Melbourne driver fined $720 for using a homemade child seat in a ute

A man's DIY attempt at a car seat atop a centre console in a ute has cost him more than $700 in fines.

The 42-year-old was pulled over in Whittlesea, about 46km north of Melbourne, when officers noticed two children in the Holden ute, one on a homemade seat between the driver and passenger seats.

The ute was issued with a defect notice while the driver copped $720 in fines for using a vehicle that does not comply with the standards for registration and for failing to have a child under 16 properly restrained.