Fine Defender website set up to help drivers challenge road fines

BEEN hit with a road fine you don’t think is fair and can’t afford to fight it? An online service, believed to be a world first, will go into bat for you.

Adam Cockayne has set up a Fine Defender, to help motorists contest “unfair” fines. Picture: Valeriu Campan

AN online legal service, believed to be a world first, is promising to end unfair revenue-raising by contesting fines and penalty notices on behalf of the little guy.

Fine Defender, an online business based in Caulfield, is the brain child of lawyer Adam Cockayne and IT guru Dan Roitman.

The website provides an easy and affordable way to challenge fines issued for parking, speeding, toll roads and public transport offences.

The service has been running for free for the past 12 months, but will shortly start charging a small fee of $25-$35 to cover costs.

Mr Cockayne said he realised the system was “broken” after working for many years as a government lawyer, including at the New South Wales Legal Aid Commission and doing infringement reviews at the Victorian Department of Environment and Primary Industries.

“The fines system was set up to take minor offences out of our courts but it’s being used by government agencies to raise revenue illegally,” he said.

Mr Cockayne said if a person challenged a fine and had a good reason, the legislation says their fine must be withdrawn.

But he said many agencies ignored the legal requirements and their review process was a “sham”.

Fine Defender can deal with speeding or toll fines that drivers think are wrong.

“Going to a lawyer is not an option for most people,” he said.

“Our aim is to ensure that the agencies act fairly, they have been getting this wrong for years and putting revenue before justice”.

Mr Cockayne said the online system was automated, easy-to-use and was already having huge success with up to 80 per cent of users successfully defending their fines.

Among them, Brunswick East motorist Melissa Robbins, who was stung with a $78 fine for parking too long in a two-hour area in Elsternwick in October last year.

Fine Defender lodged Ms Robbins’s application for review and fought numerous battles for her before Glen Eira Council finally withdrew the fine in November.

But Mr Cockayne warned the website was not an easy way for repeat offenders to avoid paying fines.

“Our system will only generate appeal documents if a person has a good excuse,” he said.

Fixed speed and red light cameras across Glen Eira totalled than $530,000 in fines in just three months from October to December last year.

The intersection of Dandenong Rd and Orrong Rd in Caulfield North alone raked in more than $370,000.

Glen Eira City Council CEO Rebecca McKenzie said council had issued 49,805 parking infringements in the year to date.

“Whilst it’s pleasing to see a large proportion of community members respecting those using the roads, it’s disappointing to see an increase of those who choose not to comply with the current road rules,” Ms McKenzie said.

“Those who choose to ignore the law, not only frustrate those who need vehicle access to services but place pedestrians and other drivers at risk.”

A spokeswoman for Victoria Police said it was not appropriate for them to comment on the matter.