The Transport Minister, Hon. Mr Costa is to seek a reduction in the
financial penalty imposed particularly for the 'under 15km/h bracket'. The
current system is considered unworkable owing the many speed zones a driver
faces on a single trip.
He'll meet with NSW (of course) Transport and Treasury reps within a couple
of weeks to thrash out the reduced amount. It is expected to cost State
Revenue some 20 million dollar$.
ANY reduction is a virtual first for an AUS GovCo.
JP
In article <37f2aeF5b6sskU1@individual.net>,
Mot Adv-NSW says...
> The Transport Minister, Hon. Mr Costa is to seek a reduction in the
> financial penalty imposed particularly for the 'under 15km/h bracket'. The
> current system is considered unworkable owing the many speed zones a driver
> faces on a single trip.
>
> He'll meet with NSW (of course) Transport and Treasury reps within a couple
> of weeks to thrash out the reduced amount. It is expected to cost State
> Revenue some 20 million dollar$.
>
> ANY reduction is a virtual first for an AUS GovCo.
While I only caught half the story, didn't they plan to increase the
penalty points at the same time?
Cheers,
Rod.
yes, 1 extra point, fine down from ~130 to ~75 bucks, can't remember exact dollar
figures as i was still 1/2 asleep when it was on the radio this morning, but 1 extra
point is correct according to the news on the radio.
"RodP" <rodp@hotmail.com.nothere> wrote in message
news:MPG.1c7d18bea3e3d0fb9897a8@news-server...
> In article <37f2aeF5b6sskU1@individual.net>,
> Mot Adv-NSW says...
>
>> The Transport Minister, Hon. Mr Costa is to seek a reduction in the
>> financial penalty imposed particularly for the 'under 15km/h bracket'. The
>> current system is considered unworkable owing the many speed zones a driver
>> faces on a single trip.
>>
>> He'll meet with NSW (of course) Transport and Treasury reps within a couple
>> of weeks to thrash out the reduced amount. It is expected to cost State
>> Revenue some 20 million dollar$.
>>
>> ANY reduction is a virtual first for an AUS GovCo.
>
> While I only caught half the story, didn't they plan to increase the
> penalty points at the same time?
>
> Cheers,
> Rod.
"What The" <meh@meh.com> wrote in message
news:69uQd.162545$K7.102427@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
> yes, 1 extra point, fine down from ~130 to ~75 bucks, can't remember exact
> dollar figures as i was still 1/2 asleep when it was on the radio this
> morning, but 1 extra point is correct according to the news on the radio.
>
Making it THREE points for 0-15km/h over????
C Bell wrote:
>Making it THREE points for 0-15km/h over????
That's right.... to prove that speed cameras are about safety, not
revenue. Only problem is they'll probably decide next that in the
interests of success, 16-30km/h over should be 5 points and over 30, 10.
Then they'll listen to the people who've bleated for years that speed
penalties should be in 10km/h increments, like speedos and we'll go 3, 6,
9 points etc.
Finally, radio announcements will herald NSW's introduction of ground
breaking safety initiatives and be followed by saturation advertising each
Wednesday preceding any long weekend or school holiday. This will request
that all motorists vountarily surrender their licence and car keys for the
duration of the double demerit period both to slash the road toll and to
avoid any accusations of revenue raising.
Unfortunately, the relevant protocols won't be fully ironed out yet, so on
the Tuesday following you'll have to pay $2000 for the release of your car
keys and licence ....
Cheers
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117...5-1242,00.html
Speed fines slashed in road rule reform
By Simon Benson
February 16, 2005
SPEED camera fines for low-level offences will be slashed by nearly half
under one of the most radical reforms of New South Wales road rules in
decades.
Responding to growing motorist fury at speed camera policing, new Roads
Minister Michael Costa said yesterday fines would be cut from $130 to just
$75.
It will be the first time in recent history that speeding fines have been
reduced in severity rather than increased.
The catch is the offence will instead attract an extra demerit point to
ensure safety becomes the focus rather than revenue gathering.
The changes are just one component of a complete overhaul of road rules
expected to be announced by Mr Costa today.
The unpopular fines, which most motorists see as nothing more than a year as
a result. Of the 551,568 speeding infringements issued in 2003, 368,099 or
67 per cent, were in the 0-15km/h category.
The State Government makes more than $1 million a week in revenue from fixed
speed cameras and Treasury is yet to determine how it will accommodate the
revenue loss.
The review stems from an opinion growing within Government that road rules
had now become unworkable and inconsistent, leading to ever-increasing
driver frustration.
On Mr Costa's hit list are the maze of speed limit zones, which he wants to
make more consistent, citing some instances where drivers are forced to
travel through dozens of changes in speed in the course of only a few
kilometres.
The 40km/h school zones will also be reviewed through a new focus of keeping
students safe but not placing unnecessary burdens on drivers and traffic
flow.
It had recently been revealed that the RTA had programmed its cameras to
catch speeding drivers on pupil-free days.
Stiffer penalties for right lane "hoggers" - drivers who travel too slowly
in right hand lanes - will also be considered to ease road rage and improve
traffic flow.
Speed cameras would be looked at to make sure they were in the right
location for safety improvement rather than revenue raising.
Mr Costa has called a road users summit for March where the changes will be
discussed with motoring groups, motorists, government agencies and business
groups.
Whether the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) is supportive of the moves or
sees them as a reform agenda being pushed on it by a new minister has yet to
become clear.
Initial comment from within the organisation is that the proposals are
welcomed.
The gesture by the State Government is aimed at trying to convince the
public that draconian road rules were not about revenue raising but safety.
"I want to send a clear message to the community that road laws are about
road safety," Mr Costa said.
"That's why I am reducing the fine for lower level speeding offences and
adding one demerit point to these offences.
"Better vehicles and road design enforcement and driver education mean our
roads have become safer.
"But road rules have also become more complex. That's why it's time for a
fresh look at the way we approach the issue.
"I've asked the RTA to begin reviewing key issues affecting motorists in NSW
in preparation of the summit."
The new fixed camera fines will apply only to the 0-15km/h speed category.
The fine will drop from $130 to $75 but will now attract three demerit
points instead of two.
The new regulation is expected to come in to force by the end of March.
C Bell <spamurself@iinet.net.au> wrote:
>> yes, 1 extra point, fine down from ~130 to ~75 bucks, can't remember exact
>> dollar figures as i was still 1/2 asleep when it was on the radio this
>> morning, but 1 extra point is correct according to the news on the radio.
>
> Making it THREE points for 0-15km/h over????
So if you get caught doing 45km/h in a 40 zone at christmas you'll lose
half your license? 6 points for doing 5 km/h over the limit? hrrmm...
Scott
In article <1108544367.123085@docbert>,
Scott Howard says...
> C Bell <spamurself@iinet.net.au> wrote:
> >> yes, 1 extra point, fine down from ~130 to ~75 bucks, can't remember exact
> >> dollar figures as i was still 1/2 asleep when it was on the radio this
> >> morning, but 1 extra point is correct according to the news on the radio.
> >
> > Making it THREE points for 0-15km/h over????
>
> So if you get caught doing 45km/h in a 40 zone at christmas you'll lose
> half your license? 6 points for doing 5 km/h over the limit? hrrmm...
While you most likely won't be booked for doing 5 over in NSW, I'd
be happier paying the cash than losing an extra point. Revenue raising
be damned.
Cheers,
Rod.
"Scott Howard" <scott@hunterlink.net.au> wrote in message
news:1108544367.123085@docbert...
>C Bell <spamurself@iinet.net.au> wrote:
>>> yes, 1 extra point, fine down from ~130 to ~75 bucks, can't remember
>>> exact
>>> dollar figures as i was still 1/2 asleep when it was on the radio this
>>> morning, but 1 extra point is correct according to the news on the
>>> radio.
>>
>> Making it THREE points for 0-15km/h over????
>
> So if you get caught doing 45km/h in a 40 zone at christmas you'll lose
> half your license? 6 points for doing 5 km/h over the limit? hrrmm...
>
> Scott
Yes, what a complete load of bullshit. They only just increased it from 1
point to 2 recently anyway!!
So even in normal periods you are only allowed 4 minor speed offences over a
3 year period.
Hmm, great idea......
Scott Howard <scott@hunterlink.net.au> wrote:
> So if you get caught doing 45km/h in a 40 zone at christmas you'll lose
> half your license? 6 points for doing 5 km/h over the limit? hrrmm...
If you've followed Shane and Spooky's comments, you'd realise that
NSW don't generally book for that little over the limit.
I'd seriously be surprised to get done for less than 10 over except
by a fully signposted RTA fixed camera.
They already added the extra point a year or two ago. They should
have just put the fine down.
Someone (I think they were from Staysafe) suggested that people should
get bonus points for not losing any for 5 years or some such...
--
Athol
<http://cust.idl.com.au/athol>
Linux Registered User # 254000
I'm a Libran Engineer. I don't argue, I discuss.
athol <me@privacy.net> wrote:
>> So if you get caught doing 45km/h in a 40 zone at christmas you'll lose
>> half your license? 6 points for doing 5 km/h over the limit? hrrmm...
>
> If you've followed Shane and Spooky's comments, you'd realise that
> NSW don't generally book for that little over the limit.
The officers certainly don't, but what about the speed cameras? 45 in a
40 is 10% + 1 so it's certainly a target.
That said, I'm not aware of too many (any?) 40 km/hour speed cameras which
would be operating over christmas but it's certainly a possability -
especially with more and more suburbs putting in 40 zones.
Of course, what gets enforced is even more of a variable than the fines.
Changing the fines/points takes an act of government, changing what gets
enforced only takes a blitz, or even just an officer having a bad day...
Scott.
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