Woman slapped with $302 fine for little-known roundabout rule

A driver has issued a warning to Australian motorists after she was hit with a mammoth fine over a common act that others do every day.

The woman couldn't believe she was being fined for driving over the roundabout. Image: iStock

A woman has warned NSW residents that they could be hit with a $302 fine for a little-known traffic rule after she was hit with a penalty for driving over a roundabout.

 

Lismore woman Christa Hagan was travelling down Invercauld Rd at about 5:45pm on Tuesday when she was pulled over by an officer on a motorbike.

Speaking to the officer, Ms Hagan was shocked to discover the reason she had been pulled over was for driving over what she said was “the smallest roundabout I’ve ever seen”.

“There were no cars behind me, coming towards me or coming from the side road I turned into,” she said. 

“I definitely didn’t see the cop where ever he was hiding.”

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A $302 fine

She was handed a $302 fine and two demerit points for her act, adding that she had no idea that it was illegal.

According to the law, motorists in NSW “must drive to the left of the central traffic island in the roundabout”.

The only exception is for those whose vehicle is too large to drive around, with those motorists required to go over the left side of the roundabout rather than straight through the middle.

Other Australian states have similar rules, with some states imposing eye-watering fines for breaking the law.

South Australians who break the rule will face a $499 fine and two demerit points while Victorians could be forced to pay $192 with one demerit point.

Queenslanders won’t have to pay as high of a fine at just $92 but they will suffer two demerit points.

Drivers in the ACT will have to fork out $400 if they’re caught driving over a roundabout while Western Australian drivers would pay a $150 fine and suffer three demerits.

The roundabout rule had people talking. Image: Supplied

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A warning to other drivers

Posting about it on social media in the hopes of helping others avoid the same fate, Ms Hagan’s story prompted a debate on whether it was legal or not.

“In a big 4wd or long ute it’s nearly impossible not to drive up on that roundabout. Most people go straight over the top and don’t even try to use the lane. Not to incriminate myself but I’ve probably done it once or twice by accident of course,” one person said.

“It’s a roundabout. Not a roundover. If everyone else can go around it, why can’t you? Don’t be lazy,” another person counted.

Many came to the driver’s defence, saying they were unable to use that specific roundabout without going over it due to its small size.

“I always clip the edge of that roundabout. If you can actually call it that, it’s a black plastic mound. First one like that I have ever seen!” one woman said.

“Soooo many people do that... I know some vehicles can’t even make the turning circle of that round about without going over it at some point. I’ve seen that cop their so many times now just waiting for that to happen!” another wrote.

Ms Hagan confirmed to NCA Newswire that she will be contesting the fine due to the roundabout’s size.

Originally published as Woman slapped with $302 fine for little-known roundabout rule