Speeding Tickets

[Hvr]

<snip>

edit: I think that the fear of getting a ticket is contributing to poor driving too. I spend a more than average amount of time on the freeway in PER and it amazes me how many folks drive along at 90-95km/hr in the 100 posted zones. It doesn't sound like a big deal but as most of our freeways are only 2 lanes I reckon it contributes to the nasty congestion we've been suffering over here for the last several years.

I so agree and hate being with my friend (non-AFF) when he's driving. We went on a small road trip today and he was sitting on 90-95 in a 110 zone. :evil: And he thinks he's driving responsibly when everybody has to get past him.

 

[medhead]

Speedos in all cars built in the last 10-20 years will read lower than the actual speed, since the Australian Design Rules were changed from +/- 10% tolerance, to only +10% (i.e. speedo cannot read under).

You do mean read greater than the actual speed, don't you? Otherwise the bit in brackets says the opposite.

 

[JohnK]

The biggest road threat comes from people texting while driving. That should be a 12 point penalty to get those folks on to public transport or the footpath.

Yes get them off the roads and onto the footpath. That way they can only harm themselves.

edit: I think that the fear of getting a ticket is contributing to poor driving too. I spend a more than average amount of time on the freeway in PER and it amazes me how many folks drive along at 90-95km/hr in the 100 posted zones. It doesn't sound like a big deal but as most of our freeways are only 2 lanes I reckon it contributes to the nasty congestion we've been suffering over here for the last several years.

Quite correct.

I had a hire car over the weekend and when I drove up to the Sunshine Coast from Brisbane I passed 3-4 speed cameras if not more. I am not going to risk doing 100km/h as I do not want to pay speeding fines so I do less. I am quite aware of what goes on around me. I do not hold anyone up and if I am then I look for a place to stop and let them through if only 1 lane roads.

This obsession of putting up speed cameras at every intersection is wrong. Not allowing cars to go over the speed limit would be a much easier solution but there is no revenue in it for the Christmas parties.

 

[AdMEL]

From an experience from well over a decade ago, QLD actually include a copy of the photo on the fine sheet.

Oops! Didn't know that! My one 'experience' in Qld was in the mid '90's and I was pulled over.

You do mean read greater than the actual speed, don't you? Otherwise the bit in brackets says the opposite.

Oops, left one key word out - not, as in not lower!

 

[MelUser]

I would pay and move on.

There is more in life to get angry about!

 

[The Rok]

Have you at least obtained a copy of the photo to confirm that it was your car and you driving?



I assume you only sent a letter? It would be interesting to see how this went in court (see below).



Love the positive attitude!



Agree! Same in MEL.



I agree with this theory. There's also another theory that the differential in speed is significantly more dangerous than speeding, for example, if the majority of the traffic on the freeway is speeding and someone is doing the speed limit, they are a bigger risk than everyone speeding.



Speedos in all cars built in the last 10-20 years will not read lower than the actual speed, since the Australian Design Rules were changed from +/- 10% tolerance, to only +10% (i.e. speedo cannot read under).

It's actually not a fixed 10% that's allowed. There is a formula for working it out. They need to take the actual speed (V1) and the recorded speed (V2) and the difference between them cannot be any more than 10% of the actual speed. I think from memory that's the method used.

And yes, speed can read over, but never under.

 

[Buzzard]

I find in ADL quite a lot of drivers doing 5 or 10k under the limit. Is it because there are so many cameras about?

 

[opusman]

No they're just a bit slower in ADL

 

[medhead]

I find in ADL quite a lot of drivers doing 5 or 10k under the limit. Is it because there are so many cameras about?

My current theory is they mostly can't or don't read the posted speed limit signs and so just drive everywhere at 50. As most speed zones are 60 it is annoying. But this also cares over to school zones where they regularly still drive at 50.

 

[drron]

No they're just a bit slower in ADL

I was too afraid to say that.

 

[Alanslegal]

In NSW a clean driving record for more than 10 years would allow for a review of your fine, and possibly converted to a caution.

See page 9/10 of http://www.sdro.nsw.gov.au/lib/docs/misc/br_001.pdf

 

[Princess Fiona]

My personal opinion is that the effort involved is not worth it unless the penalty would result in suspension.
I would just write it off and move on.

 

[Warks]

Having talked a big game on here back then I copped a fine a week or so back. In Townsville in one of those annoying European cars with the blinkers on the wrong side which distract me every time I put the wipers on. Anyway it was 2.52pm and I had passed through a school zone (no kids in sight at that time of course) - I must have just been speeding up again from the roundabout thinking I was out of the zone but wondering if I was when the man in blue stepped out to stop me. At first I thought it was just RBT as I was going pretty slow but then he showed me the time and got me to admit it was 252pm and told me it was a school zone. He asked me if I was heading to an emergency - I wasn't quick enough to think of one! I noted he had a GoPro on his hat to film my every move too - that would be standard now? I didn't bother making excuses except to comment on the unfamiliarity of a rental car which he agreed could be difficult. I was doing 50kph apparently which was a $151 fine and a point. QLD used to be cheaper but I think the equivalent in NSW is $125.

Anyway he went off to write out the ticket - amazingly primitive system of multiple carbon copies, nothing electronic at all. Meanwhile his mate continued to radar oncoming cars but probably didn't pull any over as they were occupied. Finally he came back with the old ticket. He then said if I wanted to pay over the internet to wait 21 days for the offence to be logged. This is a bit rich considering you only get 28 days to pay so you have a 7 day window not to forget.

I have a feeling that in NSW being over the speed limit in a school zone is a separate offence to just being over the speed limit - my ticket just says 10 kph over.

There's my clean driving record gone for another 10 years. No way of fighting it I guess. It says you can't find speed camera offences but this wasn't so I guess I could but I doubt I'd get any love.

 

[cove]

No frequent flyer points for me on this as my trusty radar detector keeps me safe from this problem. In Perth it remains legal so I have all 12 points tucked up in the warmth of a computer file.
At work we do not reimburse fines so the detector is a great saver. By the way up to 9 kms/hour over is $75 in Western Australia and no points lost. Despite this we have many driving even though they have lost their licence.

 

[Atleastonce]

I am not aware of any state that will provide leniency for speed offenses in school zones no matter what your driving history is. In Qld there is no review process for clean driving record like there is in NSW. The only way is to plead your case in front of Magistrate. Qld also have a rule that if you want to take the matter to court you have to attend the court closest to the officers station (where offense allegedly occurred) If you want to get the matter adjourned to another court you have to apply in writing to the court and put in writing you are pleading guilty before they will consider the adjournment application to another court. They make it hard to test the evidence in a court especially if you are not from that area without travelling back there. I can see why, being the costs for the informant officer to travel to you but I wonder about the ethics behind the dictator like rules. Innocent until proven guilty and until the evidence is tested, and you cannot be sure processes have been followed or equipment is not faulty when the infringement is issued - unless you want to accept it.
I know people will say you have done wrong just cop it, and I agree to a point but you have the option to test the evidence, that's what our legal system is about.