‘If there was a charge for stupidity’: ESL driving teacher’s confusion over on-the-spot RBT fine leads to bribery plea

A Darwin driving instructor with a language barrier was filmed by cops on his knees offering to pay an ‘on-the-spot’ fine. See why a panicked miscommunication meant he was hit with a bribery charge.

Darwin Local Court heard that Dongbei Lyu was in his dual-control driver training vehicle when he was pulled over by Territory cops for a random breath test on September 6, 2023.

A Darwin driving instructor who believed he was paying an on-the-spot fine for a minor driving offence was threatened with years behind bars due to a “comical” miscommunication.

Darwin Local Court heard Dongbei Lyu was in his dual-control driver training vehicle when he was pulled over by Northern Territory cops for a random breath test on September 6, 2023.

While Lyu was not intoxicated and had full control of the vehicle, NT Police noticed the driving teacher was in the left side of the vehicle operating the trainer’s controls.

Police told Lyu he would be getting a ticket as he did not have a sticker warning about the right side driver.

The Chinese man, who speaks English as a second language, reached to get his wallet.

The court heard six different officers’ body cams filmed the panicked man on his knees holding up cash asking “can I pay fine now?”.

“I’m a driving instructor, please don’t give me a summons...a fine, I’ll pay now,” Lyu said.

One of the six officers surrounding Lyu told him: “Put that away, put that away, we’re actually going to charge you”.

NT Police then charged Lyu with dangerous driving and attempting to pervert the course of justice, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison.

Barrister Peter Maley said his client Dongbei Lyu was charged with dangerous driving and attempting to pervert the course of justice, which carries a maximum penalty of two years in prison. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Barrister Peter Maley said this “comical set of facts” was taken all the way to the Supreme Court — and was about to go to a jury trial — before a different prosecutor took it over and reviewed the facts.

Mr McDonald appeared puzzled this case had gone all the way to the higher courts before the conspiracy charge was dropped.

Prosecutor Damien Jones said he had “come into the matter late”, and had negotiated down to a plea on the summary charge of offering a bribe to a police officer.

Mr McDonald also questioned if being in the left of a dual-control vehicle constituted ‘dangerous driving’, with Mr Jones indicating that too may be downgraded.

“But clearly though Your Honour, in saying that, if there was a charge for stupidity he would be pleading to that,” Mr Jones said.

“He’s a driving instructor driving on the opposite side of the vehicle, and his excuse was to save time going to a lesson,” Mr Jones said.

“And he’s doing this as he’s driving past an RBT.”

“Again stupidly, opens his wallet and offers money.”

Lyu pleaded guilty to offering to bribe a police officer, and was fined $800 with a victim’s levy.

His dangerous driving charge was adjourned to October 4.