Speeding tickets could be scrapped for thousands Victorian motorists, speed camera watchdog reveals

Many motorists could get away with a speeding warning, if they play their cards right.

 

THOUSANDS of motorists are missing out on having speeding tickets scrapped because they don’t know they can apply for an official warning instead of a fine. 

Traffic camera commissioner Gordon Lewis on Tuesday highlighted the problem and told the Herald Sun he would do all he could to fix it.

Motorists eligible to have their fines cancelled include: those nabbed doing less than 10km/h over the limit who haven’t received any other traffic fines within the previous two years; and, motorists caught between 10 and 14km/h over the limit who haven’t been booked within the previous three years.

Mr Lewis revealed he will recommend to Victoria Police that all infringement notices be changed to include prominent and easy ways to find details on how to have speeding fines reviewed.

He also wants every speeding infringement notice to boldly display the principal criteria the force uses when deciding whether or not to exercise its discretion to issue an official warning, while emphasising that these are not the only grounds which will be considered.

“It is vitally important that the entire traffic camera system be as transparent as possible and that should include being open about how motorists can apply for an official warning instead of a fine,” Mr Lewis told the Herald Sun.

Gordon Lewis is Victoria's speed camera commissioner.

 

“This information needs to be prominently displayed on every speeding infringement notice. That isn’t happening now and it should be.

“I understand why, due to limited space, the notice can’t list every circumstance that might be considered ‘special’, but all the infringement notice currently tells the person receiving it is that they can apply for an internal review.

“But it is printed on the notice in very small type and I suspect not many people see it.

“And the notice doesn’t tell motorists on what grounds they might be eligible to get an official warning for lower speeding offences, instead of a fine and demerit points.”

Victoria’s Sheriff Brendan Facey and the state’s top traffic cop Robert Hill said it was important that the traffic camera system was as open and transparent as possible to ensure community confidence.

“The suggestions made by the Road Safety Camera Commissioner will be considered during the review that has already commenced in relation to the design of infringement notices,” Assistant Commissioner Hill said.

Mr Lewis said infringement notices were convoluted, cluttered and a challenge to even the most literate in the community to understand.

“While, depending on whether the alleged offence involves excessive speed or running a red light, the alleged speed or elapsed time on red, monetary penalty, demerit points and due date are all clearly stated, the reference to internal review if a motorist feels aggrieved is in very small print and gives as the first option, reference to a web site,” he said.

“Now, I don’t think we can assume that all motorists have access to computers or know how to use them.
“Certainly a third of all complaints received at my office come by post, mainly from older drivers.

“Because Victoria Police has adopted certain criteria in exercising its discretion to issue an official warning in respect of speeding offences, I feel that the details of what factors would normally be taken into account in deciding to issue an official warning should be boldly stated on the notice itself, rather than by reference to a website.

“I acknowledge that Victoria Police and the Department of Justice have for some time been reviewing the form and content of infringement notices and I urge them to take my comments on board.

“If the price of transparency requires two pages instead of one, why not? My telephone bill is sometimes six pages.”

geelongadvertiser.com.au 2 June 2015

Victorian motorists have had a monumental fraud committed against them, to the tune of approximately hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Let see if the corporate fraudster - Victoria Police, Civic Compliance Victoria and VicRoads will be officially exposed!

Victoria's apparent 'sheriff' Brendan Facey is part of the fraud and corruption.