Caught on a speed camera in Perth - What can I expect?

[200bhp]

Going along Whitfords avenue (dual carriageway, 70 limit) this morning, going with the flow and passing a BMW at about 90 when I saw a flash from the bushes.

I was gutted as I normally see them, despite the operator's best attempt to hide them at the road side.

I think the BMW must have been doing 80ish but he jumped on the brakes, meaning I was then a good length in front when I got flashed - I presume he saw the camera but his car was obscuring it from my view

Now here's the twist.....

We arrived on September 1st on a permanent visa which means I have to change to a WA license within 3 months. I've deliberately left this for as long as possible, thinking that if I got caught they could only give me a fine and not points.

But how long will it take for the demand to come through the post?

I have to get a WA licence before December 1st which is just 7 days away. Given the postal system here seems pretty crap I doubt it'll arrive before then.

So, I had a UK licence at the time of the offence but will probably have a WA one when the demand/points/fine comes through the door.

What's the likely outcome?

Could I dodge points by having a UK licence on the day of the offence?

Are the cameras clever enough to work out if it was me or the BMW that was speeding? If it was both of us, will neither of us get done for it?

[Makila2A]

My understanding is that if there are two (or more) cars in the photo, it goes in the bin as they cannot determine which one was speeding. I could very well be wrong though. Here's hoping I'm not.
These things, from my recollection tend to turn up in the mail inside a week.
Good luck!

[Mattt]

I was told that you have a ghost licence anyway, so if you got done on your UK one they will appear on your Aussie one when you get it.

[Hitch78]

These speed limits are going to take some getting used to - "some people" regularly hit 200kph on their commute in the Middle East!

[Hasbeen]

I thought we were going to hang draw & quarter any poms that came out here, thinking they can ignore our colonial laws.

Hi Hitch, we didn't have many cars that could hit 200Km/H, but in my younger days we regularly topped the ton, [100 MPH] legally on the open road, before the rot set in. Which are the Middle Eastern places where you can still drive intelligently?

[Mattt]

DXB to AUH commute involves setting cruise at 160, with the odd blast in between the (visible) cameras!

[Pommygranite]

Page 9
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/LBU_DL_B...

[200bhp]

Pommygranite said:

Page 9
http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/LBU_DL_B...

Thanks.

The more I go over it in my head, the less sure I am of how fast I was going. Couple that with my experiment on the way to work today which showed my speedo over-reading by 5kmph compared to GPS and I just have to sit and wait.

Meanwhile I've installed a nagging GPS app on my phone that beeps when I exceed the speed limit. It loads whenever its within range of my car's bluetooth and mutes the stereo until I drop back top the speed limit. Not sure how long that'll last!!

[minimax]

In terms of the fine you can expect, if it's done you at 89km/h it's $150 and if it got you at 90 I don't know exactly, but it's a whole lot worse (farcical "hoon" laws..) crossed fingers!

[200bhp]

From the WA police website


Speeding by light vehicles

(Cars, motorcycles and other vehicles less than 22.5 tonnes Gross Combination Mass)

Not more than 9 km/h = $75 0 points
More than 9 km/h but not more than 19 km/h = $150 2 points
More than 19 km/h but not more than 29 km/h = $300 3 points
More than 29 km/h but not more than 40 km/h = $700 5 points
More than 40 km/h = $1,000 7 points

Police can impound the vehicles of drivers who exceed the speed limit by more than 45 km/h.

Work colleague confirmed this morning that points will be pre-applied to my WA licence when I get one.

[yorky500]

Mattt said:

DXB to AUH commute involves setting cruise at 160, with the odd blast in between the (visible) cameras!

Down to 140km/h max now which is a real shame. Still with distances of circa 8-10km between the fixed camera's you can blat along nicely at 200km/h.

[TAS1981]

I am not sure about this pre-loaded points thing. I have yet to see anyone who said "the points were waiting for me".

And this ghost licence.... exactly how do they know about you? I doubt you are on the system. The car might be but your licence won't be will it? In which case how do they know who was driving? sure they can fine you but what do they apply the points to?

I don't believe it. Still on my UK licence and not chnging until I have to. Let us know though.

[200bhp]

I have until the end of this week to get my Aussie licence and they wont be able to process the speeding ticket in time for anything to be put on my "ghost licence" so I'll never know.

My current strategy is to go for my Aussie licence on Friday, that way if I receive anything before then I can send it back legitimately with my UK licence details but they wont have time to process it before I pick up my Aussie one.

I think I'd be on dodgy ground if I sent it back with my UK licence details after I have an Aussie one, even if the offence was committed on the UK licence.

[TVR1]

Mate, get yet arse in gear before Friday. If you miss the 3 months after 1st entry for a permanent resident, you will have more to worry about than a few demerits points. Think 'P' plater for 2 years!

And be carefull, the one thing with Oz beaurocracy is that they never forget! I was out for 9 years. Gained PM and made my 1st entry May last year. I was at the rego office a couple of days later but they wouldn't let me renew my old Oz licence until I'd paid a parking fine from 2002!

[WeirdNeville]

At least you're not the guy caught doing 225kph on the Kwinana Freeway last Sunday! He's up in court next month for it, at 125Kph over the limit I expect he's lubing himself up in readiness. In a ford Ute too! The problem with putting 5.7 litre engines in silly cars and then expecting everyone to do 100kph everywhere....

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/hoon-clocked-...

8pm on a Sunday past Baldivis apparently.... There's a time and a place and Australia isn't it, it seems.

Edited by WeirdNeville on Wednesday 28th November 05:52

[Ten Four]

Gaol I'd expect?

[200bhp]

A nice pretty picture of my car arrived today.

89 km/h = $150 + 2 points

Edited by 200bhp on Thursday 6th December 08:07

[minimax]

Good news it was 89 and not 90

The ridiculous speeding laws are, I think, the worst part of living here.

[justnotsure]

Well it has happened to me aswell; received a $150 and 2 points through te post.

Now the thing is the photos of my car are on such a strange angle (from the opposite side of the road) I fail to see how accurate the speed trap can be, also the letter states I was in a 60km zone and my ESTIMATED speed is 70km????

Surely they can't say estimated as 2km slower it would be $75 and no points........... or am I missing something here????

[200bhp]

Have you looked closely at the photo of your car online?

The basic requirements for it to be valid are:

1) at least part of one wheel

AND

2) at least part of your number plate must be within the box that's superimposed on your car.

AND

3) no part of your car can fall outside the BOTTOM of the box

I found all that online and was then disappointed to see my photo complied with all of these