Just Got Booked For Speeding

[ZAP]

There are no mobile speed cameras in NSW anymore as they could not afford to fix them.

[Iconic Bionic]

They had a program on a current affair about this sort of crap in Sydney, Speed Zones jumping up and down all over the place. Some places you get 40 km in a school zone, then up to 70km then down to 50, all on the same f*ckin road! It adds an extra hazard to the driving conditions. Add to the fact you often get some idiot sitting on your arse wanting you to speed up.

NSW has to many confusing speed limits and an article some years back clearly outlined this fact. Only recently has the RTA started to abolish 70 and 90KPH zones, by reducing them all to 60 and 80. All of the 90 speed zoes are to go and the 70's will phase out a lot slower.

Apparently coppers are supposed to put up a sign in the area warning that they are operating speed cameras, and they are only supposed to be operating them in known 'black spots' (if the info from UPMART is accurate). Good luck fighting it in court though.

No point when they dont use speed cameras anymore.

Girl from work was done in the same way on Princess Hwy heading south out of Sydney, I think the zone changed from 50 to 80 or from 60 to 100 don't remember exactly but anyway she was more than 30 over the limit, took it to court and pleaded guilty and received 2 months suspension instead of 3. But as she said the judge didn't like her for some reason as another lady before her was let off with a similar penalty. It's all about how you present yourself to the judge and in what kinda mood they are in at the time.

No she got the full 3 months as magistrates have no ability to reduce the mandatory minium, only the fine.

I.B.

[Iconic Bionic]

There are no mobile speed cameras in NSW anymore as they could not afford to fix them.

Kinda, the company that makes the film for them, stopped making the film so the RTA took it all over and stuck up 200 speed cameras that do need to be paid and take meal breaks.

I.B.

[ronburgundy]

My point simply: This is what is wrong with society today. People refusing to take responsibility for their actions.

Whether its a kid on a shooting spree that blames it on the video games they play, or some parent who rapes their kids and says it wasn't my fault, my dad did it to me so I don't know any better... to someone who blatantly breaks a rule and then tries to get out of it because it is inconvenient to pay the price. And no I'm not saying you're as bad as a rapist or killer, but the analogy holds true.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it is all about revenue raising etc and yes to be honest I reckon you're a bit stiff based on the circumstances you describe.

But that doesn't change the fact you were clearly in the wrong and guess what, there is a system that prescribes a penalty that you'll probably have to cop.

[dule]

"No she got the full 3 months as magistrates have no ability to reduce the mandatory minium, only the fine."

IB, I don't see a reason for her to lie about it. What she said is that she paid the fine thinking it was only 3 points but when she received the suspension letter from RTA she took it to court explained how she needs her car as she goes to Woolongong every week to help her elderly mum, bla blah blah... and apparently the magistrate reduced it to 2 months.

[Iconic Bionic]

Unheard of then but more likley shes misunderstood.

I.B.

[Craig.]

My point simply: This is what is wrong with society today. People refusing to take responsibility for their actions.

I agree, but I feel that the federal and state governments and their 'nanny state' policies have contributed to this attitude! So many dumb laws to protect us from ourselves, over regulation and over enforcement lead to this attitude in the general public. The law makers have taken our ability to use common sense away. They have set the bar for the lowest common denominator and have dumbed the rest of us down in the process!

Regarding law enforcement on our roads, the Australian public have been duped! The majority have been brainwashed into thinking that speed is the main contributing factor to our road toll. The cops genuinely believe it too as they have also had the propaganda fed to them. That and attending fatalaties (which re-inforce the message that that speed kills regardless of the actual cause of a particular accident)have made the average copper hyper sensitive to the issue of speed, which is why they have no problems booking you for doing 80 in a 50 zone, even though in all likely hood, the 50 zone you were booked in is almost certainly as safe to do 100 in as the 100 zone just a few metres up the road.

This plays right into the politicians hands as they reap millions a year from speeding fines, many of which, in reality, do nothing for road safety but much for the bank accounts of said governments. What they should be doing instead is bringing our highways/freeways and driver licencing/education system up to scratch with the rest of the western world and then raising speed limits to suit the 'worlds best' road conditions and skill level of the now highly trained drivers! This would save more lives than the speed enforcement culture that we have at the moment, and they know it! Unfortunately this would mean less revenue from our roads, so governments see no advantage in spending the time and money on getting this right!

The fact is that we are stuck with some down right draconian laws relating to our licencing system, road making/maintenance and law enforcement on our roads. Unfortunately, I believe that we have left it too late to do anything about. The gate has been left opened for far too long.

PS for those of you who are in the police force, this is not aimed at you. The whole system is topsy turvey. You are just doing your job. It is the law makers that are at fault here.

Edited 11/11/09 01:32 AM by craiginmackay

[ronburgundy]

I'm sure I once heard a comedian say "why don't we just take all the warning labels off everything and let nature run its course" - does that pretty much describe your thinking?!

[seduced]

Well said.

Sadly, the situation will only get worse. As more people are killed, speed zones will be lowered, fines will increase, police speed traps will increase, people will be more brainwashed, and ZERO lives will be saved. How slow will the limits have to go before they realise speed isn't killing our people?

Let me put it this way. Drive in the car with your wife and 2 kids, get out on the highway and sit on 200km/h+. Then tell people that you did that speed with your family in the car. They will look at you in disgust, call you a killer, demand to know how you can travel that speed and put your family in so much danger......

then tell them you were on a holiday in Germany driving on an autobahn. All of a sudden ITS ABSOLUTELY FINE. Whats the difference????

The German autobahns are not fantastic roads, they are just well maintained. The F3 could easily become a decent Australian Autobahn with some driving training. 90km/h on a road like that is just pathetic.

[tab]

Well said craig.

We are becoming so heavily legislated the first reaction is to feel hard done by and try and find a way out, but ultimately you're aware of (or have no excuse not be) the consequences so that's really the extent of it.

As an analogy, taxation legislation is becoming so friggin complex and over the top that everyone is 100% focussed on finding loopholes to try and get out of as much as they can. That would make accountants scum for attempting to 'rort' the system yes?