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Roadside cameras set to target more infringements

<p>Millions of Aussie drivers are being warned as authorities expand the number of infringements being targeted by roadside cameras. </p> <p>The technology, initially used to detect mobile phone use, will now target new road rules. </p> <p>"The laws were brought in and this technology was brought in as a preventative measure ... to stop people getting behind the wheel and taking risks that jeopardise the safety of others," NRMA head of media told <em>Yahoo News. </em></p> <p>"The road toll is terrible nationally in Australia ... So we need to do everything we can to reduce risks on our roads."</p> <p>In NSW authorities are expanding the capabilities of their roadside mobile-detection cameras. </p> <p>From July 1 the cameras will be able to catch drivers wearing their seatbelt incorrectly. </p> <p>This comes after Queensland reportedly became the first jurisdiction in the world to roll out seatbelt-spotting detection along with mobile-detection. </p> <p>Last year, Victoria also rolled out dual mobile phone and seatbelt detection cameras last year after a two year trial.</p> <p>No grace period will be granted when they issue the seatbelt fines. </p> <p>"The expansion of mobile phone detection cameras to also apply to seatbelt offences reinforces the NSW Government’s commitment to enforcing the 50-year-old seatbelt law, actively contributing to improving road safety and reducing fatalities on NSW roads," a statement read on their official website. </p> <p>The department told Yahoo that all images captured by roadside cameras are automatically reviewed by software. </p> <p>Those that do not contain evidence of an offence will have their images deleted within an hour. </p> <p>Drivers in the ACT will need to make sure they have proper insurance and registration.</p> <p>From August, the roadside cameras alongside speed cameras and red light cameras will be used to send hefty fines to those driving without proper registration or insurance. </p> <p>Those caught by the cameras will have their paperwork manually checked by transport staff. </p> <p>An infringement for driving an unregistered vehicle in the ACT is $700 while the fine for driving an uninsured car is $973. </p> <p>The mobile detection cameras could also soon be programmed to detect speeding in the ACT. </p> <p>In South Australia, authorities began testing overhead mobile detection cameras at four busy locations in April, fines are currently not being issued, but the grace period is due to finish on June 19. </p> <p>Drivers caught using their phones in Adelaide will be fined $540 and three demerit points. </p> <p><em>Image: </em><em>Stepan Skorobogadko / Shutterstock.com</em></p>

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Woman cops eye-watering fine for being just 6km/h over speed limit

<p>A Melbourne woman who copped a massive $3,635 fine for going less than 10km/h over the speed limit has taken to social media to share her horror story.</p> <p>Jane Agirtan uploaded a TikTok showing the eye-watering fine she received for speeding 6km/h over the speed limit in a 60km/h zone on the 3rd of March.</p> <p>“A bit excessive, no?” she said in the caption of the video.</p> <p>In the clip, Ms Agirtan can be heard saying: “Six kilometres. Are you kidding me? Six kilometres, are you serious?”</p> <p>The woman appeared to have also been fined a few weeks prior for going 106km/h in a 100km/h zone, resulting in a $3661.20 fine. The TikTok post has since received more than 17,000 likes and hundreds of comments.</p> <p>However, Ms Agirtan, a former local candidate for Chelsea in Melbourne, didn’t receive the response she was expecting, with the majority of commenters being less than sympathetic, pointing out the high penalty is likely because she is driving a company car.</p> <p>Under Victoria’s current road rules, exceeding the speed limit by less than 10km/h in a corporate vehicle will result in a fine of more than $3,000.</p> <p>The fine can then be reduced once the company nominates the employee who was behind the wheel at the time of the infringement.</p> <p>“It’s to stop people abusing corporate cars. If you pay it you won’t lose points. If you nominate, the fine will be like normal,” one person said.</p> <p>Ms Agirtan then responded in the comments confirming her company had followed the process and nominated a driver.</p> <p>Commenters suggested she wouldn’t have to worry about paying a fine if she had simply followed the road rules.</p> <p>“Maybe don’t speed,” one person said. In turn, this prompted Ms Agirtan to say: “106 in 100 zone is prob calibration issue, not speeding”.</p> <p>However, there were some people who agreed with Ms Agirtan that $3,635 was excessive, even for a company car.</p> <p>“That’s absolutely whack. That amount of money is ABSURD even if it is a company car!” one person said.</p> <p>Ms Agirtan responded saying that was the “exact point” she was trying to make.</p> <p>Fines Victoria explained the large fine amount was used to incentivise companies to out the driver behind the wheel.</p> <p>If the company fails to nominate a driver, they are liable for the $3,365 fine – and if the company does this three or more times over a 12-month period they then run the risk of copping a $21,000 penalty.</p> <p><em>Image: TikTok</em></p>

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Five maskless men give insane response to police questioning

<div class="post-body-container"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> <p>Five men who had tested positive for COVID-19 in country NSW but then allegedly breached their self isolation orders after they’d been escorted back to south-west Sydney, have been fined $5000 each.</p> <p>The five men were sitting at a footpath table on Monday morning when police went up to them, asking they why they were not wearing masks.</p> <p>The officers spoke to the men, who revealed they had tested positive to COVID-19 in rural NSW and had been ordered to self-isolate for 14 days after being escorted back to Sydney on August 23.</p> <p>Following the police inquiries, all five men – aged 23, 25, 26, 31 and 32 – were issued $5000 Penalty Infringement Notices for not complying with the public health orders.</p> <p><strong>Escorted back to their premises for self-isolation.</strong></p> <p>The men were escorted back to their premises to continue their mandatory isolation.</p> <p>This comes after Premier Gladys Berejiklian has warned that October will be the “worst time” for the state’s intensive care units and health system.</p> <p>NSW reported another record number of new COVID cases on Monday, with four deaths, 1,290 local infections, and western Sydney remaining the main area of transmission.</p> <p>“We anticipate that the worst month, the worst time for our intensive care units will be in October," said Berejiklian. "The number of cases we have in intensive care will depend on our vaccination rate and also on the number of cases, and we all have a hand in determining what that looks like.</p> <p>“Vaccination is the key in terms of our freedom and reducing the spread of the virus,” she added..</p> <p><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p> </div> </div> </div>

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