I recently had to pleasure to support John in his quest to challenge the red light camera fine he received when turning right from Williamsons Road into Doncaster Road. The timing of the amber light was set to 3.0 seconds, where according to the guidelines the amber light should have been set to 4.5 seconds.
I was able to provide support by being present in court and also provided video evidence of the amber timing for both the 3.0 and 4.5 second periods.
What was particularly interesting was the actual infringement was not dismissed because that is outside of the court's control. However the magistrate does have discretion and a number of options. In this case the magistrate exercised his discretion to dismiss the fine. The demerit points still stand.
Congratulations John for standing up for your beliefs even thought it cost you a considerable amount of time and effort defending what you felt was an important principle.
Personally I think the Victorian Government, the police force and the commissioner have disadvantaged the community. The timing of the amber light was not set correctly and that has now been rectified. Those who were fined and received demerit points because of the incorrect timing should have had the fines refunded and the points removed from their records. The government's agents had incorrectly set the amber timing for those turning, but did not refund the fines or remove the demerit points for those turning who were booked. If the timing of the amber light was not considered incorrect there would have been no reason for the government to subsequently change the amber timing as they now have.
Should anyone require video evidence of the amber light for right turning vehicles on the 19th of February 2012 (when the setting was 3 seconds) and on the 8th of October 2012 (when the timing had been updated to 4.5 seconds), I am happy to assist by providing a copy of the videos for evidence. The videos are also available from YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/kelvineldridge).
Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.
I was able to provide support by being present in court and also provided video evidence of the amber timing for both the 3.0 and 4.5 second periods.
What was particularly interesting was the actual infringement was not dismissed because that is outside of the court's control. However the magistrate does have discretion and a number of options. In this case the magistrate exercised his discretion to dismiss the fine. The demerit points still stand.
Congratulations John for standing up for your beliefs even thought it cost you a considerable amount of time and effort defending what you felt was an important principle.
Personally I think the Victorian Government, the police force and the commissioner have disadvantaged the community. The timing of the amber light was not set correctly and that has now been rectified. Those who were fined and received demerit points because of the incorrect timing should have had the fines refunded and the points removed from their records. The government's agents had incorrectly set the amber timing for those turning, but did not refund the fines or remove the demerit points for those turning who were booked. If the timing of the amber light was not considered incorrect there would have been no reason for the government to subsequently change the amber timing as they now have.
Should anyone require video evidence of the amber light for right turning vehicles on the 19th of February 2012 (when the setting was 3 seconds) and on the 8th of October 2012 (when the timing had been updated to 4.5 seconds), I am happy to assist by providing a copy of the videos for evidence. The videos are also available from YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/kelvineldridge).
Kelvin Eldridge
Online Connections
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for computer support.
Servicing Templestowe, Doncaster, Eltham and the surrounding area.
