Hunter Reynolds receives reminder notice to pay lockdown fine that cops said had been withdrawn
Despite assurances from a top cop that the fine dished out to Hunter Reynolds while she was out for a driving lesson with her mum would be withdrawn, the teen has received a reminder notice to pay up. Here’s what police had to say.
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A learner driver controversially fined while out for a lesson has been issued with a follow up fine despite assurances from police it would be withdrawn.
Hunter Reynolds, 17, was issued a $1652 on the spot fine in April when she was out on a supervised driving lesson with her mum.
Following media pressure, Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton assured the fine would be withdrawn.
At the time he said the fine had been “legally issued” but discretion should have been applied by the coronavirus taskforce.
However six weeks later the Hampton teen has received a follow up infringement notice in the mail with a $25.80 late fee.
“It’s just disappointing for a young girl, when she opened that letter, we felt horrible when she’d been told it was all done and dusted,” Hunter’s father Shane Reynolds told the Herald Sun.
“I just want it fixed for her.
“She has obeyed the rules 100% during the pandemic, she hasn’t seen a single friend during the lockdown, she’s only been out of the house to go to work.”
Today Victoria Police confirmed it had withdrawn the fine.
“There was an administrative error which resulted in the driver incorrectly being sent a reminder letter,” a police spokeswoman said.
“This should not have happened and the issue has now been resolved.
“Victoria Police will contact the impacted person this morning to apologise for the error and confirm the fine has been withdrawn.”
Shadow police minister David Southwick has demanded an assurance that other outstanding withdrawn and cancelled fines would not be pursued.
Mr Southwick said there were 337 fines that were expected to be withdrawn or cancelled.
He has written to police minister Lisa Neville asking for an “assurance that all outstanding 337 withdrawn and cancelled fines have actually been withdrawn and that Victorians will not see a repeat of this situation.”
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