Thanks, Jack. I had better check the equivalent in SA / Adelaide.
If Ricarda was in my lap while I was driving; mind you I am not for one moment suggesting that this would ever happen, and if for example, we were pulled over by some zealot cop who didn't believe that Ricarda was applying emergency mouth to mouth resuscitation, the potential fine(s) could be a total of $1,093, by my reckoning.
Sheeeesh, this is just another contingency that the Über Driver fraternity must fund for, and be prepared for in dealing with over zealous riders. When will these financial imposts cease?
I find it intriguing that potentially, we might be driving together - No 4 (or flying united, so to speak) and from the fines it appears that it is a lesser crime than excessive moaning / groaning - No 2. It would be interesting to know the backstory to this. It must be a visual / auditory stimulus issue with the police force. I suppose after walking around in those hot uniforms all day, the slightest auditory suggestion is likely to cause mayhem and the girls and guys in uniform are only human after all, so they need to exercise restraint and be an example to the general populace.
The ACT has an exemption that allows drivers to touch their phone for navigation purposes if they have a full licence and the phone is in a commercially manufactured cradle.
I think it's arguable that using the Uber app on a phone to accept a ride request is using the phone for navigation purposes as accepting the ride is the first step in being directed to the rider's address.
The other argument would be that using the phone for that purpose is one step removed from using the phone for navigation.
I haven't heard of any cases of ACT Policing fining rideshare drivers for touching their phones in the course of their work and they haven't issued any specific warnings.
That said, I don't touch my phone if I'm aware that I'm in the sight of a road traffic police officer, just in case.
Canberra drivers at times also drive in Queanbeyan across the border in New South Wales. Over there, there is an exemption that covers using the phone as a driver's aid, which includes using the phone as part of a despatch system.
We have twice had ACT Government representatives attend the weekly rideshare lunches that I convene. We have raised the issue with them and have argued for the ACT law to be relevantly amended to bring it into line with the law in New South Wales.
so, Jack Malarkey , accept the ping, pull over, and take it from there.
sound advice.
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