Natalie Lucas, 45, cops speeding fine on way to hospital to see dying mother

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http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/q...nglinksNatalie Lucas, 45, cops speeding fine on way to hospital to see dying mother

by: Thomas Chamberlin
From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
September 23, 2012 12:00AM


A TOWNSVILLE woman slapped with a speeding fine on the way to be with her dying mum has taken on the Queensland Police - and won.

Townsville cleaner Natalie Lucas, 45, told The Sunday Mail she would rather spend a week behind bars than pay a $133 speeding ticket for travelling 91km/h in an 80km/h zone.

She received the ticket when a mobile speed camera snapped her car on University Rd on July 26 as her partner Gary Ottaviano rushed her to Townsville Hospital about 1.30pm, minutes after she was told her mother Valerie, 73, may have suffered a heart attack.

It was later found to be a stroke and her mother died the next day.

"It wasn't like we were speeding for the hell of it," Ms Lucas told The Sunday Mail.

"I was hysterical, I can't remember that day, my partner was driving and he lost his mother three months beforehand and so he knew what I was going through."

Ms Lucas said she called the 1300 number on the ticket and was told she was "going through enough at the moment" and police would "look after it" if she sent proof including a death certificate.

She explained she was not driving.

She was told in "exceptional circumstances" police could waive the ticket but was upset when she received a letter this month expressing "condolences" for her mother's death but an order to pay the fine or face further "enforcement action".

"Firstly, may I express condolences for the loss of your mother," the letter from police read.

"Consideration has been given to the circumstances which existed at the time of the alleged offence and it has been determined that prosecution action is warranted."

Ms Lucas said she had received speeding fines in the past and estimated she had received about 10 fines in her life, while her partner had also received tickets.

After her mother's death she raised $1000 for the hospital, which she donated this week.

Potts Lawyers director Cameron Browne said police had discretion on whether or not they instituted proceedings in court after background matters had been brought to their attention.

"If a person is raising background issues on a traffic ticket, it is traditionally considered by a senior police officer rather than the individual officer who issued the ticket," he said.

"It appears discretion has not been exercised in her favour."

Police yesterday dropped the fine after questions from The Sunday Mail.

"As a result of The Sunday Mail bringing the matter to our attention, a senior officer has personally looked into the circumstances and has waived the infringement notice, and Ms Lucas will be advised of that decision in due course," State Traffic Support Branch acting Superintendent Ray Rohweder said.

My comment on this article...
Good to see commonsense prevail..but it shouldn't have taken the Sunday Mail to get it...