Sydney Motorcycle Rider Slugged with Jaw-Dropping $844 Fine and 3 Demerit Points for Little-Known Road Rule
- A Sydney motorcyclist, Anna Ranford, was handed a massive fine for lane filtering, a rule she had no idea existed
- The hefty penalty has left Aussies stunned, with many questioning the law and its hefty price tag
- Experts warn that illegal lane filtering can result in serious accidents and even imprisonment
Anna Ranford, a Sydney motorcyclist, was left reeling after copping an $844 fine and 3 demerit points for breaking a little-known road rule. The stunned rider took to TikTok to share her ordeal, leaving many Aussies equally baffled.
Anna explained that she was lane filtering while riding her motorcycle in Sydney when a police officer pulled her over. “I’ve just been charged $844 and 3 demerit points,” she said in the TikTok video. “I don’t mean to rant, but why is it so much money?”
The shocked motorcyclist revealed in the comments that she was riding on the side of a parked car, which led to the fine. However, she confessed that she had no idea it was illegal and wondered how it warranted such a hefty fine. “No one was at risk,” she shared.
Many commenters on the post were equally perplexed by the law, with some assuming it was completely legal to lane filter. However, Sydney lawyer Avinash Singh revealed that there are only a few very particular circumstances under which lane filtering is legal.
“The rider must be between two separate but adjacent lanes travelling in the same direction as traffic,” he explained. “Further, the rider must be travelling at a speed of less than 30 km/hr and it must be safe to lane filter. Lane filtering is specifically prohibited in school zones and by P plate or learner riders.”
Mr Singh warned that the maximum penalty for illegal lane filtering is a staggering $2200, which can only increase in the event of an accident. “If a motor cyclist side swipes another vehicle while lane filtering, they can be charged with an offence of malicious damage pursuant to section 195 of the Crimes Act 1900,” he said. “This offence carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment.”
In response to Anna’s explanation, Mr Singh confirmed that filtering between traffic and a parked car is illegal. “The reasoning behind this is that people often get in and out of parked cars or walk next to parked cars. When a motorcyclist lane filters close to a parked car, there is a significant risk that they are not seen and can cause an accident.”
The lawyer explained that the high fine is due to the high risk associated with lane filtering, which has resulted in serious injuries and accidents. “The idea behind the large fine is that it acts as a deterrent to other motorcyclists to dissuade them from illegally lane filtering.”