Drivers evading fines due to plates
EXCLUSIVE: More than 1000 drivers a year are escaping road tolls and speeding or red-light fines because of dodgy number plates.
Documents obtained by Seven News suggest it's the fault of premium or coloured number plates which often can't be recognised by automatic cameras.
The New South Wales Roads Minister Duncan Gay says it has become an accidental loophole that the department was not aware of.
An investigation by Seven News has found problems with the cameras used at toll gantries and in fixed, mobile and red light detection devices.
The devices are failing to snap premium and coloured plates, but motoring groups deny some drivers are buying their way out of fines.
NRMA spokesman Peter Khoury says he's sure motorists do not intentionally buy personalised plates in order to evade fines.
"A speeding driver is a speeding driver, it's irrelevant how much money they've got in their pocket," Mr Khoury says.
"No one condones speeding or dangerous driving and we need to close this loophole."
Last year more than 1200 drivers who were booked for speeding by fixed cameras were let off.
Another 114 people were caught by red light and safety cameras, and 31 busted by transit and mobile cameras.
That makes a total of nearly 1400 drivers who have escaped punishment.
The minister says testing is now underway to determine which colours and designs are not working, and says the review will focus on finding a way to beat the cheats.
"Now we are aware of it we are putting changes in place to make sure that it isn't happening into the future," Roads Minister Duncan Gay says.
