Welcome to 3AW. Skip directly to: Search Box, Section Navigation, Content.

3AW - Fairfax Radio Network

Tuesday May 21, 2013

What we're talking about

Red-light fine overturned due to amber timing mistake

Posted by: 3AW News and Michael James | 21 September, 2012 - 9:35 AM
<b>RUMOUR FILE CONFIRMED:</b> Red light fine overturned.

RUMOUR FILE CONFIRMED: Vicroads has blamed a breakdown in communications for not changing a traffic signal setting at a major intersection at Melbourne Airport.

Motorist Gordon Bishop found the lights at the intersection of Terminal Drive and Centre Road stayed on amber less than 3-seconds even though the requirement for a 50km zone is 3.5 seconds.

Vicroads admits the speed limit was changed in November 2010 but they were not notified until February this year.

Question marks will now be over every red-light fine that was issued by that camera over the 15-month period while the timings were incorrect.

Neil Mitchell says the implications of the mistake could be vast.

“They will have to refund every red-light ticket over that 15-months, which could be 10,000 people, fines of $2.5 million. You could have people who lost their license because of this,”

"Another kicker to this, quite apart from the fact you've got this almighty stuff up, is that Vicroads discovered this in February... 8-months ago,"

"The second-highest earning redlight camera in the state and it requires a call to our Breakfast program, after a man has gone to court, for you to know" Neil Mitchell argued.

VicRoads chief executive officer Gary Liddle has blamed a breakdown in communication as the reason for the mistake.

"We need to work through these, and make sure our processes are better. It's very dissappointing that this has happened" Mr Liddle told Neil Mitchell

LISTEN HERE: Gary Liddle speaks with Neil Mitchell

Earlier this morning the motorist who raised the issue, Gordon Bishop, told Ross and John that he took the timing information to the judge who overturned the fine.

"I took (to Court) a letter that was written to me my by Signal services west, a branch of Vicroads, that they had made an error and the speed times had been altered,"

"And since I notified them they had incresed the yellow cycle time to 3.5 seconds" Mr Bishop told Ross and John.

Have you received a red-light fine at the intersection?

Let us know below.

LISTEN HERE: Gordon Bishop speaks with Ross and John

Having problems listening? Upgrade your media player for Internet Explorer, Google Chrome or Firefox.

(Click here to listen to the audio in a pop-up window)

Blog comments Your Say

  • My husband who does not go through red lights was given a fine for going through the red light at Springvale and Lower Dandenong Rd also so there maybe an issue, does anyone know if this is worth fighting this fine, 1.3 secs elapsed seems a bit quick to me?

    Paula Newman Tuesday 9 April, 2013 - 3:24 PM

  • I too have just moved to Victoria and just received my first fine in 20 years of driving. $352 and 3 points as well

    Daran Murphy Monday 11 February, 2013 - 1:28 PM

  • I have recently moved to Victoria and just recieved a fine of $352 and 3 demerit points for running a red light at Springvale and Lower Dandenong Road. Have been driving responsibly for 25 years and never had this happen before. Shocked, was only about the third car from the front. Has anyone else had a problem with these lights? Really resent paying but is it worth the grief of fighting the system?

    Danielle Wednesday 6 February, 2013 - 3:48 PM

  • Just recieved a fine for beating a red light at the intersection of somerville rd and Geelong Rd during peak our traffic. My elapsed time on red was recorded as 1.1sec. And its $352! Ive been driving for almost 15yrs never had this type of infringement. I just cant believe how 1.1sec can cost you $352? During peak hour too. Is this fine for real? Is it worth trying to contest it?

    Dandelo Friday 4 January, 2013 - 11:57 PM

  • This intersection has been out longer than this time frame. I received a ticket on this four years ago never having a red light offence in 30 tears. For years I've watched that light flashes on vehicles they needed to review this camera and all offences over a 5 year period.

    Julie Thursday 6 December, 2012 - 9:09 AM

  • I've been a responsive driver for the past 22 years until I was pulled over by a sheriff serving a warrant for citylink fines that was unpaid dated years ago for two thousand dollars.I was shocked and later checked finding it was their clerical mistake.

    The fines was constitues of additional court, warrant and penalty fees. After a lenghtly enquiry I found out VICROAD was running on two mailing and accounting for billing and fines which I had billed for almost 2 years!!

    I was then blamed for not checking my 'civic status' with civic compliance and how funny is that I am supposedly to monitoring which system they used??

    I firsttook the matter to infringement court and was resuded on the ground of the'insufficient proof' despite the paperworks totaled 30pages. The second time I took to the court personally and had partially refunded me the amount.

    I then went back to CIVIC COMPLIANCE to ask for refund after the court order at least 6 times and was refused on the ground I should have not paid the sheriff if innocent.

    I've been on this issue for almost 1 year now and is reaching almost no ending which has effected myself greatly.

    I've no respect for CIVIC COMPLIANCE for the awful treatment for most of us here are lawful citizens treated like cash cows.

    Luke Richardson Tuesday 27 November, 2012 - 2:39 AM

Post a comment * Mandatory fields