Speed cameras
Posted by: Ralphy
29th Nov 2010 11:30am
I used to be a speed camera operator in Victoria when in the Police. How many people get a speed camera fine in the mail and don't request a copy of the picture? Too many I think. There is a very good reason for requesting this picture as it may very well save you a fine and demerit points. For example if in the picture your vehicle is there but there is also another vehicle in the picture and there is no gap between them (in other words you can't see any road or light as they have crossed over) then write a letter explaining you will fight the ticket as there is no way knowing they can prove it was your vehicle and not the other one that was speeding, also they can't book two vehicles for the one offence.... always get the picture as you just never know what errors there are in there.....
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Comments 17
Errol
Great advice, but if you know you were speeding, dont bother, just pay quick as a flash
Anonymous
thanks for the great advice there
Anonymous
thanks i will keep that in mind... might save some $$
Taggie
I work with speed and red light cameras in QLD and our process is that with nultiple vehicles in the image, it is not valid detection. Als, every infringement notices has the image printed on it.
goodyear
Is there a cost to obtaining the picture.
PGS
NSW you get a web link to the pic.
Sammbo
Yep in Victoria it is $ 7.50 including GST.
Details on how to obtain the photograph are on your infringement notice.
Timbo52
It never ceases to amaze me why people call speed cameras "revenue raising" devices. If everyone stuck to the speed limit, then there would be no fines and no "revenue" for the Govt. Why anyone would willingly want to pay the Govt more money is beyond my comprehesion!
It is the driver's choice if they exceed the speed limit and they cannot have any reason to complain if they get caught.
Tez
Excellent advice, however it always amazes me as to some of the locations of the cameras and why isn't there more effort into placement where there is a blackspot?
Anonymous
Good advice, thanks!! I just got my first ever speeding fine and am a little skeptical as to whether I was really speeding, I am pretty sure I wasn't so will check!
maria
that is a good idea. I salut you.
cas
thanks for pointing out the picture i will always check mine now as my husband got a fine for driving 68,in future we will get a picture.km at a 60 km and really cant recall speeding ,so we just paid the fine
Nik Nik
Appreciate this advice however will you then actually be forced to fight it in court?? I am a principle person but sometimes the effort is all just too hard
woodie
We went through Court and yes, it was a lot of time and effort and even though there was evidence, the judge refused to look at it and we were stuck with an unfair fine..It was from a hand radar..We have since found out that Crime and Misconduct Commission or Police Ombudsman are the best places to contact. Nobody tells you that there are other options than Court but there is.
woodie
My husband is currently fighting a Speeding Fine in Court and yes it is a bit of effort but in the long run, it will not only benefit you but others who have had the same problem. The Officer who gave my husband the Fine has been banned from using a Handheld Radar. This means that many others who could of potentially been falsely booked by him, will now not be..The problem is that there are too many people not prepared to make an effort and while ever this happens, the Police will continue to get away with it. By the way, my Husband has already been told that the evidence he has will make it easy for him to get out of paying.
super88
I know what you mean.
I was fined recently, where the speed limit on a road I know had been temporarily changed.
Without blathering on about it, I thought the signage was insufficient.
So I just paid the fine and lost the points.
I didn't need the grief of fighting it.
The next week when I travelled on the exact same section of road the speed was different again.
Less than the usual limit, but more than the limit when I was booked.
I reckon I was robbed by the law.
Ralphy
Depends on how you word your letter. Personally what I have done, and I had 2 speed camera fines in 3 days, is get the photo, then write a letter stating that you will be giving them the opportunity to withdraw the penalty notice due to there being more than one vehicle in the picture etc etc (or whatever the case may be) and that if they don't withdraw the penalty notice, you will go to court and produce the photgraph as evidence and when you win go for costs against the police. You also tell them that you will provide evidence of the chance you gave them to withdraw it. I am very much a principle person and I would represent myself so it didn't cost anything, the courts are helpfull if you represent yourself and there is always legal aid there to advise you if needed. It usually doesn't come to that though as they know that they can't book amotorist if there is any doubt as to which car was speeding. Even if both cars were spedding but still there is no light between them, a still picture can't say 100% certain which one was doing it. They rely on people paying the fines, most who object are told that they are having their ticket withdrawn before it ever gets to court.