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Posted by: Pete May 13 2008, 08:50 PM

Aussie straps in beer, not child

A car driver in Australia has been fined for strapping down his beer rather than his young child.

Police said they were "shocked and appalled" when they pulled over the car south of Alice Springs in Australia's Northern Territory.



They said the 30-can pack of beer was strapped down between two adults in the back, with the five-year-old child unrestrained on the floor.

The driver was handed a fine of A$750 (US$709; £362).

The fine was for failing to ensure a child was wearing a seatbelt as well as driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle.

'Blank' look

Constable Wayne Burnett said: "I haven't ever seen something like this before.

"This is the first time that the beer has taken priority over a child... The child was sitting in the lump in the centre, unrestrained."

When Constable Burnett handed over the fine he said the driver "just looked at me blankly".

"He didn't get it," Constable Burnett said.

"I asked him about the fact the child was unrestrained and the beer was, and he said he didn't know anything about it."



Superintendent Sean Parnell of Alice Springs police said the incident was a "timely reminder" to ensure "all passengers are secured".

Posted by: Kezz May 15 2008, 08:32 AM

lol typical Northern Territorian

Posted by: Pete May 15 2008, 07:00 PM

Isn't Smokie moving up that way

Posted by: Whimsical Logic May 15 2008, 07:50 PM

A car driver in Australia has been fined for strapping down his beer rather than his young child.
Sounds like something certain Norwegians might do on a Saturday night....
Priorities, priorities....


Whimsy

Posted by: Smokie May 17 2008, 09:21 AM

Only short of Alice Springs by about 1500 klms westward Pete....

Posted by: Pete May 17 2008, 07:57 PM

Quite close then?