The three Brisbane intersections raking in traffic fines
An obscure red arrow road rule continues to trip up motorists, landing them big fines. This is where some people are being caught.
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A little-known red light rule is continuing to rake in revenue for the State Government, with another six cases listed in one morning in just one Brisbane court.
The matter came to a head last week when Holland Park Magistrate, Simon Young, heard nine cases of motorists deciding to switch lanes to avoid a red arrow.
The flood of incidents led Mr Young to remark it was the “offence du jour’’ and speculate if the sudden spate of infringements was due to improvements in red light camera detection technology.
Section 56 of the Transport Operations (Road Use Management) Road Rules, applies when there is a green light but a red right hand turn arrow.
It is an offence for motorists to try to avoid the red arrow by ducking into another lane and driving straight ahead through an intersection.
The rule tripped up Uber driver Russell Paul Malouf, who pleaded guilty on July 10 to the offence “stopping on a red traffic arrow - stop line’’.
Malouf said he had never heard of the rule despite driving for 45 years.
Many of the five defendants who appeared in Holland Park Magistrates Court this morning (July 17) charged with the same offence pleaded not guilty or tried to argue they had not broken the law.
Netani Lesimaikimatuku admitted to Mr Young that, after seeing a red arrow, he had changed his mind and moved into a lane to his left so he could drive straight ahead through a green light.
“”This is the classic example of the charge. You can’t do that — this is what the charge is about,’’ Mr Young told him.
“What you have said admits the charge. You’re not allowed to change your mind and go straight ahead through an intersection.
“If you’re in a right hand lane facing a red turn arrow you must turn right.
“I know the law is not clearly understand by many people, but that is what it says.’’
Mr Young adjourned the matter until July 31.
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Mr Young also adjourned the case of Peter John Francese to the same date for the same offence, allegedly committed on November 10 last year.
A visibly annoyed Francese repeatedly tried to argue he had not done wrong.
That was despite telling Mr Young he had driven straight ahead through an intersection at Kessels Rd, Macgregor, when he was in a right lane facing a red turn arrow.
Francese eventually pleaded not guilty.
Mark William King also pleaded not guilty to the same offence, this time allegedly committed on August 16 last year at an intersection on Old Cleveland Rd, Belmont.
The matter was adjourned to October 1.
When asked if he disputed the red light camera photograph, King replied: “It’s not the camera I have a problem with.’’
Stephen Liussi decided to plead guilty to the same offence, on November 16 last year at the intersection of Weller and Toohey roads, Tarragindi.
Mr Young told Liussi: “Your own written statement appears to admit the charge.’’
Liussi replied: “I changed my mind at the lights. I was going to work and saw the green light (for lanes going straight ahead).’’
Mr Young said Liussi’s case appeared to be a misunderstanding of the law and was not inherently dangerous, or had caused damage or injuries.
“It’s a misunderstanding of how the law applies. It’s a common one,’’ Mr Young told him.
“But the courts would require extraordinary circumstances to apply a fine less than the ticketable amount.’’
He took into account Liussi’s early plea and other mitigating factors and fined him the ticketable amount of $400, plus $105.65 court costs.