Share

RELATED AUDIO:

Ken Lay with Neil Mitchell: The massive ramifications

John Brumby: Everything we do is successful

Talkback callers queue up to share their stories

Redflex 'essentially' sorry for 'very rare' problem

One of the 'wronged nine' speaks to Neil Mitchell

David Galbally QC on wider legal ramifications

3AW NEWS: Victoria Police have suspended ALL point-to-point speed cameras on the Hume Highway due to a technical fault.

The fault was discovered last Friday after a joint investigation identified nine occasions where drivers were wrongly fined for the speeding on the Hume Highway.

It's understood the clock on one camera is out of synch with a second camera.

Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay has told 3AW's Neil Mitchell they won't be switched back on until they've been thoroughly tested by independent assessors.

Neil Mitchell asks: "How can we ever trust these cameras again?"

Nine infringements have already been identified as wrong but David Galbally QC told 3AW today refunds should be offered to all 68,000 people who had been booked by the cameras since 2008.

"They should refund the money to everyone ... there should be no question about it," he told radio 3AW.

"If 68,000 people have been fined and there's a doubt as to the accuracy of the speed cameras from point to point, then refund the money. There shouldn't even be an argument about it."

Have you been booked on the Hume? Please email nmitchell@3aw.com.au or leave a comment below.

MEDIA RELEASE: Victoria Police has suspended use of all point-to-point cameras on the Hume Highway after a technical fault was identified with the system.

Victoria Police, Department of Justice and contractors Redflex who provide and maintain the cameras have urgently investigated the fault since it was discovered on Friday.

This work has identified nine occasions when actions were wrongly taken by Victoria Police against drivers.

Two of the matters have now been withdrawn, and Victoria Police will be urgently contacting the remaining seven people to ensure the penalties are reversed and all monies are refunded.

Technicians at Redflex have identified the fault - which is completely unique to the point-to point cameras - and will implement a solution within the next few days. But Mr Lay said that the cameras will not be switched back on until they have been thoroughly tested by independent assessors.

He said: "I am incredibly disappointed that this has happened. As soon as the problem was identified we immediately suspended use of the point-to-point cameras and I will not be reinstating them until I am personally convinced that the fault has been 100 per cent eradicated and that measures have been put in place to ensure that this can never happen again.

"Statistically, these faults have been extremely rare - nine out of approximately 68,000 penalties issued since January 2008. But that is nine too many. People must have confidence in the road safety camera system. We can not afford for that confidence to be eroded by errors such as these."

The problem was identified after police served a notice to surrender to a driver who had been photographed on 24th September this year. The driver protested against the notice and this prompted further investigation by the police members.

The investigations showed that the clock on the one camera was out of synch with a second camera. The reason for this is being urgently investigated by the Department of Justice, which has also conducted a complete check of the camera logs and verified that all other infringements were issued correctly.

The point-to-point system is used in several other Australian states and also overseas. This is the first time this fault has been detected.

Mr Lay added: "Whilst this development has been extremely disappointing, I am clear that the context should be understood - these cameras have proven to be an incredibly effective part of the Victorian road safety campaign. They have slowed down the speed of traffic on the Hume and no doubt saved countess lives."

"It is also important to note that these cameras are entirely different to all others used in Victoria. The same fault could not possibly apply to other types, and I continue to have absolute confidence in them.

"It is essential we fully understand this issue. Whilst these point-to-point cameras are switched off, police will maintain a strong presence on the Hume Highway. We will be deploying more mobile cameras to the area to ensure that the speed limits are properly enforced."

"You were right," says Neil

YOUR SAY: Ted Baillieu says there's been a cover-up on the accuracy of speed cameras which the Auditor-General should investigate. This follows hundreds of people complaining to Neil Mitchell over the past couple of years.