Why South Australia Police are withdrawing 125 speeding fines
South Australian police have pulled their handheld speed guns from service because of legal issues and will drop 125 cases as a result.
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It might be the easiest way to get out of a speeding fine.
South Australia Police have temporarily withdrawn handheld speed detection analysers because of a “legal issue”.
As a result they’re now withdrawing 125 prosecutions currently before the courts.
Any person who has been issued with a speeding notice they haven’t paid from a police officer who they believe was using a Lidar device can apply for a review.
The radars won’t be used again until legislation can be amended to resolve the legal issues.
Speeding fines that have been issued from a static speed camera, a handheld radar device or red light camera are not impacted.
SA Police said they still had other speeding devices they could use for road safety.
The officer in charge of prosecutions, Superintendent Stuart McLean, said there was no reason to question the accuracy of the laser devices.
Mr McLean said the issues related specifically to evidentiary practices in prosecuting offences. Evidentiary certificates are used in court to show the devices are working properly.
“Motorists would be unwise to think this decision creates any gap in our attention to road safety, or shortfall in enforcement,” he said.
“Until today there have been a number of Lidar devices in operation at any one time across the state which will be temporarily removed from service.
“However we will continue to use other well established speed detection options — handheld radar devices, plus fixed and mobile speed cameras.
“South Australia Police has chosen this course of action after very carefully considering a range of options to ensure transparency around this issue.”
Anyone applying for a review can email the notice number and their contact details to lidarenquiries@police.sa.gov.au.
Anyone who has an infringement notice should read the options printed on it, and take further legal advice if required.
Originally published as Why South Australia Police are withdrawing 125 speeding fines
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