Australian expat slammed for disrespectful move in Bali: ‘What a silly brat, ashamed to be Australian’
- Aussie stuck on scooter without a helmet in Bali
- Woman argued that her helmet was stolen
- Bali officers fined her $24.70
An Australian expat living in Bali is coming under fire for yelling at a police officer after he caught her driving her scooter without a helmet.
The woman was reportedly riding her scooter on a road in Canggu, a tourist town on the southern coast of the island, when the officer pulled her over.
In a video shared online, the woman is seen arguing with the policeman who was blocking the path of her bike.
The officer tries to get the woman to get her scooter off the road, as riding a motorcycle without a helmet is illegal.
The woman angrily points and gestures at the officer and yells ‘it’s not my fault’ claiming her helmet was stolen.
The Australian woman was reportedly riding her scooter on a road in Canggu, a resort town on the island’s south coast, when an officer pulled her over for not wearing a helmet.
‘We have rules!’ the officer replied.
The woman replies in Indonesian: ‘I’ve been here 23 years!’
Another officer approaches the woman and asks her to get off her scooter, but she tries to walk away, claiming that she is on her way to buy a new helmet.
The woman finally gets off her scooter, after running it off the road, and continues to argue with another officer.
The Balinese police confirmed that the woman was an Australian citizen and was fined IDR 2,506, which is equivalent to AUD 24.70.
The clip, titled “Aussies (and Russians) and those shirtless beach bums: don’t do this.” It’s so damn embarrassing,’ left Australians outraged.
‘No helmet, no respect, no brains!’ wrote one person.
‘On behalf of Australia, I apologize. Unfortunately we have losers here who think they own Australia and the whole world and have no respect for anyone from another culture,” another person commented.
“I don’t understand why she wouldn’t want to wear one when it’s the law here in Australia… or you’ll get fined and $24 Aus is nothing compared to what she’d get here at home,” a third person said. she wrote her.
A fourth chimed in: ‘What a silly brat. Embarrassed that this deviant is Australian. I feel sorry for our Balinese neighbours, we are not all like that.
The woman argued that her helmet had been stolen and claimed that she was on her way to get a new one. Bali officials confirmed the Australian citizen was fined $24.70 for the traffic offence.
One Australian highlighted that the woman’s actions were not only shameful but also costly, as travel insurance does not cover a motorcycle accident if the driver is not wearing a helmet.
It comes after Bali officials launched a public campaign designed to crack down on inappropriately dressed tourists and travelers who violate local rules and customs.
Bali Tourism Board Chairman Ida Bagus Agung Partha Adnyana announced plans on March 7 to use billboards to raise awareness among visitors and educate tourists on how to behave in cultural settings.
Authorities confirmed that a minimum of 10 large billboards written in English will be installed where the most violations occur, including Kuta, Seminyak, Legian, Canggu, Ubud, Sanur, Nusa Dua and Uluwatu.
