Red Light Camera Fine and Payment Related Questions [NSW]

John Kimble on 03/08/2018 - 10:52
Last edited 03/08/2018 - 12:42 by 1 other user

Not another one!!!

Received a fine for running a red light right turn arrow in the mail recently…equals $448 and 3 demerit points.

Right off the bat I am not disputing I did it, I obviously did, but I hardly remember even doing it…usually you remember close calls (or in this case an actual infringement), but this one I can't! Crazy.

Anyhoo, money is a bit tight right now, so I will be requesting a review mainly to delay/defer due date, because I know it will almost certainly be upheld given their review guidelines.

The questions I have are:
1) Anyone know how much extra time that will get me? Or should I not bother?
2) Sounds stupid, but if I pay by credit card, it is considered a purchase? Ie will I get Flybuys points? Or if I pay on my other card would it qualify as a 6 month interest free purchase? I know I should call, but I am being lazy and was wondering if anyone else has paid a fine by credit card and got reward points for it/knows the answer to this haha

Funnily, in the review guidelines pdf on the SDRO website they state:

  • Less than 4 per cent of penalties are cautioned or withdrawn as a result of a request to review the fine
  • Less than 1 per cent of penalties are found not guilty in court

Again, I'm not looking for any sympathy, I know I was at fault and how dangerous it is to run red lights. Memory is not great, but I'm pretty sure this is my first red light infringement ever, and only my second or third traffic infringement overall in my about 15 years of being licenced. I'm no angel, but I'm no hoon either.

Let the judging begin…

Thanks for reading…

Automotive Red Light Camera Sdro Traffic Infringement

Comments

  • HighAndDry on 03/08/2018 - 10:53
    +3

    Not another one!!!

    Lol think you read everyone's mind there haha.

    Anyway - asking for a review will delay the payment date. If you really need to push it, you can wait for about 3 Reminders before they send a final Notice. That's not ideal though - I'd ask for a review, ask for proof of calibration of the cameras, and then past that, ask for a payment plan (nicely). Usually the SDRO will give a decent payment plan so long as it's not unreasonable.

    Just to add, that's happened to me as well. Got a red light camera ticket, and despite having a photo there, and even remembering what I was doing on the day, if you'd asked me I would've sworn I'd passed that traffic light when it was green (which is… dangerous). Looking back, I think it was one of those intersections over a motorway where they have like half a dozen traffic lights, for I think 2 or 3 intersections in quick succession, and I must've mistaken one set of lights for another.

  • Zedsdeadbabyzedsdead on 03/08/2018 - 11:38
    +2

    "Less than 4 per cent of penalties are cautioned or withdrawn as a result of a request to review the fine
    Less than 1 per cent of penalties are found not guilty in court"

    The government and numbers don't mix well, sounds like a blatant attempt to stop challenges.

    • knobbs on 03/08/2018 - 11:52
      +2

      Would be interesting to see the number of penalties that go to court vs not guilty would be a better indication of how you fair taking it up with the man.

      What they have stated there is # of penalties sent out to everyone/number that have won in court. Not a great representation of data.

  • OzBestDeal on 03/08/2018 - 11:45

    Did you see the photo your car running red light? Maybe it will jog your memory a bit….
    Or look at your calendar, who's borrowing your car on that day, it could be someone else driving the car

    Good luck!!

    • John Kimble on 03/08/2018 - 11:54
      +2

      Yes saw the photos. To clarify, it was me driving that day and I remember being at that intersection. What I don't remember is thinking "oh that might have been close" or "oh crap, just ran a red"…

      • drewbytes on 04/08/2018 - 08:05
        +2

        That's probably worse that doing it deliberately, not even realising you were running a red…

        • John Kimble on 04/08/2018 - 08:40
          +1

          Maybe at the time I thought it, I just can't remember it specifically now, weeks after. Doesn't really matter I suppose, just funny how memory works/doesn't work.

  • Dean29 on 03/08/2018 - 11:52
    +2

    You should be able to organise a payment plan. I was paying mine $50 a week but you could organise to pay less per week if that's not affordable

  • bobbified on 03/08/2018 - 12:28
    +3

    Try this:

    1. Write in and ask for a review first (they rarely withdraw red light fines) to extend the deadline
    2. Organise for a payment plan for as little as you can each month
    3. Use your credit card to pay the instalments each month and make use of the interest free period.

    That's as much as I can think to drag it out as long as possible.

  • Godric on 03/08/2018 - 12:39
    +1

    Not another one

    • John Kimble on 03/08/2018 - 12:42
      +1

      Edited, thanks

      • Godric on 03/08/2018 - 12:56
        +1

        Thank you for that John

    • bobbified on 03/08/2018 - 12:47
      +3

      Not another one

      Not really… OP's been around long enough to know not to ask how for hints and tips to try get out of the ticket. haha

      • John Kimble on 03/08/2018 - 13:01
        +3

        I wanted to ask how to build a time machine to stop myself from running it in the first place, but I refrained :)

  • [Deactivated] on 03/08/2018 - 13:17
    +1

    This is in NSW.

    I wrote in. Was told stiff ****. As I am retired, have a good riving record and have time on my hands I took it to court.

    I ended up being in the less than 1% group. I was found guilty with no conviction recorded, no fine and no lost points. No solicitor.

    I represented myself.

    • HighAndDry on 03/08/2018 - 13:27
      +2

      As I am retired, have a good riving record and have time on my hands

      Honestly I think that by itself puts you in just 1% of the demographic. Good work though, gives the rest of us schmucks hope.

    • John Kimble on 03/08/2018 - 13:34

      Do you mean not guilty?

      • djkelly69 on 03/08/2018 - 13:44
        +1

        I think he means what is commonly referred to as a Section 10 - the court was satisfied he committed the offence, but used their discretion (presumably due to good record) to not record a conviction or impose a fine or demerit points.

        Edit: Not to nitpick, but if that is correct, it would actually mean he/she is not in the 1%.

      • [Deactivated] on 04/08/2018 - 09:04

        A WoC (Without Conviction), guilty but no conviction recorded. Not too uncommon for minor offences.

    • gyrex on 04/08/2018 - 22:17

      I ended up being in the less than 1% group

      No, you form part of the 99% group. You were found guilty of the offence but no conviction was recorded.

  • [Deactivated] on 03/08/2018 - 14:04
    +1

    Yep section 10. You have to be guilty to get a section 10.

  • askme69 on 03/08/2018 - 14:12
    +4

    You will not get off through the SDRO. Can try the courts.

    When you receive a reminder notice, send in a letter (post) for review a five days before the due date and call on the due date to make sure they have received it. The review (letter) will put the matter on hold, until its reviewed and declined. That can take 4 weeks or more as they have sacked a heap of people.

    You will then receive the decline letter by post or email (you indicate in your letter how). They will then send you a new reminder notice (required by law) which will give you a further 28 days to pay. 3 days before the new due date make a payment of $40 (via credit card or post office), again call on the due date and confirm they have received the payment, they will then automatically send you a payment plan which will have the balance divided into 6 x fortnightly payments and that will start about a month after the last due date. So from when you first receive the reminder notice, you can extend the final payment for about 6 months before it will be paid in full.

    • John Kimble on 03/08/2018 - 14:34

      Thanks for this. Pretty much answers question 1. But can I ask why $40? Why not more/less? How do they know to automatically put me on a payment plan? Or do I have to ask?

      • askme69 on 03/08/2018 - 16:44
        +2

        A friend of a friend, knew someone who worked nearby for 20 years.

        Anyone can ask me anything and i will ask my friends, friend to ask the persons friend for the answer.

        The $40 payment automatically initiates the payment plan.

        PS: When you make the payment, the RMS will automatically be notified of the demerits assocaited.

        You can try the Courts and see how you go, attend yourself on the day or send a letter with your notice of Plea. Worst case will be the original penalty amount plus court costs ($75) my source thinks from memory if its not in your favour. You can also do a payment plan through the courts or wait till it goes to Revenue NSW and they will apply a $65 fee and you can set it up on a fixed plan.

        If on Centrelink, That changes everything as far as payment options go.

    • varunynr on 04/08/2018 - 21:59

      Gosh. Looks like you know the whole system. Reminds me of something similar I am working on regarding payment plans in electricity industry. Good read though

      Edit : sorry this is meant for above comments from askme69.

    • John Kimble on 12/10/2018 - 11:51

      Just an update, I called them and they advised as long as they receive any partial payment, before the due date, it triggers the payment plan automatically. So in theory I could pay $1 (or the minimum amount they will process) and the outstanding balance is split into 6 x fortnightly payments. Obviously the bigger the first payment, the smaller the remaining payments will be.

      If any payment is late or short, then it cancels the payment plan and turns into an overdue fine.

  • dcep on 03/08/2018 - 14:52
    +1

    you mean there's red light camera for turning right ?

    i've never seen any red light camera for turning

    • John Kimble on 03/08/2018 - 15:02

      The future is now!

    • askme69 on 05/08/2018 - 11:22

      The red light at the intersection covers everything.

      Left turn permitted on RED are not recorded, obviously.

      • dcep on 05/08/2018 - 12:13

        i thought red light camera need to take 2 shots … 1 cross line , another cross intersection

        turn right on red means only 1 shot taken on intersection ?

        • askme69 on 05/08/2018 - 12:23

          it takes multiple shots.

        • dcep on 05/08/2018 - 12:32

          @askme69:

          but the camera is not at your back when you cross the line ?

        • askme69 on 05/08/2018 - 13:10

          @phunkydude:

          Without getting out the Paint.

          The red light camera takes a photo of anything, regardless of the traffic lane (straight/turning) it is in, if it crosses the sensors after the light has turned red it takes a photo (2) minimum. Some o the older cameras take one, but they are all but phased out now.

          If you are in the turning lane and turn on red, you get pinged.

          Some of the larger intersections take 6 or more photos. From the rear and from across the road capturing the front.

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