Shadow Minster for Police Rob Lucas today called for a review as for the reasons why SAPOL had estimated $51 million of traffic infringement notices issued in 2006 would not be collected this year.
“During Estimates Committee hearings, Deputy Police Commissioner John White indicated that this year expiation notices to the value of $127 million would be issued, but that SAPOL had estimated only $76.3 million would be collected this year,” Mr. Lucas said.
Deputy Commissioner White provided the following breakdown:
Expiation Notices issued ($ m) Expiation returns ($ m)
Mobile Speed Cameras 30.2 19.7
Fixed Speed Cameras 35.7 22.3
Red-light Cameras 20.1 13.3
Traffic Infringement notices 26.7 16.7
Other Expiation Notices 14.7 4.0
Total 127.4 76.0
“Whilst there are likely to be a number of reasons why uncollected expiation notices are at such a high level, there have been concerns over the years about the accuracy of speed and red-light cameras and the process of issuing notices.
“The Minister for Police should reveal how much of this $51 million is due to errors in issuing notices or inaccuracy of speed or red light cameras,” he said.
“Given that 40 per cent of the total value of expiation notices is not being collected, it is clear there is an extraordinary waste of time and extra cost both in processing the notices as well as by drivers/riders in fighting the expiation notices.
“Neither the Minister for Road Safety, Zollo, nor Minister for Police, Holloway, was able to provide answers today when questions were raised in Parliament,” Mr. Lucas said.