I Am Perplexed

[tab]

Didn't realise that (about RTA paying)...imagine it would be similar in other states as well.

I'm all for the police presence on the roads, if only they resourced the police properly so they could do it all year round rather than a few periods of intense blitzes a couple of times per year. And the Qld govt needs to realise that visible policing does not mean hiding people in unmarked vans in long grass or behind other objects to take pictures.

Wouldn't it be great if all fine revenue went to the police service to fund them and maybe even do something radical like proper driver training!

[Kimberley Scott]

  Slymeat said:

The RTA pays for police overtime at this time of the year to do traffic operations. Although they also do it at other times of the year they don't allocate as much money so throughout the rest of the year it justs costs too much to do this also these police sometimes work up 20 days straight without a break you cannot do this all year round. The money raised through tickets etc goes to the govt coffers it dosn't go into allocating new resources, the police department dosn't see any of it.

Thanks Sly that makes a hell of a lot of sense as to what I am seeing.

Tab I did not know that there were no double demerits in QLD, facts often get lost in todays internet and global village, cheers mate.

Scotty

[tmac450]

Be careful out there.

I've just discovered some new RTA laws in NSW that no one I've spoken to (including 6 Police officers). Aparently, if you get caught speeding 30 over the limit you receive an automatic 3 months suspension (despite the offence only being worth 4 points). You are also not allowed to apply for a probationary licence or lienency for a 30 over offence. Your only option is to take it to court to seek lienency from the judge. If you get caught 45 over its an instant (licence taken on the spot) 6 month suspension. Additionally, even newer laws have been implimented so that almost all speeding ofences in school zones face automatic suspensions, with court as the only avenue for lienency (no probrationary periods).

So, not only did I cop a $609 fine for 30 over (going from a 90 to 60 zone, I missed seeing the first 60 sign), I'm now facing a suspension. I don't blame to Police, I was speeding, they were doing their job. I just find it hard to understand that I can loose my licence for 4 points. It's also hard to understand how I can get the same penalty as a drink driver, and that if I was a serial offender and had lost my licence through acumulated points, I could get a probationary licence with 2 poitns for 1 year, then after the year receive a full licence back. If you don't use up all of your points, you have to wait 3 years to get points removed!

The various Governments in charge of setting the road laws are clearly out of control, real safety has taken a back seat to make way for schemes designed to maximise revenue through fines. Speed zone signs are few and far between, road conditions are poor, speed zones chop and change, speeds continually change on single streatches of roads, etc, and many school zones are in place where schools aren't even on the road with the school zone, or access to the road from the school is completely fenced off and overhead walkways are in place to cross the roads. It is quite clear that many of our roads and regulations are being designed to make it near impossible for any driver to get by without being fined for something (essentially turning law abiding citizens into law breakers).

Unfortunatly, there's not much we can do, but to drive like Grannies, stick to the limit (use cruise control where possible) and keep put fun to the track or private roads.

[tab]

Just to clarify before I get blasted, no double demerit points during holiday periods like the other states.

They recently introduced something that if you get caught doing more than 20 km/h over the limit twice in 12 months the points are doubled on the second offence.

[Slymeat]

  tmac450 said:

Be careful out there.

I've just discovered some new RTA laws in NSW that no one I've spoken to (including 6 Police officers). Aparently, if you get caught speeding 30 over the limit you receive an automatic 3 months suspension (despite the offence only being worth 4 points). You are also not allowed to apply for a probationary licence or lienency for a 30 over offence. Your only option is to take it to court to seek lienency from the judge. If you get caught 45 over its an instant (licence taken on the spot) 6 month suspension. Additionally, even newer laws have been implimented so that almost all speeding ofences in school zones face automatic suspensions, with court as the only avenue for lienency (no probrationary periods).

So, not only did I cop a $609 fine for 30 over (going from a 90 to 60 zone, I missed seeing the first 60 sign), I'm now facing a suspension. I don't blame to Police, I was speeding, they were doing their job. I just find it hard to understand that I can loose my licence for 4 points. It's also hard to understand how I can get the same penalty as a drink driver, and that if I was a serial offender and had lost my licence through acumulated points, I could get a probationary licence with 2 poitns for 1 year, then after the year receive a full licence back. If you don't use up all of your points, you have to wait 3 years to get points removed!

The various Governments in charge of setting the road laws are clearly out of control, real safety has taken a back seat to make way for schemes designed to maximise revenue through fines. Speed zone signs are few and far between, road conditions are poor, speed zones chop and change, speeds continually change on single streatches of roads, etc, and many school zones are in place where schools aren't even on the road with the school zone, or access to the road from the school is completely fenced off and overhead walkways are in place to cross the roads. It is quite clear that many of our roads and regulations are being designed to make it near impossible for any driver to get by without being fined for something (essentially turning law abiding citizens into law breakers).

Unfortunatly, there's not much we can do, but to drive like Grannies, stick to the limit (use cruise control where possible) and keep put fun to the track or private roads.

The rule you are talking about has been around for more than 5 years, you also missed another 130 in 110 zone which is only 20 over earns a 3 month suspension also.

[tab]

That is absolutely pathetic.

Hope we don't have that crap up here...better go and check before I do any overtaking over the xmas period

[tmac450]

The RTA told me it has been in for less than 2 years (which was confirmed by a friend in Highway partrol).

Even more recent is the lack of appeals. Drivers previously had the option to seek a probationary licence, however, the power to offer this has been taken from State Recovery. It is now a court only process (unless I'm happy with not driving for 3 months, loosing my job and putting 8 others out of work).

[Slymeat]

They changed the length of the suspensions two years ago from 1month and 3months respectivly I believe.

[Butto]

Woah that sucks Tmac, didnt happen to be on Monavale Rd you got done on? Headin away from the beaches that's a huge jump in speed change

[Craig.]

  tab said:

Didn't realise that (about RTA paying)...imagine it would be similar in other states as well.

I'm all for the police presence on the roads, if only they resourced the police properly so they could do it all year round rather than a few periods of intense blitzes a couple of times per year. And the Qld govt needs to realise that visible policing does not mean hiding people in unmarked vans in long grass or behind other objects to take pictures.

Wouldn't it be great if all fine revenue went to the police service to fund them and maybe even do something radical like proper driver training!

I agree 100%.

A visual presence is a great way to keep the general motoring public in check and does change the behaviour of motorists. In fact the presence alone without actually booking anyone is enough or a deterent.

Hiding behind bushes or in drains out of sight as part of a blitz every three months does nothing but raise a few $$. Same goes for setting up cameras. These dont affect behaviour in the least.

Having any revenue put back into better roads or real driver training is also a great idea. It would certainly keep the sceptic in me satisified that the revenue raised is at least doing some good for the motoring public, not just being issued so that the pollies get to have an awesome end of year christmas party!