State Government backs down on tougher fines for speeding buses and trucks on South Eastern Freeway

Tough new laws aimed at cracking down on speeding buses and trucks into Adelaide will be wound back, after the State Government acknowledged they were too harsh.

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Tough new laws aimed at cracking down on speeding buses and trucks into Adelaide, along a notorious stretch of freeway, will be wound back after the State Government acknowledged they were too harsh.

Cabinet on Monday afternoon approved amendments to soften the penalties for trucks and buses caught speeding on the downtrack of the South Eastern Freeway.

But the proposed new laws will not stop dozens of people having to pay huge fines and losing their license because they had already been caught under the existing laws that will remain in place until the State Government can get the changes through Parliament.

In September the Sunday Mail revealed police had issued more than $3.3 million worth of fines in two months as part of a crackdown on speeding buses and trucks on the dangerous stretch of the South Eastern Freeway from Crafers into the city.

The Sunday Mail also revealed lawyers had been contacted by more than 100 angry motorists — including one facing an 18-year licence suspension — believing they had been unfairly penalised.

One driver had his expiation reversed after police acknowledged they had made a mistake about the size of his pick-up truck.

The tourism industry also described the laws as heavy-handed.

One small tourism operator faced a $25,000 fine if he did not dob in his driver, who was caught speeding.

The driver, who faced an automatic six-month licence suspension, believed the bus he was driving did not count because of its size.

Dallas Coull with his wife Nikki and daughter Tamsin. One of Mr Coull’s employees broke the speed limit under the changed rules, incurring a $25,000 fine. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

Infrastructure Minister Stephan Knoll said the State Government would not be scrapping the laws that required bus and truck drivers to slow down on the freeway.

But they would reduce penalties and automatic suspensions.

“The Marshall Government’s absolute priority is keeping motorists safe on the South Eastern Freeway,” Mr Knoll said.

“We are keeping the same offences which were supported by the Parliament, however will seek to reduce the penalties to better reflect community expectations, particularly around first offences.

“We are confident that we are striking the right balance between keeping motorists safe on the South Eastern Freeway and punishing those doing the wrong thing.”

The State Government proposes to:

– Repeal the six-month licence disqualification applicable to either of the speeding, and low gear SE Freeway offences, upon expiation of a first offence and reduce the disqualification periods applicable for a second, third or subsequent offence from 12 months, three years and three years to six months, 12 months and three years respectively;

Remove the option for an immediate loss of licence to be issued roadside for a firstst offence for either of the two offences

– Reduce the court-imposed licence disqualification periods for first, second and subsequent offences where the driver is successfully prosecuted for either of the two offences from 12 months, two years and three years to six months, 12 months and three years respectively;

– Reduce the current applicable body corporate levy (where no driver is nominated) from $25,000 to $5,000 where the matter is expiated and to between $10,000 and $20,000 where the matter proceeds to court.

SA Best MP Frank Pangallo had introduced amendments in a bid to reduce the “heavy-handed” fines.