Motorist is left confused by surprise letter in the mailbox after they were caught speeding on a motorway
By Pranav Harish For Daily Mail Australia[1]
Published: 05:22, 26 August 2024 | Updated: 05:22, 26 August 2024
A motorist was left confused after managing to dodge a £1,028 fine and five demerit points despite being caught speeding on a motorway.
The driver was clocked driving more than 20km/h over the speed limit on Dukes Highway in Keith, South Australia[2], on August 13.
The motorist, who was travelling from Melbourne to Adelaide, was pulled over after failing to reduce their speed as they left an 80km/h zone and entered a 60km/h one.[3][4]
They were informed they should expect to receive a fine in the mail – but were left stunned when they a formal warning was sent to their letterbox instead.
The confused motorist shared a photo of an expiation notice to Reddit[5], revealing they wouldn’t have to pay a fine.
‘There is no due date and amount is £0, am I supposed to do something or what?’ they wrote.
Social media users were shocked the driver was let off without a penalty.
‘In QLD[6] they’d slap the max fine, max demerits and they’ll be combing for something else,’ one person wrote.
The confused motorist uploaded a picture of an expiation notice (pictured) to reddit after they received the letter in the mail indicating the offence didn’t incur a financial penalty
‘A caution notice for 20-29kph over the limit?
You guys in SA are living in heaven!
It’s a few hundreds in WA,’ another wrote.
‘This is the way they formally log your caution on their system,’ one wrote.
‘If you do something similar again and the police see this on your record, you’re definitely getting the book thrown at you.’
Exceeding the speed limit between 20 to 29km/h carries a £1,028 fine, which includes the expiation fee and the adult levy under South Australian road rules.
The offence also incurs a penalty of five demerit points.
A South Australia Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the letter was a formal warning.
‘Police have used discretion in these circumstances and issued a caution to the offending driver for exceed speed,’ the spokeswoman said.
‘The issuance of the notice is a formal way of recording the caution’.
A former police officer revealed how drivers could increase their chances of receiving a warning rather than a fine.
‘Driving record and attitude are the number one and two factors for whether a non-traffic cop gives a ticket,’ they wrote.
Not all states and territories across Australia hand out expiation notices that caution drivers over speeding offences.
Exceeding the speed limit between 20 to 29km/h carries a £1,028 fine, which includes the expiation fee and the adult levy under South Australian road rules (stock image)
A Queensland Police spokeswoman told Daily Mail the warning is not enforced in the Sunshine State.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said expiation notices are not issued in the state, however infringement notices are handed when speeding offence are committed.
‘Victoria Police only issue an infringement notice with the penalty and demerit points as prescribed,’ the spokeswoman said.
‘If a speeding infringement is received for an alleged speed of less than 10km/h and the driver has a good driving history, they can apply for an official warning’.
A Tasmania Police spokesman said the state does not issue the notices.
Daily Mail has contacted all state and territory police departments for further comment.
Penalties in Australia for speeding
NSW
Motorists in the state will be hit with a £2,200 fine if convicted for exceeding the speed limit by between 20 to 30km/h.
Queensland
The offence incurs a £696 fine and four demerit points in the Sunshine State.
Victoria
Drivers who exceed the speed limit by between 25km/h to 29km/h will incur a £529 fine.
Police have the power to withdraw a speeding infringement notice and issue and official warning instead.
A motorist who succeeds in applying for an official warning will have their penalty and demerit points withdrawn.
Tasmania
Motorists who exceed the speed limit by between 23km/h to 29km/h will be hit with a £317 fine and will also accrue three demerit points.
Western Australia
Drivers in WA will be handed a £400 fine and three demerit points for exceeding the speed limit by between 19km/h and 29km/h.
South Australia
Exceeding the speed limit between 20km/h to 29km/h in the state carries a £1,028 fine.
The offence also incurs five demerit points.
ACT
Motorists caught going between 15km/h and 30km/h above the speed limit will be fined £438 and the offence also carries three demerit points.
Northern Territory
The penalty for exceeding the speed limit between 15km/h and 30km/h is £300.
Drivers who commit the offence will also be handed three demerit points.