Speed cameras - should we dob...?

Hi Duncs,

Doubt if the UK precedent will have any affect in Australia as there seem to be two different methods of dealing with the legislation.

Going by the report UK law differs to Australian Law. In the UK the driver (I assume registered owner) either admits to driving or refuses to provide information on the driver. I guess failure to disclose information of the driver would lead to some other offence either under the traffic code or perhaps more serious offence of a criminal nature. Hence the forceful approach to disclose.

In Australia it seems more simplified. The registered owner is guilty unless he/she provides the identity of the person behind the wheel. I understand companies (no specific person as an owner) are penalized to a higher degree, ie the fine is four or five times higher if the identity of the driver is not disclosed. This would circumvent any civil rights issues as the choice rests with the owner as to payment of the fine or passing on the guilt. There is probably some other snippet of legislation placing the onus and the points on the owner if he/she fails to disclose. In other words there is no forced requirement to admit or disclose such as the UK approach.

Cruise control keeps me out of trouble!

Same idea I reckon. They can't prove that the registered owner is the offender so what happened to innocent until proven guilty? Basically the owner can admit guilt to somethign the police can't prove (or pay the fine as you put it) or dob in someone else! I reckon it's got legs here too! Always thought there was something wrong with the presumtion of guilt they use - must admit though, I've always placed my faith in the makers of the laws to get it right but! haha!

Cheers
Scoey!

they dont have to prove it is the problem . I lost my points and was not given the oportunity of the good behaviour bond of 1 point for a year due to I did not receive the letter in the mail. I enquired with transport dept they said the letters are automated upon payment of fine and thats when points are removed and then they send the option to you . When asked well how can you prove that I received it they said they dont have to,thats the end of the process. years ago it was registered mail and it had to be collected from post office. I went to court claiming I had a raw deal explained to the judge what had happened and that I worked for post for 12 years and how it was so simple for me not to receive the leter due to human fault or machine fault. He said cant change the 6 months as that is the law but took 700 hundred off the fine so had a small win. And think he new where I was coming from. I got caught driving with out license as I didnt know I had no points so it was automatic 6 months by no fault of m yown. the letter showed up 3 weeks after caught approx 6 weeksafter the actual date of offence. typical of government.

You could do what many companies do and that is log in and out of each car via a simple exercise book in each car, who was driving and when. You get into the car and log in and log out when you leave it. Very simple.

IE: Fred, 1.30pm - 2.30pm 27/9/2006. Parramatta.
Jill, 6.30am - 5.90pm 26/9/2006. Haberfield.
ETC, ETC.

Did you spot the obvious mistake????

5.90 = 6.30

Ha ha Yes

Anyway

Not really a practical exercise for me personally to do just encase I get a Ticket come throe which I haven’t for 3 years and the only speeding fine I have almost been issued in 5 years I got out of anyway, Long story short, Thou I was technically speeding The cop’s recons he clocked me at X amount over the limit, I proved that was incorrect by at lest 20Kp/h so I was let off with a warning.

80% of the time I will be in my car but for the rest I could be driving the old man’s car, my brothers car or a relatives car for what ever reason.

I guess my point is, if they are going to put out these camera’s that “Save life’s” the infringement should show up with in a week of it occurring, not 2 months or 3 months after the date when you can hardly remember being where they say you were let alone what speed you were doing. How is that helping to save life’s.

Not to mention all the stuff up’s that you keep reading about, where cameras have been out of calibration, people being fined twice for one infringement and infringements being sent out to the wrong person and so on.

Hmm, I wonder what would happen if I registered the 4wd in my 2 year old daughter's name....

They send a fine. We do nothing.

What are they going to do? Canel her driver's license? Lock her up in Jail? LOL I've never thought about it before, but I reckon that would be an interesting test.