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03-01-2003, 12:03pm
Happy new years etc etc. I got sick of my old user name (230hpBoosa) as it sounded a bit, err, gay
In Queensland there is an informal 10% buffer on speed cameras and lasers not because 'The State' is so generous, but because speedo's are generally accepted as being only accurate give or take about 10%.
I have never seen a ticket in QLD in recent times for less than 10% over the posted limit, but if I did come across a client, or indeed if I (touch wood) got nabbed myself, I would seriously consider giving the matter a run in court as you may be able to argue the common law defence of an "honest but mistaken belief" that your speedo was accuate.
To pinch people for a fraction over the limit, like in VIC, is simply blatent revenue raising, but then again, arent all monies collected for speeding?
The legislation in QLD states that all $$ raised from speed cameras must be used in education etc. I quoth...
Use of penalties collected for camera detected offences
(1) All money collected for penalties imposed for camera detected
offences in excess of the administrative costs of collection must be used for
the following purposes—
(a) road safety education and awareness programs;
(b) road accident injury rehabilitation programs;
© road funding to improve the safety of the sections of
State-controlled roads where accidents most frequently happen.
(2) In this section—
“State-controlled road” means a road or route or part of a road or route
declared to be a State-controlled road under the Transport
Infrastructure Act 1994.
However, when the RACQ and the Opposition recently tried to get the Govt to hand over the paperwork for where all the speed camera revenue had gone, the Govt balked and wouldnt provide the info. The inference of course being that the money had gone elsewhere other than for the stated purposes - another ivory back scratcher Mr Beattie??
The tragedy of it all is that from the piles of 'our' cash - millions people, the Govt could provide free or subsudised driver training, for example, which would be compulsory every 5 years of so with your rego renewal. Or even, no seriously, an education campaign aimed at the tin tops urging them to be more aware of their surroundings eg - us. Perhaps those dangerous roads we all encounter that are only suitable for 4 wheels could be upgraded?? No way!
The easy way out for the government is to spend copious amounts of our money on television advertising - running the ho hum mantra of speed kills. You see, television ads are expensive - particularly when you run them simultaneously on 3 channels as I witnessed only last night. By running these ads it gives the impression that the govt are actually spending our hard earned where they are supposed to - under the (I guess) "education and awareness" subsection of the legislation. What a crock. More speed cameras, the same old shock tactic ads, yet the road toll goes up.
It makes my blood boil.
In Queensland there is an informal 10% buffer on speed cameras and lasers not because 'The State' is so generous, but because speedo's are generally accepted as being only accurate give or take about 10%.
I have never seen a ticket in QLD in recent times for less than 10% over the posted limit, but if I did come across a client, or indeed if I (touch wood) got nabbed myself, I would seriously consider giving the matter a run in court as you may be able to argue the common law defence of an "honest but mistaken belief" that your speedo was accuate.
To pinch people for a fraction over the limit, like in VIC, is simply blatent revenue raising, but then again, arent all monies collected for speeding?
The legislation in QLD states that all $$ raised from speed cameras must be used in education etc. I quoth...
Use of penalties collected for camera detected offences
(1) All money collected for penalties imposed for camera detected
offences in excess of the administrative costs of collection must be used for
the following purposes—
(a) road safety education and awareness programs;
(b) road accident injury rehabilitation programs;
© road funding to improve the safety of the sections of
State-controlled roads where accidents most frequently happen.
(2) In this section—
“State-controlled road” means a road or route or part of a road or route
declared to be a State-controlled road under the Transport
Infrastructure Act 1994.
However, when the RACQ and the Opposition recently tried to get the Govt to hand over the paperwork for where all the speed camera revenue had gone, the Govt balked and wouldnt provide the info. The inference of course being that the money had gone elsewhere other than for the stated purposes - another ivory back scratcher Mr Beattie??
The tragedy of it all is that from the piles of 'our' cash - millions people, the Govt could provide free or subsudised driver training, for example, which would be compulsory every 5 years of so with your rego renewal. Or even, no seriously, an education campaign aimed at the tin tops urging them to be more aware of their surroundings eg - us. Perhaps those dangerous roads we all encounter that are only suitable for 4 wheels could be upgraded?? No way!
The easy way out for the government is to spend copious amounts of our money on television advertising - running the ho hum mantra of speed kills. You see, television ads are expensive - particularly when you run them simultaneously on 3 channels as I witnessed only last night. By running these ads it gives the impression that the govt are actually spending our hard earned where they are supposed to - under the (I guess) "education and awareness" subsection of the legislation. What a crock. More speed cameras, the same old shock tactic ads, yet the road toll goes up.
It makes my blood boil.