A SOMERVILLE driver has been fined $1200 and lost nine demerit points after filming a passenger standing on the back of his vehicle carrying a long piece of timber.
Somerville Highway Patrol was recently made aware of a video circulating on social media on 29 October showing a man in the tray of a utility being driven in the Somerville area.
As the utility turned the corner the timber slipped and the man holding the timber nearly fell off the back.
Police said the driver was recording the incident on his phone while driving, with his arm and phone outside the window.
The driver was interviewed by police and was issued three penalty notices totalling $1200 and lost nine demerit points.
Police said this sort of driving behaviour was “completely unacceptable on our roads and any person that commits these sort of behaviours will be held accountable”.
Operation Furlong has been running over the Melbourne Cup long weekend with police urge motorists to drive safely and report misconduct on the roads to 000 or Crime Stoppers.
