A Melbourne man has sparked widespread debate online after claiming he was pulled over and fined by police for spraying perfume on his way to a party — an offence most drivers had no idea existed.
Danny Greige took to TikTok to share his disbelief after officers allegedly booked him over the incident, asking followers to help him make sense of what had happened. “I’m on the way to a party and I needed to top up my fragrance,” he explained in the clip. “The cops pulled me over and they’re fining me for spraying a fragrance while driving. I didn’t even know you can get fined for this and lose demerit points. Can someone please research this and see if it’s true?”
The video quickly attracted a torrent of responses, with many viewers convinced the fine was either a joke or a case of overzealous policing. “Is this legit or a joke?” wrote one commenter. “No way that’s an offence,” said another. A third was more indignant: “That’s bull — I spray my car, put lip balm on, eat and drink, what the hell.” A fourth added simply: “I spray while driving all the time.”
However, the legal position is not as clear-cut as many assumed. Transport Victoria requires drivers to have full control of their vehicle at all times. While there is no specific rule prohibiting the use of perfume or deodorant behind the wheel, officers have discretion to issue fines if they judge that an action — even a momentary one — has compromised a driver’s control of the vehicle or their attention to the road. Some viewers backed the fine on exactly those grounds. “Taking your hands off the wheel or eyes off the road to apply deodorant can result in a careless or negligent driving fine,” one commenter pointed out. “Only if your eyes are off the road or your driving is reckless and an officer believes that you’re at risk,” added another.
The case has highlighted how broadly Australian traffic law can be applied, with everyday habits behind the wheel potentially carrying legal consequences most drivers are entirely unaware of.
