A dog harness a Queensland woman bought off a discount website so she could take her pet pooch for a ride has earned her a huge fine.
The woman who was fitted with full safety gear and the dog – who had none – were stopped on the Sunshine Coast last weekend.
Bodycam video of the interaction showed the officer appeared to be amused and chuckled at the unusual passenger, but that didn't stop him from applying to full force of the law.
‘Officers from the Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol were conducting routine patrols along Alexandra Parade in Alexandra Headland around 2pm on May 17, when they intercepted the rider,' Queensland Police said.
‘What caught their attention wasn't just the bike, but the furry companion perched in front of the handlebars.'
The rider, a 35-year-old woman from Maroochydore, was issued a $376 traffic infringement notice for ‘riding with an animal between the arms'.
Senior Sergeant Shane Panoho from Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol said while officers understand the strong bond people share with their pets, safety is paramount.
The motorcyclist has been fined $376 for the dangerous driving. The dog appeared unfazed
‘We know how attached some people are to their pets, but it's best to apply a paws-off approach when it comes to our roads,' he said.
According to police, the woman had purchased a special harness online designed to secure small pets to the chest.
In the video, the woman can heard saying she bought it from Temu.
Authorities warned that such setups, while seemingly convenient, could have dangerous consequences.
‘The rider had purchased the harness online and did not think through the safety implications, particularly if the dog was to react to other road users, pedestrians or animals,' Senior Sergeant Panoho explained.
‘This could place the rider and her pooch in harm's way or put other motorists at risk,' he added.
‘Although the dog seemed to be comfortable on the bike, we urge riders to practice safe and responsible behaviour on our roads.'
Queensland Police have warned all motorists to ensure any animals are restrained in a way that does not interfere with the rider's control of the vehicle or obstruct their view of the road.
Police shared the shocking video online, warning the incident could have ended in tragedy
Queensland road rules require drivers and riders to have proper control at all times, something that is difficult with a pet in close proximity to the handlebars.
Police say while the sight may have amused some bystanders, it could have ended in tragedy if the dog had become startled or caused a distraction.
Last year, a Sydney driver was slammed on social media for driving on a 110 kilometre an hour road, with their pet dog in the back of the truck.
‘Can somebody driving at 110km/h on a highway keep the dog in an open boot?' a driver who spotted the pooch asked Reddit.
Hundreds of commenters were divided on the issue, noting the potential danger if the dog jumped out or the car had to stop suddenly or swerve.
Motorists in NSW must ensure pets are safely restrained if travelling in the back of a ute.
Drivers can be hit with fines and a possible jail sentence if they do not take measures to ensure the pet is safe.
‘Consider safely restraining your dog in the cabin of your ute or open vehicle with a safety-belt restraint as this is generally safer, especially in the case of an accident,' the RSPCA advises.
