By
Alyssa Charlton

ALDI Snack helps Western Sydney driver avoid mobile phone driving charge

The man has successfully overturned a fine and five demerit points.

May 16, 2023
ALDI Snack helps Western Sydney driver avoid mobile phone driving charge

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Alyssa Charlton
Alyssa Charlton

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A Western Sydney man has made news after he was issued a fine and demerit notice by a mobile phone detection camera, beating the charge in court through some unusual means.

The 35-year-old driver and his lawyer were able to prove that he was in fact holding a packet of 'Dippits' - a 'Le Snack' style cracker and cheese dip item sold at ALDI, and not a phone.

After a passionate defence from his lawyer, who claimed the defendant was just 'a hard-working Australian who was simply trying to enjoy his afternoon tea', he was then given a packet of the item in question and asked to show how he he opened it with one hand, which he was easily able to do.

The image in question, which was proven to be a packet of Dippits and not a mobile phone.

The judge found him credible, and overturned the $352 fine and five demerit points.

The cameras have proven incredibly lucrative since they were implemented in March, 2020. In the first two months of the rollout, over 20,000 drivers were caught out with fines surpassing $7 million - a 1500% increase on revenue from mobile phone offences.

In NSW it is not illegal to operate a car while eating, provided the driver still has control of the vehicle.

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By
Alyssa Charlton
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