Many people don’t give their payment method much thought when hitting up the drive through for some cheeky KFC or McDonalds on a Friday night. However, it appears that, depending on how you pay for your meal, you could technically cop up to a $484 dollar fine.
This crazy rule was revealed on Facebook last week when Victoria Police hosted a poll on social media, asking users “is it legal to use your phone to pay when you go through a fast-food outlet’s drive-through?”. Of the 55,000 people who voted, 65 per cent of people believed it was perfectly fine, but it seems their interpretation of Australian road rules could result in a hefty fine.
Victoria Police explained that the only way to legally use a phone at a drive through is if you apply the handbrake and switch off the engine before picking up your phone. Most people were shocked at the explanation, claiming fumbling around in a wallet or purse for cash and leaning out the window to collect the food was more of a risk than the tap-and-pay function on a phone.
Unfortunately, this particular road rule is just one on a long list of usual ways Australian drivers can be fined. In NSW, driving with a hand or arm outside the car window can result in a $344 fine plus 3 demerit points, and could apply to collecting your food at the drive through. In South Australia where you can now carry a digital driver’s licence on your phone, and other Australian states where to technology is currently being rolled out, it is an offence to reach for your phone (to show your driver’s licence) before being instructed to do so by a police officer. Doing so could result in a $344 fine and the loss of 5 demerit points. In fact, in February 2019 a Sydney man was fined $112 for parking his car, leaving the windows down and doors unlocked, while buying a pie at the servo.
Next time you plan to grab a bite via the drive through, you might want to rethink your payment method.
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Want to see the whole story about the man fined for buying a pie? Watch the video below.
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