[Vic] Receive a Caution If You Have Received a Fine for Speeding 10kms over The Limit or Less

Magnate on 17/05/2012 - 13:40
Last edited 15/04/2017 - 22:45 by 1 other user

Moved to Forum: Original Link

This post is in response to a number of requests I received in the forum. Mods, please move it if you consider it inappropriate.

Many of us have received the odd speeding fine. If you meet the below criterion you are automatically elegible for a caution:

  • Hold a current driver's licence, including probationary, or current learner driver's permit.
  • Have not been issued with a speeding, other traffic fine or official warning within the previous two years.
  • Were caught doing less than 10 kilometres per hour over the speed limit.
  • Do not deny that you committed the offence.

All it takes is a brief letter addressed to the below:

Officer in Charge
Traffic Camera Office
GPO Box 1916
Melbourne 3001

It takes all of 5 minutes and if you meet the criterion you are pretty much guaranteed to have the fine withdrawn. This has worked for me and at least half a dozen of my friends and family.

Draft letter (for those who are too lazy to think of what to write themselves):

Dear Officer in Charge,

I am writing in relation to traffic offence xxx committed at [time] on [date].

I accept that at no time is speeding safe. In this case due to [insert brief comment on circumstances, don't give excuses] I drifted over the speed limit for a short period of time. I have now modified my driving behaviour and pay more attention to my speed in such circumstances.

Given my good driving record I would like to request a caution for this infringement.

Regards,
[Your name]

Automotive

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Comments

    • [Deactivated] on 03/11/2016 - 21:25

      Hi yumdumpring,

      1) What were your circumstances ?
      2) What did you specifically write ?
      3) What did they say as part of the rejection ?

      Cheers

      • BargainShopaholic on 04/11/2016 - 12:39

        1) I was 10k over the speed limit (50 in a 40 zone)

        2) I wrote that I acknowledged my mistake, did not give an excuse, I am sorry. Could the fine please be waived given my clean driving history (no fines ever)

        3) They just said it was not one of the exceptional circumstances and that the fine stands.

        • roddy84 on 04/11/2016 - 13:16

          Should have said you were very sorry.

        • [Deactivated] on 06/11/2016 - 09:18

          Is 10km/h over the speed limit a 1 demerit point or 2 demerit point infringement ?

          If it has not worked for you then I am curious who it has worked for using the 'Exceptional Circumstances' category ???

        • Olokun on 06/11/2016 - 09:40
          +1

          This is the reason it was not accepted

          As of Monday 21 September 2015, drivers issued with an infringement for exceeding the speed limit by 10km/h (or more) but less than 15km/h will no longer be able to apply for an official warning notice

          If your infringement was for 50 in a 40 then you are not eligible for the official warning.

          Correctly verified infringements issued for alleged speeds of less than 10 km/h in excess of the posted limit may be eligible for an official warning

        • shmahoo on 07/11/2016 - 10:27

          @Olokun: remember there's a difference between detected and alleged speed.

          If you were detected at 53, alleged at 50, in a 40 km/h zone, you've got no chance in my opinion with a downgrade to a warning

  • gherkins on 30/11/2017 - 13:23

    I just received a letter from VicRoads, they caught me doing 65 in a 60kmph zone. Does anyone know if this letter technique still works or is the appeal all done online now? Cheers

    EDIT - found it on the vicroads site, thanks anyway

    • shmahoo on 30/11/2017 - 13:27

      I'd write in and say that Sam Dastyari did it, chances are they'll agree and let you off!

  • daydream on 28/12/2017 - 22:24

    Is this the same as "Requesting an Internal Review"?
    If so can the request be made via the online form (Anyone used that method, https://online.fines.vic.gov.au/Request-a-review/) or is a physical letter required? Thanks.

    • lyon on 06/07/2018 - 23:06

      Would love to know this as well.. is this the same as sending a letter (is a formal letter preferred?)

  • Drifta on 23/04/2018 - 23:48

    Anyone able to comment on when the 2 year time period comes into effect. Is it from the date of your last fine issue or date of last interaction for a fine. Eg I got a fine in Feb 2016 but had it waived in July 2016. Wondering if anyone who has gone through a similar issue can comment on how tight vicpol are with the 2 year time period.

  • whey4000 on 28/08/2018 - 20:02

    I only have 3 weeks to pay only received it today.. if I send a letter to the officer in charge will they get back to me in time, otherwise it says 25 reminder letter. Whats the diff between this and an internal review?

  • MasteBlaster on 09/01/2019 - 22:15

    I got copped by a mobile camera doing 58kmph (alleged) which is a pretty big road but is a 50kmph. No excuse there I guess.

    I want to try appeal it, but I got copped doing 92 in a 60 in Sep 2017 which is pretty serious, so any chance I might be able to get off on this, on the basis that I had over 12 months of good driving?

    • SnoozeAndLose on 09/01/2019 - 22:22

      you can try to get a offical warning but you need to say that you will improve your driving awareness or may unfamiliar with the speed limit(if you are tourist)

      Had one go 9 km over while driving from SA to Mel, got a warning at the result

  • Freeza on 19/01/2019 - 01:22

    do we need to send this form along written letter ?
    https://online.fines.vic.gov.au/-/media/Files/Downloadable-a…

    • kiLbiL on 11/02/2019 - 14:31

      I think you do it online now. If you go https://online.fines.vic.gov.au/Request-a-review/, you can write the letter there.

      • TheHummingBird on 06/03/2019 - 19:46

        I can confirm that this method works. I recently lodged a review online and entered a few comments similar to the draft letter above, about a week later I received a letter stating my fine has been waived in place of an official warning.

        No need to send a letter in the mail anymore.

        • silkysmooth on 16/07/2021 - 20:32

          did u write it on the online form as they restricted the number if words

        • Bargaingeek on 30/12/2022 - 08:23

          which option do you choose online form? "exceptional circumstances" or "the fine should not have been issued against you" ? there doesn't seem a specific one for official warning.

          • kiLbiL on 02/05/2023 - 03:20

            @Bargaingeek: trying to do the same thing. It's really confusing. On vicpolice website it says the application for an 'official warning' can be done online but when clicked the link, the reasons that you can select does NOT include an option for an 'official warning' request!

            • PleasureMachine on 20/09/2023 - 17:53

              @kiLbiL: *EDITED - I meant special circumstances not exceptional.

              Yeah exactly. It's pretty confusing…….How'd you go?

              I just selected exceptional special circumstances as even though, I wasn't escaping DV or am homeless…..I read it as my circumstances as a "good driver" allow me to have an official warning issued instead.

              But yeah, it's taking me ages to find some others in a similar spot. I was considering a thread somewhere for it.

              • kiLbiL on 21/09/2023 - 17:29
                +1

                @PleasureMachine: Yeah that link worked. I wrote whatever you would have written in a letter in the comments text box or so

                • PleasureMachine on 22/09/2023 - 12:03

                  @kiLbiL: Thanks for that.

                  I am debating if I should post a letter via snail mail too? How long until you heard back?

                  • kiLbiL on 27/09/2023 - 11:03
                    +1

                    @PleasureMachine: No need to post letters. It took a few months. You can call them and check status at the same time too

  • ffhound on 13/04/2019 - 10:54

    If I post my excuse via Shopback do I get an extra 10% off my demerit points?

  • Macgyver on 29/04/2019 - 12:26

    What if my fine is for over 10 km but under 15km. Is there still a possibility to have my find waived. I have never been fined before.

    • PriceHound on 27/12/2020 - 19:20

      Similar situation. What was your outcome?

  • unluckycat on 29/07/2019 - 12:29

    I was just wondering what my chances were of getting out of a fine.
    I'm on my second year of P2 Victorian driving. I have a previous offence for using my phone (for Google maps, I wasn't holding it, it was on speaker and telling me directions to get to a place I'd never been before) about 1 month ago and I fear I may have gotten a speeding fine going down the Hume at 116ish instead of 110km/h. So as it stands I have 4 definite demerit points, and as per probitionary license rules I have one more before my license is suspended, which if I was caught I'd have gotten. I am normally an exceptionally safe and careful driver, and I was only going over the speed limit due to pressing cruise instead of speed limit and not realising immediately (my eyes were on the road).
    If I don't get the demerit waived, does anyone know if P drivers can extend their demerit period an extra 12 months? I can't find anywhere saying I can't but I know the rules are stricter for probitionary drivers.

    • shmahoo on 21/02/2021 - 08:43

      how did this turn out for you?

  • Young gardener on 16/02/2021 - 13:36

    Anyone can suggest the circumstance that approved by VIc police for less than 10 km/h excuse? Also, is the online form valid for this review?

    • Euphemistic on 21/02/2021 - 11:21

      There is no excuse. Just I’m sorry, I won’t do it again.

    • shmahoo on 21/02/2021 - 21:46

      can you blame coronavirus?

  • silkysmooth on 07/07/2021 - 19:37

    Hey all do we have any more sample letters? Would the below work?

    Dear Officer in Charge,

    I am writing in relation to traffic offence 0000000000000 committed at 12:00 am on 01 June 2021.
    I accept that at no time is speeding safe, I drifted over the speed limit for a short period of time. I have now modified my driving behaviour and pay more attention to my speed in such circumstances.
    Given my good driving record I would like to request a caution for this infringement.

    Kind Regards,

    • spedohero on 07/07/2021 - 20:09

      I think It should have something along the line you specifically acknowledge you have sped and accept the infringement then ask for caution.

  • Moventura on 26/04/2022 - 16:21

    Shame over 10 doesn't work :( . The other day I was overtaking a car on a hwy. 80km zone (a few km down it changes to 100). After I got to the side of the car I was overtaking, I looked at my Speedo and noticed I had accidentally gone 20km over. Instantly I started slowing down, I looked up and noticed a police at the side of the road with a radar gun. Got me at 15km over (thankfully didn't get me a few seconds prior). Tiny lapse while overtaking and I got caught. 5 seconds later and I would have been back down to 80. Just bad timing on my part.

    Worst part is I had forgotten to pay my rego the day before when it was due, so I was also fined for driving an unregistered vehicle. For being 10 hours late on my rego payment :( I paid the rego online before driving off, but still got the $900 fine.

  • unity1 on 26/07/2022 - 13:15

    This has worked for me in the past for an unregistered vehicle fine. It's nice the authorities can show compasion under certain circumstances.

  • Youi2018 on 07/08/2022 - 14:48

    If you get caught by the fixed speed cameras at the intersections does that fall under vic pol ?

    I saw a flash i was doing over 40 in a 40 zone . But i was under 50 km .

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