Driver goes to extraordinary lengths to clear his name over speeding fine

A DRIVER has lost five court cases as he attempts to get off a speeding fine — and the legal battle has cost him around 400 times more than the original penalty.

A QUEENSLAND driver is fighting to get off a $250 speeding fine — but the legal battle has already cost him at least $100,000.

Mustafa Al Shakarji says he is prepared to become the first Australian to challenge a speeding ticket to the High Court, according to a report on A Current Affair last night.

The problems for Mr Al Shakarji began when he was pulled over by officers in March 2012. Police radar detected him driving at 88km/h in a 60km/h speed zone. He denies speeding and secretly recorded the exchange with police.

“I was not speeding, absolutely,” Mr Al Shakarji told A Current Affair.

Police also recorded the incident and their video shows the radar mounted to a steering wheel column instead of the dashboard, which Mr Al Shakarji thinks supports his case. But he admits people have told him he’s “crazy”.

“People have said that ... Even those closest to me, my family ... They’ve said ‘why don’t you just pay it off?’”

After five hearings, which have involved him winning an appeal and then police appealing that ruling, he is back at square one. He is determined to take the matter to the Court of Appeal. Even though he is representing himself, one estimate is that he has spent at least $100,000 in the battle. He is sure he will eventually win, however.

“I am sure, 100 per cent, finally justice will be served.”