Driver fined for no child restraints

An Eaton motorist has been hit with a $600 fine and issued four demerits points after allegedly being caught driving with two unrestrained children under the age of 16.

Police stopped the vehicle on Lofthouse Avenue in Eaton and allegedly discovered an infant sitting in the lap of an adult passenger and a young child in the back of the van not wearing a seatbelt.

Police will allege there were nine passengers in the vehicle, two adults and seven children, and no child car seats or a baby capsule.

On the infringement notice the driver apparently told officers she had just received some bad news and the unrestrained children “were the least of my concerns”.

Australind Police officer in charge Sen. Sgt Mark Smith said if the vehicle had been involved in a crash, the results would have been “catastrophic”.

“A child striking a windscreen at 50kmh – the result would be catastrophic,” he said.

“For some people it is not a priority, but it is for us,” Sen. Sgt Smith said.

“The safety of children can’t be compromised. They can’t make the decision to wear a restraint, so as adults we have to make that decision for them.”