Police issue infringements after teen passengers found snuggling in back seat

Police issued a “number of infringements” after pulling over a BMW X5 and discovering two passengers asleep without their seatbelts on.

Pictures of two teenagers snuggling in the back of a car don’t look like the stuff of dangerous driving.

But police shared the photos taken at a traffic stop yesterday, saying the two passengers were breaking the law when they tried to catch 40 winks.

The BMW X5 was pulled over by Southern Tablelands Highway Patrol about 2pm yesterday in Jindabyne, a popular winter destination town near the Snowy Mountains in southeast NSW.

Police officers found two teenagers, 18 and 19, in the fully “reclined flat” rear passenger seats rugged up in doonas and jackets and resting on pillows. Both the teens were asleep when police stopped the car.

And while it’s not illegal for a passenger to fall asleep in the car, you must wear a seatbelt.

“Seatbelts save lives!” the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command — NSW Police Force wrote on Facebook.

“Neither were wearing seatbelts, and a number of infringements (were) issued.”

Infringements were issued to the driver and the passengers of the BMW, police told news.com.au.

The 18 and 19-year-old passengers were found sleeping in the back of the vehicle without seatbelts.

A number of infringements were issued for seatbelts not being worn.

Four people lost their lives over the Queen’s Birthday June long weekend, as police ran a highly visible Operation Stay Alert. Officers targeted speeding, mobile phone use, seatbelt and motorcycle/helmet offences, alcohol, drug-affected drivers and fatigue.

The operation ended at midnight on Monday, a day before the BMW in Jindabyne was caught with two passengers travelling without seatbelts.

Over Operation Stay Alert, three-quarters of the accidents occurred on rural roads, leading police to prompt local drivers to take extra care, even if they feel confident on “well-travelled roads”.

During the operation, NSW and ACT police handed out fines for 4648 speeding infringements, 498 seatbelt offences and conducted 224,965 breath tests.

The number of people injured over the long weekend stands at 78, and the number of lives lost is four.