Video highlights little-known traffic fine for common act
People were shocked to find a common driving move resulted in a motorist being slapped with a $200 fine and 2 demerit points.
In a video posted to Tiktok, a Perth driver is seen pulling over to a right-hand turning lane, pausing briefly before indicating left to leave the right-turning lane and continue driving straight ahead.
Despite the lights being green and no one else being on the road, the fixed red light camera flashed twice, confusing some TikTok users over what the driver is being fined for.
The TikToker said in the caption she wasn't the driver, but added in a comment the video came with the fine.
"It was $200 and 2 demerits," she wrote in a comment. "Offence was 'driving contrary to arrows at intersection'".
Drivers cannot cross a continuous line
A spokesperson from the WA Road Safety Commission told Yahoo News Australia the video highlights a number of rules that drivers should be aware of, including:
Stopping at a red arrow;
Driving in the direction of traffic lane arrows applying to the lane;
Not driving across single, continuous lines dividing two lanes.
According to the Road Traffic Code 2000, when a driver is driving in a marked lane at an intersection and there are traffic lane arrows applying to the lane, the driver must (where the arrows indicate a single direction) drive in that direction.
Drivers can also be fined $300 and 3 demerit points (6 during holiday periods) if they cross a stop line when the traffic light is red, and $100 and 2 demerit points for crossing a single, continuous line.
TikTok users gobsmacked over rule
Some observers said they've been in a similar situation, but didn't receive a fine while others said an unpleasant surprise arrived for them in the mail a few weeks after the event.
"My housemate got fined for an identical offence," one user wrote. "Not obeying lane arrows instead of a red light fine."
"I got fined and demerit point as well for the same reason," another user added.
Some didn't understand why the driver would be fined.
"Obviously the way was clear on their left and indicated, all good!" a confused TiKToker wrote.
"I did this in Perth too, I got done $200 and 2 points," another wrote.
"I didn't even know it was a thing until the ticket came in the mail".
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