So, I stopped at a bus zone in a school zone. I didn't get off the car and only spent max 30 seconds stopping there so that my son could get out and off he went. I saw a police car coming from the opposite direction. I didn't think that I would get a fine because the police didn't stop me or anything. A week later, I got a letter from the Ofice of State Revenue. A fine of $349 and 2 demerit points for stopping at a bus zone (school zone).
I accepted that I made a mistake but I thought I could get away with one mistake because of my clean driving record for more than 15 years. So I called them to ask for a leniency. I was told that any school zone offences are serious offences and therefore cannot be appealed through them and the only way to do it is to go to court. I was in a disbelief that stopping in a bus zone would become a serious offence when it is in a school zone.
Do you think it's fair? Should I go to court to appeal? I know it's only $349 and 2 demerit points and going to court is probably not worth the time and effort, but I think it's unfair given my driving record that I can't even appeal for this.
Well there clearly was at least one kid. :)
If you've ever worked at a school you will know that police enforcing this stuff is crucial. Parents at school drop off time can be animals (often because, understandably, they are in a rush to get to somewhere else, like work), and very unreasonable (as clearly shown by the OP here). They do illegal stuff, and if they are told to stop doing it by staff they get abused etc etc. Now - imagine we give them a bit more wiggle room. "It isn't illegal yet, I've only been here 45 seconds" etc etc. You think they'll become better drivers in that scenario? No, no they won't.