Government refuse motorist refund

THE state government will not refund 68,000 motorists who may have been incorrectly fined by dodgy speed cameras on the Hume Highway.

It comes as the government considers a massive lawsuit against the Hume Freeway speed camera operators.

The threat comes amid claims more motorists have been incorrectly fined by the point-to-point cameras, which time motorists between a 70km stretch of freeway in Melbourne's north.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Roads Ken Lay assured Victorians only nine of the 68,000 motorists caught by the cameras between Craigieburn and Wallan since 2007 had been incorrectly fined

Police Minister James Merlino told 3AW this morning he was cofident the nine people identified by Victoria Police as receiving incorrect fines were the only ones affected by the technology malfunction.

"There is a great level of confidence both within the Department (of Justice) and within (camera operator) Redflex that the overwhelming majority of fines, more than 68,000, were issued correctly," he said.

But Mr Merlino said more accurate results would be revealed with the outcome of an indepent review by Deloitte auditors.

"There is a possibility that it may throw up some different results. The department and Redflex are confident that it won't."

Premier John Brumby said it might only be a small number of faults, but it undermined Victorians' confidence in the whole speed camera system.

"Victoria Police and the department are examining legal action against the company. There's a contract, the system is meant to work 100 per cent of the time," he said.

Melissa, of Wallan, said she was served with an impoundment notice last Thursday after being caught doing 154km/h in the 110km/h zone in her Mazda 2.

The P-plater, who faced a 12-month licence suspension, said she convinced a local police officer she was telling the truth, sparking the investigation that discovered the faulty cameras.

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The threat comes amid claims more motorists have been incorrectly fined by the point-to-point cameras, which time motorists between a 70km stretch of freeway in Melbourne's north.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Roads Ken Lay assured Victorians only nine of the 68,000 motorists caught by the cameras between Craigieburn and Wallan since 2007 had been incorrectly fined.

Premier John Brumby said it might only be a small number of faults, but it undermined Victorians' confidence in the whole speed camera system.

"Victoria Police and the department are examining legal action against the company. There's a contract, the system is meant to work 100 per cent of the time," he said.

Melissa, of Wallan, said she was served with an impoundment notice last Thursday after being caught doing 154km/h in the 110km/h zone in her Mazda 2.

The P-plater, who faced a 12-month licence suspension, said she convinced a local police officer she was telling the truth, sparking the investigation that discovered the faulty cameras.

Disgruntled motorists have told the Herald Sun they plan to fight their fines in court.

The company responsible for the speed cameras, Redflex Traffic Systems, did not return the Herald Sun's calls yesterday, but its chief executive, Graham Davie, told talkback radio he was sorry.

"We deeply regret what has happened and it's obviously something we've been very quick to deal with when we've heard about it," he said. "I am sorry that this event has occurred."

Mr Lay said the cameras would not be switched back on until they had been thoroughly tested.

The problem was caused when the clock on one camera became out of sync with a second camera.

"I am incredibly disappointed that this has happened," Mr Lay said.

"As soon as the problem was identified we immediately suspended use of the point-to-point cameras and I will not be reinstating them until I am convinced that the fault has been 100 per cent eradicated."s and that measures have been put in place to ensure that this can never happen again."

heraldsun.com.au 19 Oct 2010 - with Wayne Flower and Shannon Deery

Under Australian Law : Stealing is a crime.

The government has acknowledged incorrect fines, therefore they are null and void.

The government refuses to refund the monies and/or demerit point, therefore opening up an allegation of stealing.

There should be a class action law suite IMMEDIATELY against the government for stealing.

The government is showing the peasants that they are above prosecution.