Published 21 Nov 2008
We hear from time to time of police hiding behind trees and other objects carrying out radar and lidar duties, however we have now arrived at an era where revenue raising speed cameras are being placed in areas that are not likely to be considered "black spots" with inadequate warning signs concealed amongst shop awnings and telegraph poles.
Speed cameras also rated a mention in the mini budget for the NSW Government in 2008 - at last an admission that they are revenue raisers.
The introduction of a speed camera on King Georges Road at Beverly Hills immediately after a pedestrian crossing that is controlled by traffic lights is causing a lot of bother for ordinary drivers who now find themselves receiving multiple speeding tickets 3 or 4 weeks after the event with the certainty of losing their drivers licence and possibly their livelihood.
The speed camera is one of these offensive forward facing cameras (so much for privacy laws) situated between the movie theatre and hotel in the shopping strip of Beverly Hills. There is a school zone well back on the other side of Stoney Creek Road and a school zone beyond the shopping centre. The warning sign is nestled amongst advertising signs and banners and not easily visible to a motorist. In fact, a driver would have to take their eyes off the road just to find the warning sign - which in itself is potentially creating a danger.
Nyman Gibson Stewart had a critical role in highlighting the absurdity of the Lane Cove tunnel fiasco which saw thousands of motorists unfairly booked due to inadequate or non existent signage. The fact that motorists are now receiving multiple fines well after the first offence is indictative that the signage is ridiculously inadequate and in our opinion all fines should be waived until such time as the RTA engages in fair conduct by properly advertising the fact that a speed camera lies ahead. At least with police officers pulling people over for speeding, the motorists attention is drawn to their behaviour then and there. The inherent unfairness with speed cameras is that a person unaware of their offending behaviour may and often does continue to repeat their behaviour with devastating consequences.
Nyman Gibson Stewart will continue to defend speed camera matters much to the annoyance of the RTA, who are apparently so concerned by this firm's remarkable success that they brief commercial lawyers, barristers and QC's to take control of speed camera prosecutions from the police prosecutors, who would ordinarily handle these matters - at a cost of many millions of dollars in tax payer funds.
If you are affected by a Speed Camera contact Jasmina Ceic or Dennis Miralis on 9264 8884 or jc@notguilty.com.au or dm@notguilty.com.au