Record speeding fine revenue
Record speeding fine revenue
First on 7: Drivers are being stung by a record number of speeding fines.
7News can reveal revenue surged 30 per cent last year to $79 million.
The State Government says the money is helping improve road safety and motoring groups agree.
Whether or not they are intended to raise revenue the speed camera business is booming.
The Office of State Revenue reveals: In 2010, it netted $6m, it spiked to $43m in 2011, $60m in 2012 and, last year, a record $79m.
Shadow roads minister, Walt Secord said: “Motorists have a right to be angry and cynical. Barry O'Farrell promised, in Opposition, that he would cut speed cameras but in fact he's increased them.”
Yet, it was while Mr O'Farrell was in Opposition the then Labor government committed to red light speed cameras.
And Roads minister Duncay gay insisted: “"These are the cameras that the Opposition had planned to put in place."
Those, as well as mobile cameras introduced by this government, account for the surge; more cameras equals more revenue.
NRMA president Wendy Machin insisted: ”Those are cameras that I think, again, are out there to tell people, 'Don't break the law. If you do break the law, you will get fined, you'll get busted’, and it's pretty hard to argue against that."
The record speed camera revenue coincides with another record the Roads Minister is quick to point out; the death toll on the state's roads last year was the lowest in 90 years. The government says it has to be doing something right.
Mr Gay added: “Does the Opposition want to tell us which schools we won't be providing flashing lights to this year if we cut the number of cameras and the money that comes in?"
