Qld Police leniency

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Just grasping a straws. I was booked in Qld for a minor traffic offense (72 in a 60 zone). If this happened in NSW I would write to the appropriate authority (not sure if it is the police or RTA) and point out that it was a minor infringement and that I have had a clean record for 35 years and ask for the fine to be waived. Most likely the fine would be waived and I would be told not to re-offend for the next year or two. (I'm a bit vague on the details but I know several people who have done this.)

My question is: is there a similar provision on Qld? I've checked various web site but found nothing. Then again, NSW doesn't advertise this provision either.

[TrevorW]

Sorry you were speeding, but you were, therefore you should cop the fine and pay it gracefully

No such leniency in WA, 72 is a 60 zone would cop a $150 fine and a lecture

[Colin_Fraser]

They have the same thing in Victoria. You have to write to the police commissioner and state your case. 35 years and a clean record is excellent.
Just don't know if they agree that 20% over the limit is 'minor' considering all the campaigns aimed at reducing fatalities where speeding is a major contributor.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Go to Jail ...Go directly to Jail ....Do Not pass go ...Do Not collect $200.00

Sorry Mate ....couldn't help myself .. not sure what QLD has for getting out of such matters.... but certainly have heard about asking for ' fines ' to be 'dropped '

All the Best with this one .....Flash ..!!

[Miaplacidus (Brian)]

35 years of exceeding the speed limit by 12 km/h and not getting caught. Man, legend! I am super impressed.



Still, might as well cop it sweet, I reckon. Or else, you could try telling them you've been to 3 (three!) total solar eclipses. I'd definitely look favourably on that...

[Baddad (Marty)]

Hi David,
I know where you are coming from. A little extra attention to the road and a little less at the wrong time for the speedo. I challenge anyone to deny that they are guilty of same.

I was done for 71 about 12 years ago. They allow 10 over the limit on cameras and often 15 on mobile patrols.

So, David, its not as if you were hooning. The whole police program is meant to make it safer on the roads and keep the dangerous antics to a minimum. Its not to be a bullying instrument for control hungry freaks and intimidate the safe law abiding drivers.

I suppose its worth a try to write to the authorities to have it quashed.
Wish you the best with that.

Cheers

[kustard (Simon)]

On my way home from work I often pass a speed trap (read Ford Explorer with LOTS of gizmos inside it) and whilst I appreciate the requirement for speed enforcement I find that devices that just take a snapshot of you do not take into account any preceding events that may be explained to a police officer if you get pulled over.

Sure, cameras and the like make 24 hour monitoring and enforcement easy but I challenge anyone to maintain a constant speed at all times, even with cruise control (which is virtually useless for city driving).

Ranting a bit sorry and went a bit off topic. I think that if you have had no offenses for 35 years then they will take that into account, my landlady did just that a few years ago.

Cheers,
Simon

[blink138 (Pat)]

do the crime pay the fine!
well guys i am no "granny" behind the wheel but if someone went past my house at 72 in a 60 zone in a built up area?
it is more than a "fair cop" i reckon, and 72 i dont think is accidental
pat

[Barrykgerdes]

On the local main roads of the north west of Sydney I generally travel at between 3 and 10 Kph over the limit. However I am overtaken by every one else (mostly young ? girls with P plates) and regularly get tail gated by other impatient drivers if there is no passing area.

The days of me travelling at 180-200 kph in a big v8 are long past.

Barry

[troypiggo (Troy)]

In QLD the white signs that have a black number in the red circle mean that's the maximum speed limit. As in, go over that and you're speeding, and if you get caught going over that the Police are correct in fining you for breaking the limit. Perhaps in other states the numbers just represent a vague ballpark of what speed you might consider going at.

As above, don't do the crime if you can't pay the fine or do the time.

I'm no angel and have been caught speeding, but have never blamed the Police for catching me or tried to deny breaking the limit. Cop it on the chin, pay the fine, and move on.

Unless you have a valid reason not mentioned here?

[doppler (Rick)]

Me too first ticket in 20 years. 1st change to second slow down at next lights ,sorry 70 km 60 zone $130 fine . The speed limit is 80 after the next ights. Revunue rasing at its best.

[Astro_Bot]

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

On the local main roads of the north west of Sydney I generally travel at between 3 and 10 Kph over the limit. However I am overtaken by every one else (mostly young ? girls with P plates) and regularly get tail gated by other impatient drivers if there is no passing area.

I'm no hoon, but it does frustrate me enormously that dangerous behaviour goes on every day unchecked (unsafe/unsignalled lane changes or turns, tailgating, using mobiles, terrible lane keeping, etc.) but you do 10km/h over the posted limit with no-one anywhere near you and that's what generates a ticket.

It's not that we don't need speed enforcement, but the priority given to it, while other behaviour remains virtually unenforced, erodes confidence in the enforcement system and the agencies involved.

[Hans Tucker (Hans)]

Originally Posted by Barrykgerdes

On the local main roads of the north west of Sydney I generally travel at between 3 and 10 Kph over the limit. However I am overtaken by every one else (mostly young ? girls with P plates) and regularly get tail gated by other impatient drivers if there is no passing area.

The days of me travelling at 180-200 kph in a big v8 are long past.

Barry

You forgot to mention whilst texting, driving in the right hand lane....well that is my experience here in Melbourne

[OICURMT]

Originally Posted by TrevorW

No such leniency in WA, 72 is a 60 zone would cope a $150 fine and a lecture

I just got one in WA. 69 in a 60 zone, $75, no demits... no lecture, as the machine can only take pictures

[casstony]

You only have to be about 4 Km over the limit to contribute a gazillion dollars to tax revenue in Victoria.

[Colin_Fraser]

I've been driving my car or riding my bike for 43 years. Never been booked because I don't speed. Sometimes through lack of concentration I might go a little it over but slow down when I realise this.
I guess if I was caught doing 3 or 4 over the limit I would fight it.
Reason being if the government wants to strictly enforce a speed limit then they must also give the motorist a means of determining the correct speed they are doing.
Speedo's on cars are more than likely up to 10% out of calibration. Police vehicles have their speedometer calibrated to be within 2 kph. The government ought to force car makers to calibrate all speedometers to be within 2% as well.

[Danack (Dan Ackroyd)]

I'm waiting for my ticket to find it's way to me.

Was carefully keeping my speed under 60 in a 'built up' area whilst passing a traffic cop pointing a radar at me....and was wondering why the car behind me was falling behind.

Hmm, so turns out the speed limit is 50 in built up zones, even if the road is about 4 times as wide as an A road in the UK. Pretty sure it was right here I got done for.

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=yurra...,,0,23.05&z=16

[OICURMT]

Originally Posted by Colin_Fraser

Speedo's on cars are more than likely up to 10% out of calibration. Police vehicles have their speedometer calibrated to be within 2 kph. The government ought to force car makers to calibrate all speedometers to be within 2% as well.

The regulations states that the speedometer can be up to 10% out of calibration on the high side (reads a high speed than you are traveling). Low side tolerance is 0%. This way, if you speed, you are definitely speeding, no if's and's or but's about it...

In the USA (some states anyway), you have a right to access the calibration report for the radar in question. If it is over one year old, you can have the ticket dismissed.

[jjjnettie (Jeanette)]

Good luck with that.
I had a clean record for 30 years and had to pay my speeding fine.
A car pulling a caravan, on the straights, going slow when you can't overtake, then speeding up when you can. I had to hit 120 to overtake him. I sometimes wonder if they do it on purpose because it seems to happen quite frequently.

[Astro_Bot]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

I sometimes wonder if they do it on purpose because it seems to happen quite frequently.

Sometimes, I suspect so, along with other reprehensible behaviour. In the case of caravans, though, I think it's more likely to be that the road is wider and smoother, so they speed up. Either way, it's at least inconsiderate.