Mum fined for pumping breast milk in the car
A mum from Queensland has received a hefty fine for something she has done many times before.
Meagan Schmock and her husband Benjamin were travelling home from their honeymoon on the Gold Coast when Meagan, who is a breastfeeding mum, started to feel unwell.
"I was getting quite engorged and it was getting incredibly uncomfortable for me. It's throbbing, it's hot," Mrs Schmock told A Current Affair.
Meagan was in the passenger seat while her husband drove, so Meagan was able to pump breast milk for her 10-month-old son Billy.
"To have to sit in the car for an hour-and-a-half, maybe two hours, waiting to get home to feed my little one, It just wasn't going to happen," Mrs Schmock said.
While pumping, traffic cameras snapped a picture of the mum adjusting herself for a split second, resulting in a fine.
"They have captured me taking my seatbelt off, putting it underneath my arm so I can unhook my breast pump," she said.
Mrs Schmock said her seatbelt remained fastened the whole time and only slipped under her armpit for a split second.
However, the manoeuver has now landed her husband a hefty infringement notice for driving with a passenger who failed to wear their seatbelt correctly.
"It was $1161 and four demerit points. I was gob-smacked. I was shocked," Mrs Schmock said.
"I saw the money fine first and I was just like, 'what's happened'? And then as I've unfolded the letter, I've seen this photo and then looked closer and been like, 'that's me pumping'."
Mrs Schmock said she had no idea you could be fined for readjusting your seat belt, and shared the story of the fine on social media.
Other mums chimed in on the incident, saying they were grateful for Meagan’s story.
"I felt a lot of support from that - realising that a lot more (mums) didn't know," Mrs Schmock said.
Another Queensland mum also learned the same lesson the hard way.
The same seatbelt camera also captured her in the passenger seat pumping breast milk and she was fined $413 and three demerit points.
"As a breastfeeding mum - and I'm sure any other mums who have breastfeed or who have pumped before know that - you can't just really wait," Mrs Schmock said.
Meagan and Benjamin Schmock are now disputing the fine with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and they are considering exploring the potential for a seat belt exemption due to a medical condition.
Image credits: A Current Affair