Police struggle to fine with blurred photographs, vandalised machines and motorists who hide their numberplates
TENS of thousands of motorists are escaping punishment because technology is not up to the task — or they cheat the system.
A LEGAL expert has warned motorists to check their traffic camera fines carefully after a record 55,000 photographs were rejected by police.
Fines cannot be issued if there are even minor issues with the camera images, such as multiple cars in the frame or vehicles straddling lanes.
Stanley Law solicitor Karen Stanley said with so many images rejected by police, drivers should demand to see a copy of their photograph — and they don’t need a lawyer to do so.
“Don’t simply log onto the website where you can view the photo, but ask the expiation branch for a copy because it is at this stage that the photo will be reviewed and any technical issues will be picked up,’’ she said.
“You have a one-in-five chance that the fine will be withdrawn and it won’t cost you anything and there is no risk.’’
But police have rejected suggestions there is a problem with ageing equipment, and say many of the total scrapped 73,672 photographs were due to a change of policy towards emergency services vehicles when they were photographed breaking the law.
Excluding emergency workers, who no longer have to apply to have a fine waived, rejected photographs have increased from 35,429 in 2014-15 to 46,344 in 2015-16 and then 55,507 in the past year.
A police spokesman said: “Emergency vehicles travelling to an emergency with their warning devices activated were previously issued expiation notices which were suspended and an exemption under the Australian road rules was made’’.
“SAPOL amended its practices to reject the notices in the first instance instead of subsequently withdrawing the notices.’’
Rejected photographs increased from 3147, to 5809 and 18,165 over the same period.
But the figures also show police are battling with faulty equipment. Flash problems caused 6383 photographs to be rejected during 2016-17.
Another 5438 photographs were rejected because they were not suitable due to vandalism and problems with cameras as well as human error. Police have been forced to release the information because of the State Government’s so-called Open Data policy which requires departments to make their statistical information freely available to the public.
The figures also show cyclists and pedestrians are ignoring the devices, with 392 photographs rejected after the tripped cameras.