Graded fines for speeding offences

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32612, 21 May 1971, Page 1

Graded fines for

speeding offences

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, May 20. A scale of speeding fees ranging from $5 to $5O were announced today by the Minister of Transport (Mr Gordon). He said that the scale to come into force on July 1, applied solely to instances of exceeding a speed limit where there was no element of dangerous, careless or inconsiderate driving.

i “In cases where these elements are associated with exceeding a speed limit the system will not be used, a normal traffic offence notice then being issued.

“In arriving at the scale I have had to set the fees at a reasonably high level in order to deter prospective speedsters, and to counter the thought that the system is a licence to speed’.” Mr Gordon said that the Government did not intend these fees to be taken as a guide for fines in the courts; magistrates would continue to make their independent judgments from the evidence presented to them.

i However, he said, the pay- . ment of an infringement fee ' saved the offender the time ’ and trouble of appearing in > court, as well as saving him . court costs; and. this also re- , duced the work of the courts ’ and freed the Ministry’s offi--1 cers for their more important duties of traffic surveillance on the roads.

Different scales

The scale for speed limits of less than 55 m.p.h. starts with $8 for exceeding the speed limit by up t . 5 m.p.h.,

then $l2 for exceeding the limit by 6 m.p.h. Increments of $3 for each additional mile an hour from 6 m.p.h. to 10 m.p.h., and $5 for each additional mile an hour from 11 m.p.h. to 15 m.p.h. takes the maximum fee for exceeding limits in this group by 15 m.p.h. to $49. Cases of speeds in excess of 15 m.p.h. were dealt with by the courts.

Court cases The scale for speed limits of 55 m.p.h. and 60 m.p.h. starts with $5 for the first 5 m.p.h., and has increments of $2, $3 and $4, so that the fee for exceeding the 55 m.p.h. or 60 m.p.h. limits by 20 m.p.h. is $5O. Again, cases of speeds in excess of 20 m.p.h. over the limit could be considered only by a court. A traffic officer who apprehended a speeding motorist would still have a discretion as to whether he issued an infringement notice or a warning. Discretion left The motorist would still have an opportunity to offer any explanation he wished, and the chief traffic officer would still have a discretion as to whether or not to proceed after considering any explanation. If the fee was not paid, he would also have a discretion as to whether or not a prosecution was taken.

“If a driver wishes to contest the matter in court he should not pay the fee, and if the Ministry charges him with the offence the traffic officer will have to prove

that the Infringement was in fact committed, that the driver was served with a speeding infringement notice and that he did not pay the fee,” concluded Mr Gordon.