Cop is slammed for holding up traffic by parking in the middle of the road and then wearing his mask under his nose as he accuses a driver of failing to indicate
- Footage showed police officer leaving his squad car in the middle of a busy road
- Pulled over driver in Bexley in Sydney's south after he allegedly failed to indicate
- Police told Toyota driver to pull into a side street as they could not park behind
- Officer's mask not covering his nose on same day stay-at-home rules extended
Footage of a police officer wearing his mask incorrectly while parked in the middle of a busy road during a rush-hour traffic stop has prompted outrage online.
A senior constable was seen giving a ticket to a Toyota Prius driver on Forest Road in Bexley in Sydney's south on June 26 after he allegedly twice failed to indicate while police were driving behind him.
The motorist pulled over into a parking spot on the main road, with the two officers who were tailing him then leaving their squad car in the southbound lane - forcing oncoming traffic to drive around them.
The constable's mask was not covering his nose on the same day stay-at-home restrictions were extended across Greater Sydney to slow the spread of Covid-19.
Masks are not mandatory outdoors for police officers or the public, but official advice states that when worn masks should cover the user's nose and mouth.
Footage showed police telling the man to move to a side street as there wasn't enough space for them to park behind, sparking a heated argument with the driver.
'For the safe movement of traffic I'm directing you to put your car elsewhere,' the constable said.
'I can't park behind you here.'
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The motorist claimed he pulled over in a 'legal parking spot' and explained in the comments under the video he was worried about being alone with police on a side street.
'He just wants me in a back street where there are no witnesses or cameras,' the driver wrote.
A senior constable was seen pulling over a Toyota Prius driver on Forest Road in Bexley in Sydney's south on June 26 but was wearing his mask under his nose
Commenters were quick to notice the police officer was not wearing his mask correctly.
'Bro he is not following mask procedures - he is not wearing his mask properly,' one person wrote. 'Take him to court.'
'The officer is not wearing his mask the right way.'
Others though said the driver should have followed police instructions and moved his car to the side street as requested.
Commenters were quick to notice the police officer was not wearing his mask correctly
'No disrespect but why didn't you just park around the corner. The cops are employed to keep the peace and enforce the law,' one said.
One said it was the Prius driver's fault traffic was being blocked.
'Do you know how much traffic you caused for everyone,' another wrote.
A New South Wales Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia police are following the same mask rules as the public during the lockdown.
'There is no Public Health Order mandating masks outdoors, so he [the officer] has not breached an order,' she said.
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