Many of us are using our mobile phones as our wallets, with devices now serving as storing IDs, driver’s licenses, credit and debit cards, etc.
- Using your phone to pay may be legal, but you need to know the rules
- Don’t drive with your phone in hand – wait until you’re still
- State rules vary, so keep that in mind!
And you may have wondered when you stopped to pay for your late-night snack, “am I allowed to pay with my phone?”
The answer is… it’s complicated.
IN New South Walesdrivers are allowed to “use their phones to pay while driving through a fast food joint or at the boom gate of a parking lot,” but the state recommends that “strict rules will be applied”.
According to a post on the Transport NSW site, a “digital wallet” can be used “as long as the vehicle is stationary and off the road, in a car park, driveway or driveway”. Furthermore, the state says that drivers can “access their digital license on their mobile phone while behind the wheel, if required to show it by NSW police”.
IN VictoriaThe state has moved from its previous stance of “no, you can’t” to a more understandable and thoughtful stance on the issue.
Victorians can make “car transactions” – including paying for food with your phone as you drive past, or using your phone to pay for entry or exit from a parking area.
This is a big change from the state, which a few years ago posted on Facebook that you need to stop, park, and turn off the engine if you want to use your phone for anything.
The Queensland The government is also in line with other states, despite being the nation’s most active anti-phone jurisdiction.
“All motorists can hold their phone while the vehicle is stationary to pay for goods and services as they drive past, enter an area such as a parking lot, or present a digital driver’s license to the vehicle. police,” a post on the state’s StreetSmarts outlines the legal page state.
The South Australia The Driving Handbook suggests that cell phones can be used in a drive-by or parking-gate situation: “You must not use a hand-held mobile phone while your vehicle is moving or stationary while driving. in traffic (e.g. at traffic lights). However, you can use a hand-held mobile phone while your vehicle is parked.”
The crux of the rules seems to revolve around the concept of motion. If you are still on the go, you should not touch your hand-held mobile phone.
Follow the rules of the vehicle and instead of just holding the brake pedal at the parking gate or drive-thru window, park the vehicle (or stay neutral and pull the parking brake, if you’re driving a manual transmission). ), to make sure you are safe. You don’t want that digital wallet and your digital license dealing with it while you’re getting your McMuffin, do you?
Not intended as legal advice. Check with the relevant road authority in your state or territory.
