I was slapped with £200 fine for using my phone while driving – but I’m innocent and officials missed key detail
A MUM was stunned to get a £200 fine for using a mobile at the wheel – as the photo showed her holding a child’s toy.
She was snapped by an automated camera that can detect when drivers are illegally using phones.
After getting a fine in the post, she was sure she was innocent and asked for the proof.
And the picture actually shows her holding her daughter’s Bluey toy phone, reports 7News in Australia.
The bright blue gadget features characters from the hit Australian cartoon series about a family of dogs.
However in the monochrome traffic camera pic, it resembles a large old-style handset like an early BlackBerry.
The mum, who was not named, was snapped in Tempe, a suburb of Sydney, on February 10.
Days later a notice arrived with a fine of $362 plus five penalty points.
In New South Wales it is illegal to use a mobile for video calling, texting, emailing, social media, web browsing and photography unless the car is parked.
Officials said this case was unusual and they would review the penalty.
A spokeswoman told 7News: “Transport for NSW will work with Revenue NSW to review the penalty notice in question.”
Last month we told of another driver’s fury after a traffic camera took an upskirt picture of his wife.
Richard Arnold got a £500 fine in Queensland‘s Gold Coast.
A camera caught his 5ft wife Anh Nyugen slipping an arm out of her seat belt to adjust the sun visor.
But the pictures also show a clear view of her underwear beneath her skirt.
Richard said: “You don’t expect to be sent pictures of your wife’s underwear, I have to say.
“It’s actually illegal I think to photograph up a skirt.
“Covert photographic surveillance should not be used in such an insensitive and disrespectful manner.”
Queensland transport officials said traffic camera pictures were encrypted and only used for “enforcement purposes”.