The tourist who had his car keys taken from him by a member of the public while driving in the Lindis Pass earlier this month has been fined.
Sreedharan Iyer (41), of New South Wales, was fined $1000, with $130 court costs, by justices of the peace Joy McDonald and Bill Townsend in the Alexandra District Court yesterday. Iyer, who has returned to Australia, pleaded guilty by letter to a charge of carelessly operating a vehicle.
Mr Townsend said it was disappointing Iyer was not present to hear what he and Ms MacDonald had to say.
He acknowledged Iyer's guilty plea but said it was a ''very serious offence'' which had received much attention.
''We both think he should not get away with a very light fine.''
The actions of the member of public who took Iyer's keys helped avoid a potential accident, he said.
The maximum penalty for the charge, under the Land Transport Act 1998, was a $3000 fine.
Iyer had not previously appeared before the courts.
On Sunday, January 18, a motorist, who did not wish to be named, had been driving south behind another vehicle on State Highway 8 over the Lindis Pass when, he said, he encountered the Kia Carnival rental car being driven in the opposite direction by Iyer.
The man said the rental vehicle was performing a passing manoeuvre on a bend and was in the wrong lane, forcing the car in front of his to drive ''completely off the road'' to avoid a collision.
He then pursued and overtook the vehicle, before slowing to get Iyer to pull over.
After a verbal exchange, the man took the keys and alerted police, leaving Iyer stranded on the side of the road in a remote location with his family and no cellphone reception.
Police arrived some time later and Iyer's rental car agreement was cancelled.
Iyer, who held a full Australian driver's licence, later said he had no idea what he had done wrong.