Fare fight in brief assault

A CAIRNS woman accused of slapping a bus driver, who refused to take money she had pulled from her underwear, had allegedly tried to get police to take action against him.

The 40-year-old boarded the bus at a Lake St stop near the Cairns Hospital about 5.30pm on Tuesday and pulled cash from her bra to pay for the fare.

A police spokesman said the male driver challenged the woman about accepting the money and she allegedly became angry and slapped him across the face. She then got off the bus. Police were called to the scene and spoke to the driver about the alleged assault.

However, it is understood in the meantime the woman went to the Cairns police station with the intention of speaking to officers about what had occurred.

Instead she was issued with a notice to appear in the Cairns Magistrates Court on January 14 in order to face a charge of common assault.

The driver was not physically hurt after the alleged slapping.

Cairns police Sen-Constable Russell Parker said the driver had been within his rights to refuse the cash.

“He was understandably concerned about handling the money,” he said. “We would expect that people would treat our transport industry workers with the respect they deserve.”

Transport Workers Union branch secretary Peter Viagini said assaults against bus drivers occurred “too often”.

“We see it too frequently and it has to stop,” he said.

“All workers deserve come home safe.

“All bus drivers are transporting valuable cargo and that’s why they take safety so seriously.”

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