New traffic fine notices under Owner Onus laws

18/07/06
New traffic infringement notices will target speeding drivers who flout the law.
Police Minister John Kobelke said the new notices would help to identify instantly who was driving a vehicle at any time.
"These infringements will carry a photograph of the speeding motorist and will ensure that car owners take responsibility for identifying who is in charge of their vehicle at any given time," Mr Kobelke said.
"This is part of the State Government's commitment to boosting road safety under its Owner Onus laws, which came into effect on January 1 this year.
"Research shows penalising unsafe drivers is an important weapon in the fight to change bad driver behaviour and help cut road deaths and serious injuries."
Under Owner Onus, the owner of a licensed vehicle is deemed to be the 'person responsible' for the vehicle.
"What this means is that if vehicles are photographed by a speed camera or a traffic light camera, the owners will have to pay the fines unless they can identify who was driving their vehicles at the time," the Minister said.
"Owners who cannot identify the driver, or prove they took reasonable measures to ensure who was in charge of their vehicle at the time of the offence, will face hefty fines."
A first offence carried a $1,200 fine and this increased to $2,400 for subsequent offences. For corporations, the penalty was $5,000.
Mr Kobelke said Owner Onus laws applied to:

• all owners of licensed vehicles;
• companies with vehicles driven by employees;
• associations and clubs with vehicles licensed in their name;
• owners of light vehicles, under 16 years of age;
• owners of heavy vehicles, under 18 years of age; and
• financial institutions which on-sell repossessed vehicles.

"This will give police more power to target speeding motorists and company drivers who flout the law, and help make our roads safer for everyone," the Minister said.
Minister's office: (08) 9222 9211