NEWS
Vic Police arrest 'demerit dodgers'
Frankston man charged over redirected penalties worth in excess of $7K and 55 demerit pointsA four-month investigation by Victoria Police has led to the arrest of 16 drivers alleged to have made false claims related to speeding offences.
The charges applicable are: 'make false document', 'obtain financial advantage by deception' and 'make false nomination'.
Police officers from the Mornington Peninsula visited 20 addresses earlier this week to round up 15 of the accused as part of 'Operation Sidelining', which commenced from July. The operation was established after earlier inquiries revealed money was changing hands in exchange for services rendered; those services being the acceptance of culpability for speeding offences.
Out of the earlier investigations, police learned of 75 allegedly false declarations made as long ago as 2008.
The day after the arrests (Wednesday) the 16th accused, a 48-year old man from Frankston, was interviewed by Police, who hold him responsible for 24 instances of fine redirection, estimated to be worth $7182 and 55 demerit points.
Clearly, fear of losing a driving licence has come to be seen as an unwelcome prospect worse than a jail sentence for uttering false documents. Must be all that walking or using public transport for a month or two...
Under Victorian law, demerit points are regained after three years. Over a six year period, a driver with a clean record could easily 'launder' 24 demerit points on behalf of others facing the loss of their driving licences.
Since the introduction of fixed and mobile speed cameras, infringement notices are forwarded to the registered owner of the vehicle, placing the burden of proof on the owner that he or she was innocent of the charge. This reversal of the 'innocent until proven guilty' maxim has been criticised in the past by motoring associations, but also appears to be flawed in another way – allowing guilty parties to escape conviction by simply uttering a false document... the statutory declaration on the infringement notice.
All 16 of the accused have been summonsed or bailed and will appear at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on December 11. While Victoria Police has not signalled Operation Sidelining will be expanded to other parts of the state, it seems logical that it – or something like it – will continue and will be rolled out elsewhere.
Picture courtesy of Fredquint/Wikimedia Commons
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Written byCarsales Staff
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If the price does not contain the notation that it is "Drive Away", the price may not include additional costs, such as stamp duty and other government charges.
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