If there is a violation of driving in Australia, tickets are usually received by letter, and sometimes tickets may be given directly at the scene if stopped by the police.
Whether by letter or ticket received at the scene, your ticket number and detailed violation will be clearly stated above. If the violation exists, but only slightly speeding, and for the first time, then there is a good chance that you can apply for an exemption and change it to "warning Warning."
Speeding tickets generally received in the form of letters, as shown below (speeding captured by the camera):
(note: there has been a fraud of "fake ticket" in Australia. If you have any questions about the ticket you received, you can find the official contact information of Fines Victoria online and call to confirm it.)
Tickets include:
- The date of speeding;
- Time;
- The speed allowed;
- The actual speed measured;
- Driving license penalty points;
- The amount of fine;
- The method of paying the fine;
- Deadline for payment of fines - This is important, the amount of overdue fines will increase.
In Victoria, Australia, the government department that manages all kinds of fines is called "Fines Victoria", not the police. (note: Australian police have law enforcement and punishment powers, all fines are managed by the state`s government, and many rumors that "indicators" and "bonuses" are nonsense)
Web site: https://online.fines.vic.gov.au/Request-a-review
Complaints against most tickets (described below for speeding tickets)
For large departments of traffic violation tickets, you can "complain" in the following ways
Online complaint system:
https://online.fines.vic.gov.au/en/Request-a-review/Review-Form#/step1
What circumstances can I apply for a complaint
- The decision to fine is contrary to the relevant law;
- You did break the rules, but you got the wrong identity.
- You don`t know the whole ticket exists, and this ticket wasn`t given to you in person.
- You have special circumstances, this may be.
- Mental disability;
- Mental illness;
- Serious addiction to drug or alcohol;
- Homeless;
- family, etc.
For speeding of more than 25 kilometers (or speed limit of 110 driving more than 130km/h), drunk driving, take drugs driving is not covered by complaints. And all of the above reasons may require you to provide relevant evidence.
Fines Victoria produces results within 90 days of receiving your application, and once a decision is made, they will notify them by email, and possible results include:
- The ticket was withdrawn without further punishment against you;
- If the ticket is withdrawn, it will give you an "official warning"
- Please refer the matter to the District Court (need to go to court)
- Waive or vary any fees associated with fines;
- Exemption or modification of any additional penalties imposed by fines (e.g. points deductions, etc.)
- Approval allows payment of tickets in installments
- Maintain the original ticket
Speeding ticket complaint
For speeding tickets, if speeding is lower than 10km/h, there will be another way to "internal complaints," but this internal complaint must be filed before the deadline for payment of tickets.
Web site: https://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?document_id=10369
What conditions can be met to complain:
- Overspeed is lower than 10km/h;
- In the past two years, no traffic tickets or official warnings have been received;
- A good driving history.
The complaint must be applied in writing, and the letter of complaint must be mailed to the following address:
Officer in Charge, Traffic Camera Office, GPO Box 1916, Melbourne 3001
And the results will be mailed to the address you wrote by letter, and here is a successful outcome of the complaint:
Accordingly, other Australian states and territories have corresponding "complaint" channels:
- NSW:https://www.revue.nsw.gov.au/fines/pn/review.
- Queensland: https://www.qld.gov.au/transport/safety/fines/contest
- South Australia: http://www.fines.sa.gov.au/fines-review-process?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
- Western Australia: https://www.police.wa.gov.au/Traffic/Infringements#private
- Canberra: https://police.act.gov.au/road-safety/traffic-fines
- Northern Territory: https://nt.gov.au/law/processes/fines-how-to-dispute
- Tasmanita: https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/registration/information/appeals
As for the complaint letter, two examples have been collected online, which can be used as a reference and suggest that the content of the letter must be sincere.
Example 1:
Application for Official Warning
Dear Sir/Madam,
My
name is X. As a Chinese tourist, I had a tour in Melbourne on Feb 23, 2015. Recently I received an infringement notice from the Road Safety Camera Enforcement Agency: Victoria Police. I am writing this letter to apply for the official warning instead of penalty due.
First of all, I do not deny that I committed the offence.Because it was my first time driving a car in Australia, throughout the whole driving I tried to make the speed control at 80 km / h on the road carefully. At the time of the offence, I was driving in a single-lane road and the car was automatic. Because being fixed in one position a few long time, there were some leg numbness. A little more power could make the car a little acceleration uncarefully. When viewing the speedometer faster, Ireduced the speed, it was too late. I must admit that I was not paying enough attention to the speedometer.
I realize that this is no excuse, but I am hoping to apply for the internal review and your kind re-consideration based on my good driving record. I have not had any traffic infringement in the last five years in china. This is my first time driving in a foreign country, I had three day's driving, in Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road, and I had one traffic violation only. So I am very carefully always,definitely not intentional speeding.
I am a teacher, complying with the legislation is basic quality. I believe that I have been a responsible driver, which can be proved by
the fact that I have never been involved in any traffic accident since I obtained my license, and I have never had my driver’s license cancelled or suspended, never speeding in my country.
I do apologize for not being careful enough and I admit that I did not abide by the speed limit at the time of the offence. But I do hope that you can kindly withdraw my infringement notice and give me an official warning instead. Your time and consideration of this is greatly appreciated. Enclosed is my detail information of infringement notice.
Yours sincerely,
X
My Information:
Full name of Full name: X ()
DOB: 00.00.1900, (date of birth)
Address: XX street No. XX, X district, X city, X Prov.
drivers licence:2000000000000(Driving Licence)
Infringement notice Information from the car-rental company:
Infringement notice number:0210XXXXX (ticket number)
Obligation number:150XXXXX
Ref:011XXXXXX
Vehicle registration number:228XXX (license plate)
Date of offence:23Feb 2015
Time of offence:02:08PM (illegal time)
Limited Speed:80 km/h
Alleged speed:84 km/h
Detected speed:87 km/h (illegal speed)
Due date:14 Apr 2015
Approximate place of offence: princes highway,colac west between rossmoyne road and corangamite lake road (illegal place)
Example II
Traffic Infringement Notice: xxxxxxxxx (Obligation: xxxxxxxxx)
I wish to request that this Traffic Infringement Notice be converted to an Official Warning.
My Victorian driver’s licence number is: xxxxxxxxxxxx
I have a good driving record over the last 2 years, and have not been issued a speeding fine, traffic fine, or official warning within this
time. I am always obeying the traffic law and driving carefully.
Due to the fact that I am still looking for a job and I don’t have an income so far, my financial budget would be better if I could save the $176 on my son’s education instead of the Traffic Infringement Notice.
Due to the situation above, I would be grateful if the Traffic Infringement Notice was withdrawn and an Official Warning issued instead.
Thank you
x x x
