obey every traffic rule but if that happened the government would lose umpteen million dollars in revenue. Just to test out whether they really do want that, how about they go a year without issuing a fine just to see it they could still operate the state. By all means, take demerit points but no money. Let's see how far into this experiment we get before they have to say "we really do want (need) to fine people so please keep breaking the law. Please not wear your seat belt correctly or not at all, keep going through red lights, keep speeding, keep driving on bald tyres".

[@arrow1island]

What if you get caught by a camera in Wagga as you were passing through on a holiday, and you live in Coffs Harbour, can you go to your local court, or would you have to go to the local court in Wagga.

[@dave24-73]

It is one thing to target people not wearing seat belts, it’s another level to try to tell people they are wearing them wrong. The first deserves a fine, the second a warning only. Clearly this is about collecting revenue nothing more.

[@zenaakers7469]

Idea:- print t shirts with the seat belt on them, put the t shirt on when driving and store it on the back of the seat until you drive again. yes, wear your seat belt correctly and at all times while driving and make sure your passengers do too because that is sound advice but to prevent giving your cash away, wear the t shirt seat belt too.

[@jaygribbin6790]

$410 fine, that's nothing. Try $1209 for having your hand under the seatbelt (classed as incorrectly fitted) in Queensland. We had been on the road for 6 hours (with breaks) and my wife had her hand under the belt to relieve the rubbing on her neck. When I rang suggesting the fine was as close to extortion as could be found and enquiring who I could complain to, it was suggested I contact my local member. Perhaps a good suggestion if we didn't live in NSW. We aren't going to court in QLD to fight it so we have put them on time payment. Still bending us over but they will take a year to get it

[@holdenhv]

I agree with John that we should take EV fires seriously even though no one died from one in Australia last year. Equally, we should not downplay the 29 deaths due to the failure to wear seatbelts. However, John is right to be lenient on those who have belted up but not quite exactly correctly.

[@grassiedave68]

Another great video dude. I did giggle to myself with your description of roosters and hen houses. I did have to check my calendar to make sure we are not in 2018.... are you turning back into a beard stroker?

[@I-have-a-brain_and-use-it]

A some what rosy picture there John but you miss the point that magistrates are only human , very busy & overworked . So it is a real crap shoot as to the outcome if you elect the court option . Having run an inner city delivery business partnership you could say I have seen the inside of a magistrates court way too many times . While you are correct that pleading guilty with cause will carry the best favour with the magistrate your outcome is very much dependant upon the behaviour of the previous cases . You only need a couple of previous matters where the defendant does not understand procedures and argues with the magistrate to kill any chance of a fair & reasonable hearing . Also as you probably know that cases with proper legal council get heard first so if you are going to argue a not guilty case it is imperative that you get council so you get heard before the bogan brigade makes the magistrate cranky and seriously wonder why he comes to work in the morning . I sat & watched an M31 taxi driver get crucified by a magistrate because he apparently rear ended a BMW at a set of traffic lights then drove on when the lights changed . Having driven an M31 taxi with a 140 kg of lift at the back that flops around like a cock in a sock I can appreciate that the driver was probably unaware that he had hit the BMW which by the way only required the rear bumper to be removed & refitted so it was just a very light tap . The magistrate actually used the phrase "you can feel a leaf brushing up against your vehicle " and fined the cab driver $ 2,000 then suspended his license for 12 months depriving the driver of his income and of course depriving the disabled community of an exceptionally good disabled taxi driver. He had in fact been voted Sydney's best taxi driver on 3 different years . After it was over I intervened ( stupid thing to do I know ) asking permission to address the bench as I have also driven the same type of vehicle and it is not uncommon for the chair lift to strike the back of the cab after you have come to rest with sufficient force to push the car ( actually a mini van people mover ) a good foot forward if you release the brake too soon. The actual driver was a bit on the slow side ( mentally ) and spoke very poorly so fronting a magistrate was way out of his pay grade as he was quite inarticulate ( which did not help ) . I was going to make a guilty with cause plea but after the dressing down I got from the magistrate I did a not guilty plea , asked for a hearing date so I could call 42 witnesses . A brief bench discussion with the prosecution resulted in a " no prima facie case" ruling as magistrates do not want to have their courts clogged up with trivial matters that have 42 defence witnesses which would take all day to hear . FWIW , I got in touch with the driver & put him in touch with a public advocate who appealed the decision , the driver was exonerated but the taxi was defected till a proper locking mechanism was fitted .

[@olivier_the_dilettante]

a class action is required!