Wallangarra man Thomas Ian Hodgson pleads guilty to driving without a seatbelt

A traffic controller who should probably know better told a magistrate he would ‘see her again’ after breaking a road rule which could have had lethal consequences. Here’s what happened.

A traffic controller from the Southern Downs should have had a better understanding of the road rules after he was busted breaking a dangerous law.

Thomas Ian Hodgson was driving on the Cunningham Highway on July 16, where a traffic camera snapped the Wallangarra man flaunting the road rules by not wearing his seatbelt.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Steve de Lissa showed the man the photos which caught him without a seatbelt, and told the court Hodgson was not parked during the time of offending.

The 55-year-old told the court he knew his traffic history was “poor” and he drove long distances for work each week.

Thomas Ian Hodgson outside Warwick Magistrates Court on November 4, 2023.

“I drive about 1500km a week, travelling from Wallangarra to Toowoomba,” Hodgson told the magistrate.

“Unfortunately I think I’ll be seeing you again to fight to save my licence.”

After briefly saying he would contest the charge due to not seeing the photographic evidence, Hodgson opted to “just deal with it” and pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to wear a seatbelt.

Magistrate Virginia Sturgess told the man the fine for this offence is a whopping $1161 fine, as well as demerit points, but she would show leniency due to the mistake of not including the photographic evidence in the court brief to the man.

“It’s a wasted trip to court, you wouldn’t have challenged if you were provided a photograph - I will moderate the fine,” she said.

Hodgson was hit with a $600 fine for the offending. Convictions were recorded.

Originally published as Wallangarra man Thomas Ian Hodgson pleads guilty to driving without a seatbelt