On Triple M Perth’s Xav & Katie, Xavier Ellis was ropable as he spoke about how an obscure seatbelt rule left him down $550 and four demerit points with an outpouring from Perth drivers who say they’ve been caught out too.
Xav received the infringement in the mail after his seven-year-old son momentarily moved the shoulder strap of his seatbelt under his arm while sitting in the front passenger seat.
Xav: I posted something on my social media that has gained a lot more traction [than I thought]. It went absolutely gangbuster around parents in cars. I spoke the other day that I had been fined $550 and four demerit points. It’s a whack! I was driving down south and [Xav’s seven-year-old son] Ted, who is of age, was in the front. Ted had the seatbelt around his waist, across his chest. His arm was over the belt, not over the shoulder. Under the armpit but not over the shoulder… it’s a variance of about 5cm.
I received [the fine] in the mail. Now, I thought, ‘I’m going to war.’ I wrote a letter about the infringement. I said, ‘As is common for children of his age, he was animated and distracted for a moment – imitating his favourite superhero Spiderman – moving his arm over the belt. Young children momentarily adjust their position during the journey, even though he was restrained.’ I’ve written nine paragraphs.
Katie Lamb: What is the ninth paragraph about? (laughs) Did you use AI to write that?
Xav: No, a lawyer!
Katie: Oh, wow! A lawyer!
Xav: I thought $550 and four demerit points is a hefty clip for a passenger. So, yesterday an email comes through, and I thought it was positive early, but the email says, “It has been determined that the details of the infringement are correct and the matter stands.” $550 and four demerit points! I put it on my social media and the amount of people that have been done recently… I was inundated with people! Not only kids, but adults as well. Partners reading a book, or leaning forward and drinking water, or eating food… done!
So if you are driving a car, and you’re a parent, make sure your child has the seatbelt over their shoulder because you will be $550 and four demerit points lighter! My friend just said he got it on double demerits – eight demerits! You don’t think about the people in the car with you… you just assume [they’re doing the right thing], don’t assume! Furious! My point being if I’m doing 110km p/h on the road, I can’t pull over on the side of the road and fix it.”
The response, unfortunately, was that the fine stood. On his post and on the show Xav was inundated with messages from drivers who had received similar fines, including adults caught leaning forward, drinking water, or momentarily adjusting their seatbelt.
You can hear Xav & Katie on Perth’s 92.9 Triple M from 6-9am each weekday and also on LiSTNR.