When Was The Last Time You Got a Traffic Infringement?

pegaxs on 24/02/2019 - 23:59

With all the talk lately and every time “fines” get mentioned in this sub-forum, there is the inevitable chants of “rEvEnUE rAiSiNg” that follow soon after

While I get it that sometimes we feel that we are a bit hard done by at times with circumstances surrounding the fine (hence the constant barrage of posts here asking for advice.) I always feel that for reasons more often than not, that the law was enforced pretty reasonably. Most people end up admitting to whatever it is they were fined for in some way or another.

I go out of my way to drive as close as I can to the road rules. I believe that fines are not revenue raising schemes (albeit sometimes I don’t think it’s all about road safety either) but rather a toll levied on people who want to bend or break the rules. Getting a fine is purely optional. We have the choice not to break road rules, but people still do it and then complain about being fined.

What I am interest in is, as Ozbargainers, we don’t like over paying or paying for things we don’t need to, so I would like to know, just how many of us stick the the road rules. If you have been fined, how long ago did you get your last fine? Have you ever been fined? What tips and or tricks do you use to stay on that ragged edge of getting the most from the road rules without actually breaking them…

My stupid story to get the ball rolling, I was ticketed for crossing over early on the end of a painted median strip (by about 2~3m). At the time I thought, “This is bulls#&t!”, but admitted that after I reviewed my in car footage, the police officer was actually right. As dumb as the rule is, they were right. Asked for a review, politely stated my case, provided the evidence and the fine was withdrawn with a warning.

Poll Options

  • 12
    0 - 12 months
  • 11
    1 - 2 years
  • 17
    2 - 4 years
  • 11
    4 - 6 years
  • 63
    6+ years
Automotive Traffic Infringement

Comments

  • ascorbic on 25/02/2019 - 00:20

    I was ticketed for crossing over early on the end of a painted median strip (by about 2~3m). At the time I thought, “This is bulls#&t!”, but admitted that after I reviewed my in car footage, the police officer was actually right. As dumb as the rule is, they were right. Asked for a review, politely stated my case, provided the evidence and the fine was withdrawn with a warning.

    It was probably withdrawn for actually being bullshit. Were you leaving the road/entering a turning lane?

    Road Safety Road Rules 2017 - Reg. 138: Keeping off a painted island

    (1) A driver must not drive on or over a single continuous line, or 2 parallel continuous lines, along a side of or surrounding a painted island, except as permitted under this rule or rule 139(4).

    …

    (2) A driver may drive on or over a single continuous line along the side of or surrounding a painted island for up to 50 metres—

    (a) to enter or leave the road; or

    (b) to enter a turning lane that begins immediately after the painted island; or

    (c) to enter a part of the road of one kind from a part of the road of another kind (for example, moving to or from a service road or emergency stopping lane); or

    (d) to park in angle parking on the opposite side of the road provided that the driver does not need to perform a U-turn to reach the parking area.

    Even if this rule wouldn't have applied in your specific case, getting a ticket for 2-3 metres over the island is a bit ridiculous.

    • DogGunn on 25/02/2019 - 00:32

      I think you missed the part that exception that probably applies, since they said they crossed over early on the end of a painted median strip, rather the start:

      (3) Subrule (2)(a) does not apply in the case of a painted island—

      (a) that separates a road that takes vehicles in one direction from another road that takes vehicles in the same direction at a place where the roads merge; or

      (b) that separates one part of a road from other parts of the road to create a slip lane.

      i.e. a painted island on a merge lane of a freeway.

      • ascorbic on 25/02/2019 - 00:37

        That would make sense. Maybe OP could clarify if it was in fact a freeway merge (or similar) situation.

        • pegaxs on 25/02/2019 - 08:49
          +1

          I can clarify, it was a merging lane onto a highway.

          Here is the Google Maps image of the exact merging lane. I crossed over the end part of it between the end of the large painted strip and the point.

          • ThithLord on 25/02/2019 - 09:41

            @pegaxs: So it was warranted, eh? Unlucky.

            • pegaxs on 25/02/2019 - 11:58
              +1

              @ThithLord: As I said, total correct in getting the ticket. Unfortunately, the reason I crossed over the strip was for safety reasons, but even so, still in the wrong. Police viewed the footage and the reason and issued me with a warning instead.

  • Brookey on 25/02/2019 - 00:21

    I've never had a traffic infringement notice and have had my licence 10 years. I feel like people who break road rules and speed are happy to throw their money away…if I got a fine the thought of paying money for nothing would keep me up at night.

    • Hybroid on 25/02/2019 - 00:32

      Neither have I for holding it for 11 years and don't always follow road rules on motorways (only) but then again we have all broken the law and sped in some capacity sometime, knowingly or otherwise. The risk/punishment ratio is quite subjective. Is it wrong? Sure, not denying it. People throw their money away on all sorts of things, whether it's drink, clothing, toys, gourmet meals or anything else. To each their own.

    • sheamas88 on 25/02/2019 - 09:12
      +5

      The problem is you only get an infringement if you get caught doing something wrong. If you've been driving for 10 years I can guarantee at some point you've broken a law, you may not have known you did, but you have done it. The only difference between you and someone who has gotten one is that they got caught and you didn't. You may be a really good, safe driver, but implying you have never done anything to warrant an infringement is pretty absurd.

      There are tons of shit drivers out there who have never been in an accident and never gotten an infringement, that doesn't mean they are good drivers.

  • [Deactivated] on 25/02/2019 - 02:19

    As dumb as the rule is, they were right.
    I always feel that for reasons more often than not, that the law was enforced pretty reasonably

    I agree.
    I think an aspect which is often forgotten (or never considered) here, is the police officers have a duty to perform and these days they could be in a lot of trouble themselves, plus lose their jobs, if they don't follow protocol .

    I had a situation where officer wanted to let me off with a 'warning' , however when he checked the computer or whatever, even he wanted to give a warning/caution, he explained that he couldn't because it was only for p-platers with no previous offense ever (I had a non-speeding traffic offense already on record which I planned on contesting in court).

    Could they let people off

    yes

    But they would probably be violating their orders and not doing their job as they have been instructed and trained .

    In my instance, it is probably a very specific directive that they can give caution for first minor speeding offense of p-platers if there is no other offense recorded ever for any traffic offense.

    I know in the old days, they used to let people off even for drink driving. They used to pull people over, see that they were intoxicated. Let them drive home still, but tell them to drive slowly and be really careful :/ lol .
    Similarly my older mate, told me back when he got caught doing something as a teenager or young adult, instead of going through courts and official process etc, the Sargeant just gave him a massive boot in the arse.

    Can you imagine how much trouble a police officer could be in these days, if they let someone off when they tested at RBT and over the limit (even slightly over) . Even letting someone off for 0.06 reading, this would probably warrant instant dismissal and/or suspension from their job.

    Same if they let people off stealing, and just gave em a massive boot in the bum… Imagine the outrage these days, and the officer would be facing charges himself for sure.

    • ssquid on 25/02/2019 - 05:33

      Can you imagine how much trouble a police officer could be in these days, if they let someone off when they tested at RBT and over the limit (even slightly over) . Even letting someone off for 0.06 reading, this would probably warrant instant dismissal and/or suspension from their job.

      As if they don't frequently turn a blind eye to their own: https://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act/police-sergeant-cha…

      Or how about in Victoria, the Premier's wife hit a cyclist and they conveniently forgot to breath test her.

  • ShannonN on 25/02/2019 - 04:38

    Been ten or eleven years since I got a traffic notice think it was speeding by about 10 kph had turned onto a major road and accelerated harder than normal cause this big truck came over the hill way too fast copper also pulled him up but wouldn't budge on me trying to get outta the way.

    Probably could have fought it but didn't bother figured I'd got away with far higher speeds at times

  • savage bargain on 25/02/2019 - 05:38
    +3

    You need a "never" option; both hubby and I fit into the never camp.

    • pegaxs on 25/02/2019 - 08:57
      +1

      oh fudge! I totally forgot the "never" option. I even asked the question in the post. That will teach me for making threads when I should have been sleeping…

    • Mokr on 25/02/2019 - 09:58
      +2

      Never been caught or never caused an offence

  • kerfuffle on 25/02/2019 - 06:08
    +3

    Traffic infringement no (surprisingly). Fined for parking in my own driveway, yes

  • Euphemistic on 25/02/2019 - 06:38

    Back in my younger days I had quite a few speeding tickets. I did a lot of highways droving and a 15-30 over was about $150. I figured it was worth the risk and paid my ‘stupid tax’ but slowed down when points were at risk.

    I lost my licence and paid out over $2k when I was caught overtaking a line of cars after long and bad day at work trying to get home that bit quicker. Could have cost my job but I went to court, traffic school and had the susoension reduced and it applied over my summer holidays. Then I learned my lesson and haven’t been caught since, over ten years. Cruise control is a great invention and fines are a lot higher now.

    I’m not an angel in he roads, but behave much better than I used to and do not intend to pay any more ‘stupid tax’, but if I do get caught it is my fault and I’ll pay what is necessary.

    I’ve only ever had one parking fine, for not paying for metered parking whe. I wa wonky there for 5min and I didn’t have any coins for the meter. It really isn’t that hard to avoid not parking illegally. Just means a bit extra walking mostly. They really are a ‘stupid tax’. If you don’t check the signs or know the rules you deserve what you get.

  • GangGang on 25/02/2019 - 06:49

    My last fine was about 3 months ago. I turned at a no right turn during certain hours, Eg. No right turn 7:30am - 9:00amThe police were waiting there behind a parked car.

    Besides that, I haven't had a fine for at least 12 years.

  • Nicoletta on 25/02/2019 - 08:26
    +2

    Never. I’m 41 and have been driving since I was 16.

  • EightImmortals on 25/02/2019 - 08:40

    Had 2 in the last 20 years, both were dodgy iMO. The last one i was coasting down a hillside and getting settled for drive and just let the car coast down the hill for a few seconds…right at the spot where the tax collector was parked underneath a tree. There were no other cars on the road either. The one before that I was in a rapidly escalating dangerous situation involving a truck and some other cars and the safest course of action was to accelerate out of it…again, right at the place where they were setup with a speed camera.

    I mean fair enough if these devices were saving lives, but they aren't, despite lower limits and more cameras the road toll is fairly static. Was reading in the paper the other day where they were listing these cameras in order of 'revenue raised'. I wonder why they never list them in order of 'lives saved'? hmmmmm

    • Euphemistic on 25/02/2019 - 09:05

      I think the current increase is due to distraction rather than speed. Mobile phones and in car ‘entertainment’ are a massive problem along with drugs and fatigue. Sure, many fatality crashes are about speed, but they are from drivers that don’t care about speed limits anyway, and increased enforcement won’t help or change their speeding habits.

      • EightImmortals on 25/02/2019 - 09:46

        Yep I think you are right and no speed camera is going to stop anyone from obsessing over their fondle-slab while they should be concentrating on the roads.

  • Beansbeansbeans on 25/02/2019 - 08:41

    Never, but it’s just a combination of luck and being a really paranoid and annoyingly slow driver when I see a cop car. I also use a GPS speedo. I did get pulled up for having “broken brake lights” the other day, because I put my car in park at the traffic lights and a motorbike cop pulled me over to inspect my car. He let me off, still not sure if that’s illegal or not honestly.

    • ssquid on 25/02/2019 - 12:33

      I recently got pulled over and told my indicators were "too bright" - the globes are old and the orange paint has flaked off.

      • John Kimble on 26/02/2019 - 22:26

        Your indicator globes are orange? I thought they are white/normal/clear globes and the plastic housing/casing is tinted orange?

        • ssquid on 27/02/2019 - 07:50

          Nope, both Holden and Ford switched to clear covers with tinted bulbs. Google "PY21W bulb" for images.

  • Ugly on 25/02/2019 - 08:43
    +2

    Never as a driver. The only fine I've ever picked up was as a passenger. (For having my arm out of the window.)

    • pegaxs on 25/02/2019 - 09:02
      +2

      OMG! I was in a car many years ago doing the same thing. Police pulled us over and didn't even want to speak to the driver, only to me. Chewed my arse for about 5 mins about road safety and having my arm out the window. After my verbal reaming, I was let off with a warning. Was the most random interaction with police to this day.

      Needless to say, I still don't hang any part of my body out the window of my car…

      • altomic on 25/02/2019 - 09:37

        But …you have to do the hand-arm aerodynamics thing!!

        • pegaxs on 25/02/2019 - 12:02

          The "out the window arm surfing wave"… Who doesn't like doing that??

  • altomic on 25/02/2019 - 09:35

    Just had 2 in the last 2 months.

    Both speeding.

    66 in a 60 zone
    And 53 in a 40 zone.

    Was fined in 2015 for expired car rego (it was on the fridge and thought it wasnt due for a month)

    Prior to that - 1993 speeding fine.

  • bobbified on 25/02/2019 - 09:49

    I've had 3 in the last 20 years (two speed and one u-turn) and one accident where I wasn't at fault.

    But that doesn't make me a law-abiding driver. I consistently drive over the speed limit. Statistically-speaking, I should be dead many times over.

  • panorama on 25/02/2019 - 10:07
    +1

    never am i lucky or what —— Victoria….the traffic infringement state…..

  • Ozpit on 25/02/2019 - 10:38
    +2

    Everyone, almost every time they drive, break some road rule, knowingly or unwittingly. It may be a ‘trivial’ transgression or a significant violation, but we ALL do it. Almost always we get away with it - from the long arm of the law, or without harming ourselves, others or property. That’s the way it is - not that I would ever encourage breaking the law.

  • aspirepranesh on 25/02/2019 - 10:54
    +1

    11+ years in Australia and counting - 0 traffic infringements (touchwood!) with an Evo 8 MR. I did get couple of parking infringements 2 years ago (3 in total - 2 in Melb and 1 in Brisbane). That being said, I have definitely done some speeding, but managed to get away with it. Now I have got an SUV, the speeding days are over!

  • Never Pay RRP on 25/02/2019 - 10:59

    "I believe that fines are not revenue raising schemes"
    It's interesting how many people believe this, however, have you considered why it is a fine-able and at times criminal offence to "increase the risk of causing an accident" (e.g. speeding, drink driving, running a red light), however the act of actually being at fault in an accident is generally not punished by fines or criminal outcomes?
    If you do a search on Ozbargain for discussions around hit and run drivers, you will see the contempt by which the police hold victims of a crime in their lazy investigation, even when provided with the exact detail required.
    Compare that to how much resources are allocated to catch speeding and drink driving and I think you will see there their priorities are.

  • John Kimble on 25/02/2019 - 12:07

    Been driving/had my licence almost 20 years.

    It's been 7 months, 1 week and 3 days since my last fine.

    Before that, only been fined twice? from fixed speed cameras probably over (about) 15 years ago…might also be a parking fine sometime in my "career"…memory is patchy.

    I'm usually pretty good at sticking to the road rules, ie I usually don't intentionally break them (at least not these days…perhaps when I was younger).

    It's probably been a combination of distraction and/or being in an unfamiliar area which causes the rule breaking, and luck (not getting caught/fined).

  • HardlyCharly on 25/02/2019 - 13:46

    None in 10 years. The thing that really confuses me the most however is who I do see speeding and driving like morons. Other than BMW's and Commodores of course, the majority are old cheap cars driven by people who obviously don't have much. So doesn't that mean they have the most to lose from the impact of a hefty fine? Yet they're the ones risking it the most, which just seems highly counter-productive.

    • Masterpupil on 25/02/2019 - 23:26

      I agree. I figure that these people have some kind of impulse control problems that prevent them from considering their long term interests, which might not be surprising.
      Particularly in residential areas. People tearing around in cars. I'm not going to suggest I don't speed but never in town, always on the open road where there aren't kids or people crossing the road.

  • Masterpupil on 25/02/2019 - 23:23
    +2

    Only ever had one and ironically this occured in probably the slowest and most boring car I've owned in my life driving, the lumbering Nissan SUV. After owning several sports cars including a turbo whilst in my P plates I managed to only be fined once I became boring and over 30.

  • Quantumcat on 26/02/2019 - 22:09

    One parking fine for parking my motorcycle on a kerb for a few minutes - didn't do that again.

    Some fake Wilson parking fines which I successfully ignored, for not paying for parking.

    Other than that, none.

  • eggles01 on 27/02/2019 - 00:35
    +1

    my last was in 2003,I was driving along the road and the edge of the bitumen collapsed sending my passengers side wheels into the dust on the edge of the road and I lost control of my car sending me to the other side of the road between 2 trees and ended up in a horse paddock(no horses in it )and a bloke in a twin cab 4x4 pulled up and asked if I was ok,I told him what happened and he then took out his wallet and introduced himself as Detective what ever and booked me for neg driving,a couple of weeks later the fine arrived and I queried the information on it and found he had put the color of my vehicle as A CREAMY COLOR it was ARTIC WHITE and the location of the accident was near a side road,actual name of the side road he put down was 20klm further on in the middle of Young shopping centre so the charge just flew out the window,the previous was in 1963 41 yrs this is the only time I was booked for speeding circumstances I was booked for 33 mph over the Sydney Harbor Bridge, 3 mph over the limit,that one did not last long either it was tossed into the paper bin by the desk sergeant at North Sydney Police Station,that I reckon is a pretty good history especially since I got my license when I was 19yrs and I had been driving since I was 16yrs

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