[NSW] Pay on The Spot Speeding Fine or Go to Court?

Llittle miser on 01/01/2021 - 06:53
Last edited 01/01/2021 - 07:09 by 1 other user

Recently I have received a penalty notice for speeding in M5 tunnel (Eastbound)and was wondering if it is worth taking up to the court?

When I entered the tunnel the speed limit was 80 and no variable speed limit was imposed. However as entered there was 70 speed limit signs were flashing inside. It was all good till I noticed first sign of 50 speed limit. But then did not react fast enough to slow down and received the penalty for doing more than 10km $285 and 3 demerits.

I have a clean driving record and no demerit on my licence for last 5 years. Do you think it is worth taking to court given there was no warnings before entering the tunnel.

Many thanks

Poll Options

• 6
  Go to court
• 59
  Pay the fine

• 

  Euphemistic on 01/01/2021 - 07:09

  +3

  Take it to court. I just want to see how it turns out for you.

• 

  kerfuffle on 01/01/2021 - 07:40

  no warnings before entering the tunnel

  There's a warning that there's speed cameras inside the tunnel prior to entering said tunnel and that variable speed limits apply … Speed limits on motorways can vary due to traffic/accidents/roadworks.

• 

  SnoozeAndLose on 01/01/2021 - 07:49

  +1

  Clean record for last 10 years or no record since you hold your license can submit a review as the reason.

  But speeding fine may not the one of those can apply for leniency.

• 

  Porker on 01/01/2021 - 08:06

  +1

  In VIC, you can have the fine changed to a warning if you haven't received a fine in the 2 years prior.

  This isn't necessarily indicated on the fine itself, but something similar might exist for NSW so do your research.

  • 

    MS Paint on 01/01/2021 - 08:32

    +3

    Porker

    Are you highway patrol? 😁

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 01/01/2021 - 09:23

    +1

    Only if the fine is for less than 10km over the speed limit.

    As the OP was done for over 10km, even if NSW has a similar warning system, it won’t apply here.

• 

  Hithere on 01/01/2021 - 08:59

  +2

  if it is worth taking up to the court?

  Is it worth taking a day off work for?

  Unless you can prove 100% to the magistrate that you weren't speeding, they've heard every excuse before, many times, what are you going to do/say to win your case?

  If you lose the case (more than likely) you may be up for court costs on top of the original fine.

  Averaged out $285 over 5 years of driving isn't so bad.

• 

  SF3 on 01/01/2021 - 10:25

  +2

  1st Jan, first entry for “should I contest my fine”.

  Wonder how long this thread will go for and if OP would get into a fight with everyone 🙄 or commentators civil war.

• 

  Orico on 01/01/2021 - 11:22

  -4

  Don't listen to these guys. Just go to court. Judge will be nice to you in the new year me thinks

• 

  the Unforgiven on 01/01/2021 - 11:32

  Do you have dashcam evidence to prove your point?
  If not, it is your word against theirs

• 

  adzyau on 01/01/2021 - 14:17

  Take it to court !

• 

  [Deactivated] on 07/05/2021 - 13:37

  How did you go? Request a copy of the photo evidence in high res and take note of the camera model and manufacturer on the sceenshot. If its a vitronic make sure the focal frame is rectangular and either has your entire license plate or a front or rear tire within otherwise the photo should be dismissed aas a valid evidence. Just do a google search on Vitronic, they have been shocking and class actions taken back in Germany where they are made. Just paying the fine is very anti OZBargain without even looking at the evidence Good luck.

• 

  little miser on 18/06/2021 - 10:01

  -1

  Ok so I had my court date and I pleaded guilty, was handed down one penalty unit that is $110 plus had to pay $85 court levy and $85 some victim levy. In total $280 instead of original penalty of $285. I had a demerit that was like 4 years and 9 month old that stopped me from letting it off. So in short if you have nothing on your record for last 5 years it is worth taking it to court. Of course depends on the magistrate too, but I noticed few people ahead of me where excused because they had clean driving history.