Some VIC Camera speeding fines scrapped

[EDManual]

Can you believe in 73 minutes, a camera caught almost 1000 people speeding! 242 over 25kmh over who would lose their licence for a month, and 22 would have lost their licence for 6 months! Something wrong there! Police say its fair enough that they all lose their licence!.....


Speeding fines erased for drivers on Western Ring Rd at Keilor East on June30

Michelle Ainsworth
Herald Sun
August 16, 2013 6:51PM


POLICE have scrapped almost 1000 speeding fines after the traffic camera watchdog ruled they were unfair.

A police statement said all fines incurred in 73 minutes on June 30 on the Western Ring Rd at Keilor East would be withdrawn.

"It is not in the public interest to pursue these matters," the statement said.

"Victoria Police will withdraw all speeding infringements and each driver will now receive an official warning."

The Herald Sun last week revealed Road Safety Camera Commissioner Gordon Lewis had recommended police withdraw 987 fines issued to drivers travelling through roadworks under the Keilor Park Drive bridge on the ring road.

"Each of the motorists did commit an offence," Mr Lewis said in his report.

"However, in the interests of fairness, I recommend that Victoria Police withdraw those infringement notices and issue official warnings in their place."

Police were reluctant to withdraw the fines.

"Some of the drivers who received infringements were recidivist speeders with appalling traffic history and well-documented records for speeding," the police statement said.

"Some people have even been caught speeding since this incident."

According to police data, 242 of the fined drivers were to lose their licence for a month for exceeding the speed limit by more than 25km/h. Another 22 would have lost their licence for six months because they were caught at more than 35km/h above the limit.

Of the 987, 38 have received another traffic infringement since June 30 and 131 had had more than three offences since July 1, 2011.

Mr Lewis found there were not enough signs to indicate a reduced speed limit because of the roadworks.

He recommended VicRoads ensure roadworks near speed cameras had "conspicuous signage".

But the police defended the signs.

"Victoria Police remains concerned in relation to the poor driver behaviour and excessive speed used by some motorists travelling through high-risk areas such as roadwork zones," it said.

"The signage did meet legal requirements and there were no errors with the speed camera itself."

michelle.ainsworth@news.com.au