Spin king Shane Warne and friends may be slapped with fine for failing to wear seatbelts in Hobart

IT’S been a few years since he’s had a call-up, but Shane Warne can expect to hear from police officers investigating the former cricketer’s failure to wear a seatbelt during a recent visit to Hobart.

In a four-minute video, which Shane Warne posted on Facebook, Warne, pictured, former Australian batsman Michael Slater and former England captain Kevin Pietersen can be seen not wearing seatbelts while sitting in the back of a van in Hobart.

IT’S been a few years since he’s had a call-up, but Shane Warne can expect to hear from Tasmanian police, who are investigating the former cricketer’s failure to wear a seatbelt during a recent visit to Hobart.

Australia’s former star spinner earlier this week uploaded a four-minute clip to his Facebook page showing a trip through Hobart in which he and former Test batsman Michael Slater aren’t wearing seatbelts.

 

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After a couple of minutes the pair realise their mistake and buckle up, but police will still consider prosecution.

“There is an investigation undergoing ... we have a copy of the footage and have our officers looking and reviewing that tape,” Tasmania Police acting Inspector Ian Mathewson said.

The men haven’t been contacted “but I believe they will be at some stage,” he added.

Failing to wear a seatbelt carries a fine of $300 and three demerit points for the driver, with separate penalties for passengers, although a warning is most likely for a first offence.

“The real penalty here is death or serious injury,” Insp Mathewson said of the example set by the high-profile men.

The van was being driven by former Australian skipper Mark Taylor, who was wearing a seatbelt, along with front-seat passenger Ian Healy.

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen also was in the back of the van and police said they were investigating three passengers.

“It is disappointing for any person or any vehicle occupant not to be wearing a seatbelt and I suppose it is even worse for the fact they are high-profile individuals,” Insp Mathewson said.

Despite wearing his own seatbelt, Taylor may not be immune. “There is a separate offence within our legislation for the driver of a motor vehicle permitting the vehicle occupants to not wear their seatbelts,” the officer said.

Originally published as Spin king Shane Warne and friends may be slapped with fine for failing to wear seatbelts in Hobart