Additional Tax Contribution: Mobile Speed Cameras

[james_c]

Hi,

Although i've only been a lurker on this forum, i have some information that i think you guys would be interested in. I've lifted this off the lotus elise forum which i'm a more active member; however this will affect us all motor enthusiast.


We've all been reading about the new speed cameras, and seeing them on TV. Designed to improve road safety, - yes it is true, - watch the Roads Minister on TV, see he says: "READ MY LIPS, WOULD I LIE?"

But what are the facts?

Victoria has draconian enforcement – they allow drivers who exceed the posted limits absolutely no slack – they have raised a lot of revenue from motorists, yet the road toll in Victoria has increased by 13% this year

NSW State government know this; But, they have a problem, their budget deficit increased by 422%. From a surplus of $268 million they face a deficit of $917million (source – NSW Business Chamber). They’ve got to find over 900 million dollars and they will be tapping you and me on the shoulder to contribute in whatever way they are able to make us pay. They have privatised the speed camera enforcement and Macquarie bank are shareholders in the company doing the enforcement. So, knowing of the pressure on State Government, mindful of the reputation of the bank to making profits (profit last year, end of the GFC or not, = $1.05 Billion), and knowing of the feral attitude of private speed camera contractors I expect the revenue raising to be fierce.

The Government is budgeting fines to increase by $137 million, - it is estimated that 1,600 extra drivers a day will be booked. In Victoria, 50,000 drivers a month are booked.


So, who does not think that the state Government are simply installing the speed cameras to raise revenue?

How many people are aware that recently, 50 red light cameras were changed so that they record speed through the intersection when the lights are green? With another increase in cameras, this time randomly placed mobile cameras, and the proposed reduction in leeway to 4kmh, all of us will get pinged. It is only a matter of when.

I wonder how many of you remember that a few years ago, the demerit points basis was changed from points accumulating on your licence from 2 years to 3 years? Points remain on our driver’s licenses 50% Longer. No one said a thing . . . . . . so this year, around 55,000 drivers accumulated so many points that they lost the right to drive. This number will increase dramatically if the current proposals go ahead. Imagine the impact on a tradie or truckie, let alone on ourselves. This is regressive, bad policy and will not achieve any stated safety target. It will, however, achieve a major revenue boost, expected to be an additional $137 million, of which around $100 million is estimated to be new revenue from the mobile cameras. The total fine revenue of $295 million for the 2008-2009 is expected to increase to $570 million by the 2011 - 2012 year. Nice.



So, what can we do?

We have people elected to take our views to the government. It does not matter whether we voted directly for the sitting member or not; they are in parliament to represent you and I. We have to let them know that in the light of the poor results in other states with draconian enforcement, we view the sudden arrival of another 19 speed cameras as blatant revenue raising. Other countries have achieved positive results with improved driver training, in other words by encouragement not by a big stick approach.

It is essential that each one of us write to our local member and make our views known; if we don’t we will just end up copping it yet again. We will pay, and what is worse, we will wear demerit points on our licenses and run the risk of losing the right to drive.

Labor politicians in State Government need to know that their policies are politically dangerous and against road safety and they are losing votes and that speed cameras are well known as revenue raisers . The fear of loss will galvanise the local members to contact the Roads Minister to pass on the complaint .

I suggest letters to Labor Members complaining about this policy, requesting they raise it with the Roads Minister and the Premier along the lines that their constituents are lodging a complaint against the govts road safety policy and the use of speed cameras


•· especially the new maq bank mobile ones .
•· they do nothing for road safety
•· they don’t catch drunk drivers
•· bad drivers
•· dangerous drivers
•· their overzealous use in Victoria has made no difference to road toll which has in fact increased
•· the suggestion by rta that the tolerance limit be reduced to 4kph is outrageous and
•· that the public will not be voting for a govt that has these policies and allows the rta to run rampant with bad road safety policies

•the public view is that the cameras are nothing more than a revenue raising exercise.


The Liberal shadow cabinet will be well aware of the community backlash, so I also suggest letters be sent by everyone to EACH member of the shadow cabinet, encouraging them to adopt more positive policies . Its really important to be heard at this level, and also to send a copy to our local liberal member advising we’ll vote for them if the shadow cabinet adopts more enlightened policies .

The issues should be

· that we reject labors revenue raising policies

· that the coalition pledge to introduce driver safety training as a central policy

· that labor is under real threat at the polls due to its revenue raising policies

· coalition can benefit by introducing soundly based popular policies like driver training

· pledge to have a public enquiry into revenue raising by speed cameras and pledge to do it if elected

· removing road safety functions from RTA due to a conflict of interest with it also being responsible for roads and licencing and setting up a specialist independent road safety body

· developing a new method of setting main road speed limits based on overseas model which is measuring traffic speed and setting the limit at the internationally accepted level of the 85th percentile, not well below it as at present as this overseas model reduces accidents and increases road safety

· giving police a discretion by adopting a ‘ yellow card ‘’ warning system for minor offences thereby improving police ; community relationship

· using marked not unmarked hwp cars

· removing the mobile speed camera cars just introduced,

· with a final message if the opposition pledges to these policies it will be hugely supported and set the opposition apart from the revenue raising policies of the labor party



All that we can do is make our opinion known to our elected representatives. That is why they are in Parliament. Far better to do something now than sit with unpleasant driving situations almost impossible to manage in our special vehicles. If we don’t act now, we will end up with watching our speedometers instead of watching the road. It is far easier and more productive to write a letter or two now and I do hope that most members will write in support of positive road safety measures rather than draconian enforcement and revenue raising.

I’ll be happy to forward a list of MP names and addresses to those that feel that they want to have a say in this important issue, I will also email them the bullet points I’ve listed.

•Don't be complacent,

•Don't allow your freedom to be negatively impacted,

•Don't allow another unfair tax because that is what this policy is all about,

•Don't run the risk of losing your licence because of complacency,

•Do something

[team_v]

Won't work.
It will only apply to the minister and shadow minister in charge of the roads and as such it will just be passed on to them and they already have review systems in place that tell them that their system is working.

The only people who seem to care about this are the automotive enthusiasts.
And the government won't do anything to solve the issue as it has been raised time and time again and it is still easier to implement "quick fix" solutions to be seen to solve the problem rather than actually doing something about it. (Smoke and mirrors)





In reality, how hard is it to stick to the speed limit and cop the fine if you get caught?

[GoLfMan]

very interesting points there.

Im more than happy to write to a minister in regards to stupid road rules and the need for improved driver training

[Rybky]

As we are all law abiding citizens who would never dream of breaking the speed limit, what's the problem?

[Golf Houso]

And for anyone interested, here are the locations:

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety...tions_0710.pdf

[james_c]

As we are all law abiding citizens who would never dream of breaking the speed limit, what's the problem?

even as a law abiding citizen, there is a very good chance of getting nabbed from the 4km/h tolerance they are wanting to impose. even the thickness of the needle on your speedometer and the angle you view that at will determine if you are "speeding" or not.

or a new set of tyres, or an inaccurate speedometer.

the 4km/h tolerance will make drivers concentrate more on the dial than focusing on their driving.

[Preen59]

How does it reduce the road toll? If someone speeds, they have more chance of causing an accident. A fine in the mail won't stop them from driving 1km down the road and T-boning some poor bastard. A larger police presence on the road would.. But that's expensive.

Law abiding citizens? Everyone is human and therefore capable of making a mistake. Everyone, i don't care who they are has sped (intentionally or not) at least once in their time holding a license to drive a motor vehicle.

It's all revenue and that's all it is. Well, that's not true.. It's also a complete ****ing wank.

[james_c]

Won't work.
It will only apply to the minister and shadow minister in charge of the roads and as such it will just be passed on to them and they already have review systems in place that tell them that their system is working.

it might if they are hungry enough for votes

In reality, how hard is it to stick to the speed limit and cop the fine if you get caught?

its not just the matter of paying the price for being caught speeding. its the issue of neglecting other factors that can make our road safer, such as the need to educate motorist how to drive properly, improving road conditions, etc. speed is only a minor contributing factor that attributes to road accidents, but its the easiest to police.

[james_c]

an interesting read: RoadSense.com.au - Facts on failed speed camera policy

[team_v]

it might if they are hungry enough for votes

its not just the matter of paying the price for being caught speeding. its the issue of neglecting other factors that can make our road safer, such as the need to educate motorist how to drive properly, improving road conditions, etc. speed is only a minor contributing factor that attributes to road accidents, but its the easiest to police.

It won't matter if they are hungry for votes or not.
They can't do anything about it as it's not their portfolio so it gets passed on to the federal roads minister and you get the usual non committal response.
They wouldn't even receive it by the time the election is held anyway.


Whilst we understand there are other factors that can contribute to an accident occuring, speeding is the only one they can actually enforce.
They also need to be seen to be doing something to fix the problem now, that can be measured (Gov is all about measureing your successes)


They know about the problems but it's easier to have the quick fix solution in place of lowering speed limits which also provides revenue = no tax increase = more votes.
It has been covered multiple times and even televised with Mark Skaife saying the same thing.
They still won't listen as their task force says that this is the easiest solution and is able to be measured.