Got fined while browsing OzBargain on Pitt St, Sydney

illumination on 08/09/2017 - 00:13
Last edited 08/09/2017 - 16:45

Yep, you read that right!

Ok, let me be clearer. Apologies for the clickbait title, although it is factually not incorrect!

I was browsing Ozbargain on Pitt St, Sydney, whilst in the drivers seat of my car in a line of traffic. There were lots of cars and traffic was not moving. The engine was on.

I had just picked up a mate down the road (near ANZ Home). As the cars weren't moving, I thought I'd just quickly catch up on comments from this recent Motorola G5 Plus deal which was a phone I was contemplating as being my replacement for the phone I was using, my Xiaomi Redmi Note 2 purchased from this deal. I was on my way out to the city for this deal and had intended to purchase Westfield Gift Cards and Coles Myer Gift Cards. I was also thinking of going to the AMEX lounge for some free food/drinks but ultimately didn't because lines were too long. I was charging my Xiaomi with this car charger. Had my navigation phone held by a phone holder from this deal. Was gonna park at Wilson parking from the credit I got from this, but my mate had free parking in the city, so I was actually on my way to park there. I had also just pumped petrol on Sunday, taking advantage of this targeted deal from Coles Express, and I paid using Coles Myer Gift Cards purchased from this First Choice Liquor AMEX Statement Credit Deal. In fact, I pumped 32L of V-Power this time because of this competition.

Ok, enough of the deal talk..

The actual story

I was browsing Ozbargain and my window was half open and all of a sudden cop came out of nowhere and said "Hi, just letting you know that you're being recorded committing a driving offence, please give me your licence", the whole time whilst his iPhone was recording in my direction. I was actually just in shock at the time and it took me about two seconds to process that it was a cop who had caught me red-handed using my phone. I then slowly got out my licence and he checked my carplate (and I presume took a photo). He proceeded to take a photo of my licence and advised me that the damage would be 4 demerit points and a $330 fine to come in the mail. I asked (long shot, I know) if I could be left off and he simply said, "no, sorry, I can't do that." and I just thought in my head "damnit I know you're just doing your job…but.."

Just to be clear - I know I'm in the wrong. I just wanted to share this with you guys because I thought the fact that I got fined while bloody browsing Ozbargain was kinda funny and such a "me" thing. It was also what I was doing, what I was using, that made me think - geez, this fine has got Ozbargain written all over it. I'm also a little bit sad about it so I wanted to kinda "let it out" but as I said, I know I've committed a driving offence and I don't really have a leg to stand on.. but gee, $330. Bloody expensive hey?

TLDR

  • Was browsing Ozbargain whilst in my car, stationary (in a line of traffic/red light) on Pitt St, Sydney.
  • Cop saw me. Came out of nowhere and was recording me committing the offence. Asked for my licence and took a photo of it
  • Advised the "damage" would be 4 demerit points and $330. Will arrive by mail.
  • Sad :( Just wanted to share with you guys!
Automotive

Comments

      • ninetyNineCents on 10/09/2017 - 17:34

        thats not even a sentence.

        • illumination on 10/09/2017 - 17:35

          Aw typo and now you've prevented me from editing..

          Can you give me your name so my fine is $329.01 instead? :D

        • ninetyNineCents on 10/09/2017 - 17:36

          @illumination:

          im not the rta selling number plates.

  • picket23 on 08/09/2017 - 22:46

    Should have shown him the deal you were looking at. Probably would let you off if they happened to be in the market for a new phone.

  • CalmLemons on 08/09/2017 - 23:08

    I can't be bothered reading all that. Impressed about all the deals OP is taking out. The savings should have paid for the fine.

  • djmm on 09/09/2017 - 02:05
    +1

    looks like a policeman ozbargained you.

  • Copydog on 09/09/2017 - 07:34
    +2

    I feel The punishment should fit the crime of endangering the lives of others.
    Why can't there be two levels of penalty. One for using phone while stopped, another for using while moving.

    There used to be one penalty for speeding until they realised driving 50 km over was more dangerous than driving 5km over.

    As another motorist or road user I would prefer people committing the OPs offence than driving down Pitt st at 74kmh but based on the penalty , using the phone while not even moving is considered more dangerous.
    That is what is most absurd, so I feel for OP.

    • Frozensage on 09/09/2017 - 08:13

      Because they would be cutting their profit margin

  • Frozensage on 09/09/2017 - 08:12

    Always wondered how can they prove u have been using ur phone? Or touched your phone? If ur phone was on the passenger seat and you tapped it to check message, how would they ever know you were doing that and not just adjusting ur radio?

  • Splashtash on 09/09/2017 - 09:04

    I've gota say - thanks for writing that as I myself do this and I think its a good warning to us to not do it.

    • Splashtash on 09/09/2017 - 09:05

      I think the fine cost us in the ACT like $420-450 maybe even 500

  • rickxs on 09/09/2017 - 09:24
    -3

    what a dick —with all the deaths caused by phones ,texting & you grab the phone cause traffic is not moving & surf the net.
    It ain't that important !!! learn the hard way bud

    ,.

  • luffyex2010 on 09/09/2017 - 09:41
    +2

    Guess the police are targeting these people.

    The car in front of you is not moving when its green lights?
    Why the drivers head is tilted downwards and his/her eyes staring at crotch position?
    Drivers looking up and down non stop while driving?

    Well I would say 60% of Sydney drivers would read, text….(yes), browse email while driving or at the traffics.
    20% the elderly people 20% = 100% law abiding citizen who won't multitask this stunt

    This seems normal for most Sydney drivers but they are not aware at the same time dangerous to other people and themselves.

    A split second staring/texting mobile while driving could prevent accidents especially on high speeds, taking or losing ones life/s.

    How about the daring ones who have one hand holding phone next to their ears while driving.
    The fearless drivers who doesn't give a S$%^

    The best of them all,…..make up while driving. Sorry ladies, that is also a dangerous stunt as looking at drawing and upgrading your face while driving is the same recklessness of using the mobile if not more dangerous.
    Please wake up earlier or do it in the office toilet to upgrade oneself or there is no need to downgrade as you can go to office with your normal self.

    OK….time to learn how to stop looking/listening at new messages when at traffic lights (*put phones on silent), to avoid any unnecessarily fines.

    Thanks OP your loss have help us to prevent the same incident. ^_^

  • Lockieasy on 09/09/2017 - 12:23

    Thank you for the tl;dr that is almost as long as those two tiny paragraphs OP.

  • citybargainhunter on 09/09/2017 - 12:28
    +2

    Should have asked for a discount code

  • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2017 - 12:34
    +2

    Feel bad about your ticket but nice story

  • lost in transit on 09/09/2017 - 12:43

    T.B.H I reckon the fines should around 1000 plus, the Government could be raking in the cash, the amount of people either talking or texting on the mobile while driving astounds me, my girlfriend's friends young daughter died texting, she is the face of a anti texting etc campaign…

    Don't pick up a mobile while driving, at least pull over off the road to a safe place..I know it's a pain in the ass but it can save lives and $$$$

    Sorry about your fine money is hard to come by these days but hopefully you'll think twice about using it while driving in the future

    Cheers

  • sagitox on 09/09/2017 - 13:34
    +1

    Expensive lesson, but hopefully lesson learned. Put your phone in your boot, so there is no temptation. In the car when you are stuck at the lights, find a radio station with a good song and jam out. Just do what did we used to do in our car, when waiting at the lights back in the good old days before mobile phones!

    • illumination on 11/09/2017 - 22:08

      find a radio station

      I find it interesting that you are recommending this when it is still technically a distraction, I would argue, of a similar nature to me reading my phone.

      I don't think finding a radio station would be any less distracting than me reading Ozbargain comments on my phone..

  • b-t on 09/09/2017 - 21:49
    +4

    The interesting thing is just the other day, I saw a policeman in a Victoria Police white car waiting at the traffic lights holding an iPhone to his ear sitting in the drivers seat.

    I was crossing the road at the time and I saw it because he was the first car in the line. I quickly turned around to my partner and asked: "Wait, so it's illegal for us to talk on the phone whilst driving, but it's legal for the police to do it?".

    Her reply to me was: "What do you want to do? Knock on the window and ask him for his license?"

    Sorry to hear that OP, hope you managed to get a good deal on OzB that day!

    EDIT: Spelling/grammar

    • Architectonic on 11/09/2017 - 07:53
      +1

      It is not legal for them to do so while driving. I have seen it too, I stared at the cop and the phone call mysteriously ended suddenly.

  • serpserpserp on 09/09/2017 - 22:18
    -4

    He should have taken your license off of you.

  • tg on 09/09/2017 - 23:12

    Does all your savings resulting from reading Ozbargain so far enough to cover the $330 fine?

    • illumination on 09/09/2017 - 23:16
      +4

      Yes.

      I've been here for 8 years :P

  • andylch on 10/09/2017 - 04:07
    +1

    BTW, can I use laptop computer when in a traffic jam?

    • TigerWoops on 10/09/2017 - 08:15

      You will get sticky laptop computer.

  • nobro25 on 10/09/2017 - 06:35

    Well you failed to notify the police that you where on Ozbargain, you could've gotten away with a reduced fine! And go hey you! Do the right thing! Do it the Ozbargain way!

  • TigerWoops on 10/09/2017 - 08:13

    I saw lots of drivers texting while waiting in the traffic que and thought is it worth to do that? It costs nearly 500 dollars and 4 demerit points. It could cost even your licence if you have some demerit points already. I would say if you use the phone while driving you are BLOODY IDIOT!

  • payless69 on 10/09/2017 - 12:30

    In Queensland female cops absolutely MUST have criminal boyfriends to be cool after all this state is run by a woman who can not find a husband.
    So her anger must be let out on anybody even having suspected snubbing her and not letting her be a happy human.

    If you are a married male you are so uncool that you need to be punished for the sake of it. So females can slaughter kids just to express anger, no charges laid!

    Males have to accept unpaid Amex cards as traders or go to jail if the criminal has a female police officer!

    So anybody not happy in NSW or Vic this is today's reality.

    So tint your windows, run aircon full blast, surf and hide save and run it is the only way to go!

  • love2buy on 10/09/2017 - 15:19

    This fine might not materialise so theres still hope.

  • Matslurpee on 10/09/2017 - 15:43

    I knew this wasn't going to go well for you after that double negative.

    • illumination on 10/09/2017 - 17:46

      Lol what's wrong with double negatives?

      • bdl on 10/09/2017 - 21:52

        I don't not know

  • tomleonhart on 11/09/2017 - 08:24

    Lmao

  • illumination on 13/09/2017 - 23:45

    I got my fine today guys! :(

    Time to pay up!

    • SilviaLopez on 14/09/2017 - 20:29

      Aww, sad… How much?

  • SilviaLopez on 14/09/2017 - 20:27

    Conclusion: Oz Bargain runs on the streets of Sydney :P

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