Unfairly Charged with Careless Driving - Thoughts?

Early in December, I reported this guy in a Dodge Ram pickup truck with a trailer who was driving like a d**k endangering other road users as well as myself.

Lo and behold, the useless cops turned up tonight at my door and they actually issued me with an infringement notice for careless driving.

Below is the footage of the incident.

Video link

As you can see in the video, this prick made a dangerous lane change from the overtaking lane to the next lane and then he did the same thing to me basically just forcing his way into my lane. The cops are arguing that I sped up instead of braking and I nearly caused an accident. I expected this guy to not change lane because I was already very close to him in the next lane but he forced his way in regardless (it was a deliberate move on this part) and by that point I didnt brake because I knew there was a car behind me at that point too. Any other normal driver would have waited for me to pass and look for a reasonable gap in order to make the lane change, especially when they are hauling a trailer as well.

Do I have any chance of successfully contesting this fine do you think? Yes, in hindsight, I could have been more defensive, not assuming the other driver will do the right thing, but I obviously think it's ridiculous that someone who's supposed to give way when changing lane can just force their way into another lane and the law or the cops think they didn't do anything wrong and instead chooses to punish the person who was just driving in their own lane?

closed Comments

  • I'm glad the video has been replicated, and I believe everything that I had to say has already been said.

    Thankfully, it's only a dangerous driving fine and not an accident… This could have been a lot worse.

  • OP was doing a good job keeping a safe distance to the ute in front. So why in the universe do you accelerate like a tool when you see someone already shift over one laee, with the likelihood they want to come across another to take the exit? Do us a favour and surrender your licence.
    P.S. please advise us of your eyhnicity for, umm, research and statistical purposes.

  • +2

    Wrong, sir! Wrong!
    Under Section 83 of the Transport Operations Act 1995 it states quite clearly that: “Any person who drives a motor vehicle on a road or elsewhere without due care and attention or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road or place is guilty of an offence".
    And you can read it for yourself in this photostatic copy: https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current…
    Fax mentis incendium gloria cultum, et cetera, et cetera…
    Memo bis punitor delicatum!
    It's all there, black and white, clear as crystal!
    You sped up to block another driver!
    Your nearly caused a multi-car accident!
    And you posted incriminating evidence to the police, so you get nothing!
    You lose!
    Good day, sir!

    • +1

      I'm confused now. Does he get to keep a chocolate factory?

    • +1

      So it's grandpa Joe's fault?

    • +2

      @DisabledUser456694

      Cos you got a golden ticket!

    • This is a very under-rated reply. Brilliant. 5 Stars.

  • +1

    Bro the irony… Your only hope would be to challenge the evidence. Unfortunately you supplied it directly to the police lol…

  • Did they explain the ticket to you?

    The careless driving would have been for cutting into the left lane without signaling and failing to give way.

    Nothing to do with the Ram.

    They likely gave him a notice as well, or a warning.

  • Commenting Closed, as request by OP.

Login or Join to leave a comment