Fined in School Zone Just Posted an Internal Review

a-friend on 20/12/2019 - 05:40

Coming from Olive St towards Darling Rd, couldn't see the twisted school zone sign (please refer image1).
Stopped at the intersection, looked in all directions, couldn't see any school zone sign (please refer images 3 and 4).
Turned right at Darling Rd and started accelerating, meanwhile saw the school zone sign (as in image2) and slowed down.
Officer took the reading before slowing down.

Do I have a chance?

https://imgur.com/OvVXLkh image 1 Twisted school zone sign on Olive St, not clearly visible

https://imgur.com/qxbLkHV image 2 School zone sign on Darling Rd, partially covered by tree leaves, not clearly visible

https://imgur.com/oMYOHM8 image 3 (View from car, Driver looking right on Darling Rd at the intersection) School zone sign (as in image 2) is blocked by the PTV Bus Time Table pole at the intersection

https://imgur.com/tkrrMeo image 4 No School zone signs while looking left on Darling Rd at the intersection

Poll Options expired

  • 29
    Fine
  • 3
    No Fine
Automotive

Comments

  • DuckKnight on 20/12/2019 - 06:40
    +6

    You'll be fine

    • ThithLord on 20/12/2019 - 10:19

      You'll be fined

  • Euphemistic on 20/12/2019 - 06:56
    +2

    In addition to your request for review contact the local council and school and ask them to rectify the signs so they are visible.

    • a-friend on 20/12/2019 - 12:39
      +1

      Already done that

  • try2bhelpful on 20/12/2019 - 06:57

    I think you will still be fined but I would send all the pictures so the issues can be rectified. The slower speed is in case a kid runs out on the road so they will, probably, rectify these issues.

  • EightImmortals on 20/12/2019 - 07:14
    +1

    Isn't it school holiday time? Or did this happen previously?
    Either way if the review doesn't cancel the fine the elect to have it heard it court, take those pictures with you and see the duty solicitor on the day if you don't want to represent yourself or pay for your own solicitor.

    I can't see a speed sign in any of those pics?

  • [Deactivated] on 20/12/2019 - 07:29

    Enjoy gaol.

  • whooah1979 on 20/12/2019 - 08:03

    Op, are you a local to the area?

    • bobbified on 20/12/2019 - 11:09
      +2

      I don't think things work that way. Even if OP is local, they wouldn't be able to use that against him/her.

      In reverse, if a 60 zone one day changes to a 50 zone (with unclear signs) and someone local gets a speeding fine while driving at 60, I highly doubt a "I've been driving through here for x number of years and it's always been 60" excuse would cut it.

      Everything has to be signposted or marked clearly.

      • whooah1979 on 22/12/2019 - 13:59

        A local resident should know where the school zones are and when they’re in effect.

    • a-friend on 20/12/2019 - 12:51
      +1

      Not really

  • jackinyourbox on 20/12/2019 - 08:22

    Naughty naughty. I once caught an amg driver going 180 down a school zone during slow timesand submitted it to the police station. I think that idiot got a huge reaming.

    • ThithLord on 20/12/2019 - 10:11
      +6

      How did you calculate they were going 180KM/h?

      • brad1-8tsi on 20/12/2019 - 11:09

        How did you calculate they were going 180KM/h?

        I'd love to know that too

      • Kozhutki on 20/12/2019 - 17:46

        you didn't get the portable radar that was posted here?

      • jackinyourbox on 20/12/2019 - 19:29

        Educated estimate from experience. You can gauge using landmarks and distance travelled over “1 potato”. In which was around 50 metres.

        The police also did an estimate using my dash cam footage because the idiot couldn’t even keep lanes in a school zone.

  • Austaurean on 20/12/2019 - 08:22
    +4

    Firstly, I do hope you win the review.. its an interesting set of circumstances where each sign has an issue and should not be that way.

    You may have difficulty beating the fine as while the posted sign is twisted, the 40k is still visible in your picture.
    They may also look at where you live and how likely it is that you know the area.

    and with picture 2, even though the tree branches obscure it, we do not know how much you can see from driving on that road as the picture you have is only from the intersection before turning.

    I think you will find that picture 3 is irrelevant. as that is location based and as soon as you change the angle the sign is visible albeit obstructed by the tree.

    In picture 4, look at the second pole on the far side of the road, there looks to be 2 metal signs attached to that pole, probably the school zone and 40k signs, but as they are facing the other way for the traffic, you obviously cannot see them.

    • a-friend on 21/12/2019 - 01:59

      Yes, the signs need to immaculate as fines are so heavy.

      I believe image 3 is the most crucial one. As I stopped before entering the school zone and couldn't see any 40 signs.

      I drove back and forth 3-4 times, front wheel on or just behind the STOP line. The PTV pole was blocking the 40 sign on the right.

      I think 40 sign in image1 was facing the other way the day I got fined, unfortunately i didn't went back straight away to take a photo.

  • crashloaded on 20/12/2019 - 08:56

    Cops love school zones. The end.

    • whooah1979 on 20/12/2019 - 08:58
      +5

      So do parents and their children.

      • crashloaded on 20/12/2019 - 09:00

        Yep, so be extra vigilant around schools and drive defensively. If op travels this area he should know the school exists.

        In Qld we have flashing school zone signs which I think is a lot better.

  • Baysew on 20/12/2019 - 08:59
    +2

    What was the alleged speed and the amount of the fine?

    • bongom on 20/12/2019 - 10:17

      OP forgot to mention how fast he was alleged to be speeding?
      Sign in image 2 looks fine to me, especially if the photo was taken at the point where you would normally read it.

    • a-friend on 20/12/2019 - 13:00

      $330 58 kmp/hr

  • Archi on 20/12/2019 - 09:13
    +2

    do you live in the area you were driving in or frequently go to that area?

    • MS Paint on 20/12/2019 - 10:30
      -1

      Exactly. If you're a local or its extremely obvious you are driving near a school then you deserve the fine whether the signage is clear or not.

    • a-friend on 20/12/2019 - 13:00

      No

  • chumlee on 20/12/2019 - 12:24
    +1

    Great job turning that sign around before you took the photo. Remember to turn it back so others don't get pinged

    • a-friend on 20/12/2019 - 13:01

      I didn't

  • Drakesy on 20/12/2019 - 12:34
    +3

    TBH if the signs don't conform to Australian Standards / Mainroads guidelines then it can be possible to be let off. I've done it where graffiti was covering a parking sign and disputed it as it was illegible.
    Council gave a reprieve and replaced the sign. The police however might be a different story. Although it is up to the council to maintain and ensure all signs are visible on their roads.

  • picklewizard on 20/12/2019 - 13:27

    Seems reasonable to contest. You have nothing to lose.

  • Downvoter on 20/12/2019 - 17:52
    +2

    If you put the same effort into driving with due care and attention that you put into all this “evidence” then you wouldn’t be posting this trash in the first place.

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