Police ashamed of speed camera policy
Peter Mickelburough
state politics reporter
23oct03
POLICE have broken ranks with the Bracks Government over speed cameras, claiming they are being used as blatant revenue raisers.
Sergeants at a Melbourne police station say there is widespread concern within the force over speed cameras, singling out the West Gate Bridge.
"The public are not alone in their views; the rank and file of the police force are ashamed at the recent tactics of reducing the road toll (or increasing revenue)," says a letter to the Herald Sun, signed by "Concerned Sergeants".
"Speed cameras have an effective and supported purpose of reducing road trauma, but their purpose is lost when they are implemented and placed for revenue purposes (ie. West Gate Bridge)," the letter says.
The officers say support for the cameras has waned since the 10 per cent speed tolerance was cut last year.
The letter argues hefty fines issued to people doing just a few km/h above the limit will hurt many families and could force some into crime to pay them.
It predicts an explosion in motorists losing their licences as new cameras appear on the West Gate Bridge, Geelong Rd and Hume Highway.
Already, some 90,000 drivers are one offence away from licence loss.
"If so many motorists are getting fined on a particular stretch of road, is the speed limit or signage inappropriate for the road?" the letter asks.
Police Association secretary Sen-Sgt Paul Mullett said the association backed most of the letter's sentiments.
"We don't want to see cameras placed just for revenue raising. They should be placed in accident black spots," he said.
But Assistant Commissioner (traffic) Bob Hastings said most police supported the use of speed cameras.
"This idea that speeding a little bit is all right is not right, because we know through research that for every 5km/h over 60km/h your rate of being involved in a collision doubles," he said.
Editorial, Page 18
Could we have a mutiny on our hands? Hopefully!
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Nothing but Tickford NL Fairlane
Lets hope so
Common sense has to prevail at some stage
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__________________ It's one thing to lose a drag, it's another thing to lose a drag against a holden. I'd die before I let that happen to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bout BLoody ****ing time the police made their point heard. Like i've been saying i think it was unfair that i recieved $125 fine for doing 64 in a 60 zone. But of more interesting note is that the place i was caught, there seems to be a camera there approx every 2 weeks. This spot i speak off is Mitcham road inbetween Sprinfield Rd and Whithorse Rd. This spot is known to not be a black spot and in all the years i've lived in Mitcham i've never seen an accident occur in this spot.
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RIP 88' EA Falcon S pack
92 EB Fairmont - Retired POS!
Well i passed a car parked on the footpath with a speed camera trap attched to it, and NO ONE in the car, i thought that was illegal, i thought a car had to manned at all times !!
Dellboy999
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I did put something here, but it vanshied, I think
I passed an unmanned speed trap parked in the backstreets of Morwell a few weekends ago. I was tempted to take the car's plates & do a few drive bys, or tape a sheet of paper to the windscreen in front of the camera
Why are late model camry wagons used for this? They stick out like dog's balls.
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