Paul Jean fronted Moorabbin court over not wearing a seatbelt while driving a truck in Highett
A Reservoir truckie has gone in to battle against three police officers over claims he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. So whose side did the court come out on?
South East
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A Melbourne truckie has taken on three police officers in court over claims he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt — and lost.
Paul Jean pleaded not guilty at the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court after the officers pinged him for not wearing a seatbelt in Highett last year.
But rather than accept the fine, Jean threw in his lot with the court system.
“I wouldn’t waste your time or my time if I was guilty,” he told Magistrate Katherine Rynne
“I’m happy to take a kick in the butt when I’m guilty, I never question anything.”
The court saw video evidence from the police dashcam and body worm footage from the interviewing officer, who spoke to Jean after they saw him at the traffic lights on Wickham Rd at the time of his offending.
Jean argued that none of the footage could visually demonstrate he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt.
“I was wearing a seatbelt the whole time,” he told the court.
“You couldn’t see it from the police car because the configuration of the seatbelt in a truck is different from that of a car.”
But Ms Rynne saw things differently.
“These are three sworn police officers giving evidence under oath,” she said.
“I’m finding you guilty of breaching the road rule in failing to wear a seatbelt while stationary and not parked.”
Ms Rynne said she was not able to reduce the penalty in a finding of guilt in her sentencing.
“When there is a guilty finding after a not-guilty plea, it’s not within the power of the court to reduce an infringement,” she said.
“I’m fining you the original $370 without conviction.
gemma.scerri@news.com.au
