John Hopoate’s daughter posts shock video of toddler in car at Dee Why
A special police strike team that targets high-risk drivers is investigating a video posted on social media, by the daughter of John Hopoate, that appears to show a toddler in the front seat of a moving car without a child restraint. SEE THE VIDEO.
A SPECIAL police strike team that targets high-risk drivers is investigating a video posted on social media that appears to show a toddler in the front seat of a moving car without a child restraint.
Shocking footage posted on Instagram by Maile Hopoate, daughter of former Manly NRL great John Hopoate, appears to show a toddler restrained only by one of two adult seatbelt straps.
Traffic and Highway Patrol Commander, Michael Corboy, confirmed on Friday that Strike Force Puma investigators had reviewed the footage and officers would speak to those involved in the video.
“It appears to be a very dangerous practice with the size and age of the infant,” he said. “So, I’d urge that person who was filmed in that video, with that child, to make contact with us so we can speak to her, or she’ll be getting a knock on the door from our Strike Force Puma people.”
A child under four years is not permitted to travel in the front seat of a vehicle and those aged from six months, but under four years, must be secured in an approved child restraint with an in-built harness.
The disturbing footage — posted earlier this week on Maile Hopoate’s Instagram account as a ‘story’ (a video that lasts for a limited time before it is deleted) — shows the infant sitting in the front passenger seat of a SUV while the driver of the vehicle is singing along to music as somebody films from the back seat.
At one point, while the vehicle is travelling south along Fisher Rd, Dee Why, the person filming brazenly zooms in on Dee Why Police Station with their camera.
At the same time a caption is posted on the video which says ‘Sisi out here already breaking the law’.
Another of the captions in the footage, which lasts 29 seconds, says ‘Sisi its your life not mine’.
A woman who sent through the footage to the Manly Daily said she was “disgusted” and “disturbed” by what she saw.
“I’ve got four little kids and that’s shocking,” she said.
“Why would you do that in the first place and then post it on social media?
“I want to stop this happening again.”
Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said he had seen photos of the toddler in Ms Hopoate’s video.
“In this day and age and what we know now about motor vehicle safety and the 300 plus people we lose on our roads now,” he said.
“Some of those people die through fatigue, some through drink driving, some through not wearing a seatbelt.
“It is hard to believe anyone would not wear a seatbelt let alone anyone who would put their child in the car and not have them in a proper approved restraint is beyond me.”
Roads & Maritime Services’ rules state a driver with a passenger older than six months but less than four years who is not restrained can attract a fine of $344 and three demerit points.
Another rule — driving with a passenger under the age of four in the front seat — attracts the same fine and demerit points.
s old also can’t travel in the front seat of a vehicle which has two or more rows available.
On Wednesday, the Manly Daily sent a range of questions regarding the footage to Maile Hopoate’s Instagram account, which has near 4,500 followers.
The account was shut down following the inquiries.
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