Not another speeding fine thread ?

[GasoLane]

No it's not, but I thought you would all get a chuckle out of it anyway....

Two days ago I received a letter from the SDRO (State Debt Recovery Office NSW ) saying that if I didn't give them $241 by July the 1st they're suspending my licence.

Nothing to unusual about that in my job, except I haven't been booked for a year or so and as far as I knew all my fines were paid and I still have 12pts on my licence.

A quick phone call (and 20mins on hold) and the nice lady at the SDRO tells me that the SDRO often has a 'sweep' of the system and yes, there was one logbook fine outstanding from............ May 2000!

I don't keep receipts from 10 years ago so I cant prove that it was paid way back then, so I just have to fork out the $241........Bugger


(Donations can be sent to the AFF 'I've been stitched up' fund)

[Mr Hardware]

May 2000
gee whiz
i'd be getting them to try and prove it a bit better than that
and yes
you've been stitched up

[RG]

May 2000??

There has to be something somewhere that says there is a reasonable time limit they must adhere to.

[MagicMarkerPen]

wow! That sucks!

[flappist]

Hmmm, I would require proof from them of the offence including all details.

10 years ago??? It wasn't one of those Y2K bugs was it?

[swanee]

was it a camera that got you? or were you pulled over?

If it was a camera, then you should be able to get a nice photo of your car

[FG XR]

id ask them to prove it, copy of the fine or photo from the camera. i mean 10 years is abit steep.

Hey if they cant come up with anything id pursue it for sure.

[platinumXR]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

I don't keep receipts from 10 years ago so I cant prove that it was paid way back then, so I just have to fork out the $241.

Maybe check out your bank records - they'll have them.

Seems a bit odd this one.

[Charliewool]

Originally Posted by swanee

was it a camera that got you? or were you pulled over?

If it was a camera, then you should be able to get a nice photo of your car

Don't think cameras zoom in on logbooks (YET!)

[Fev]

This has me worried. A fine i was supposed to get when i was on my red P's was never sent to me. 90 in a 60 zone

[swanee]

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Don't think cameras zoom in on logbooks (YET!)

sorry missed that part.

[FTe342]

I'd be getting some legal advice. What about the Statute of Limitations. 7 years?

Heck, even a unpaid default on your Credit File (Veda these days) is removed after 5 years.

And no, the bank won't have your records from 10 yrs ago - refer 1st line above

[BOSHOG]

Originally Posted by platinumXR

Maybe check out your bank records - they'll have them.

Seems a bit odd this one.

not nesecarily, a friend of mine has been trying to get his records from 10yrs ago and his bank (westpac) told him they only keep records for 7yrs

[Falc'man]

I'd get legal advice on this, it's too far back.

[mik]

no statute of limitations i was told sadly, be it 10 years or 20 until its paid, your one chance might be if they fluffed the details or missed something.

[glavas]

in streetcommodores a few months ago there was a article were some dude down in victoria i think got a visit at his door buy 2 copers about a unpaid fine from 1988.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

May 2000 gee whiz i'd be getting them to try and prove it a bit better than that and yes you've been stitched up

There's probably no doubt that I did get booked for the log book offence, I just cant prove that I paid it.

Originally Posted by RG

May 2000??
There has to be something somewhere that says there is a reasonable time limit they must adhere to.

We're talking NSW RTA here. They make the rules, where the motto is 'if you don't like it don't drive in NSW. Take the long way around from Melb to Bris '

Originally Posted by flappist

Hmmm, I would require proof from them of the offence including all details.

See above.

Originally Posted by Charliewool

Don't think cameras zoom in on logbooks (YET!)

Only if you leave them open on the dash

RE:Legal advice... The fine is only (ONLY?) $241. It would cost more than that to argue about it.

To give you an idea of what a nice bunch of people the SDRO are quite a few years ago my Brother (also a Truck Driver) was paying off about $2500 worth of fines. He got it down to $1000 and figured, stuff it, and sent them a cheque for that amount.

After the cheque was returned he rang to find out why. Their answer " You have to keep paying it off each week as a form of punishment"

[Matt47569]

I would ask to see their proof/picture for sure

[Falc'man]

They're too nice.

[glavas]

and what is a log book offence? never herd of this. im in queensland

[Jim Goose]

Originally Posted by glavas

and what is a log book offence? never herd of this. im in queensland

All truck drivers must keep a log book.. Its an offence not to fill it out, lie, cheat, spelling mistakes now too....

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by glavas

and what is a log book offence? never herd of this. im in queensland

Truck driver i'm guessing, too long between stops?

[svo supporter]

We don't live in America so the statue of limitations doesn't exist on any criminal thing. This includes fines.

Needless to say, the gov't is getting desperate. Digging up a 10 year old fine. Goes to show efficient our gov't really is.

[hawke]

I understood that for most Debts, The Limitation Act limited enforsablity to 6 years, however I cant recall if the State Debt Recovery Office is exempted under certain Crown provisions. There are sometimes timeframes for you to present a defence from when you are asked to pay - possibly 28 days.

I would go and get some competent legal advice - perhaps a Consumer Credit Centre.

[fangq]

Originally Posted by hawke

I understood that for most Debts, The Limitation Act limited enforsablity to 6 years, however I cant recall if the State Debt Recovery Office is exempted under certain Crown provisions. There are sometimes timeframes for you to present a defence from when you are asked to pay - possibly 28 days.

I would go and get some competent legal advice - perhaps a Consumer Credit Centre.

So, "often has a sweep " is once every 10 years? Assuming you are at the same postal address, one would assume that the SDRO would have contacted you prior to this. Situations like this, I extract my own " penalty units" by creating a paper work storm. I'd certainly be getting my 241 dollars worth. fwiw, cc all correspondence to your local member after you have contacted them about the issue
Steve

[cant]

Stick it too them !

"IF" it was unpaid 10 years ago, them why wasnt it pusued constantly for the last 9 of them ???????

START a petition on here, word will get around in differing motoring groups and before too long you will have tens of thousands of signatures to present to everyone, from your local MP to parliment, then they will have to legislate a limit of time to Finalize "ALL FINES"

[jaydee]

Statute of limitations here in WA is 6 months for minor traffic offences and 2 years from memory for driving without a license.
I would say they wouldn't prosecute this due to the time involved and not in the public interest.

[pottery beige]

Tell them your a bit skint ask if its cool to do time payments.. over the next ten years....

[Jastel]

Had a taxi driver suspended in Qld (2009) for unpaid fines in Vic from 1999

Seems like when fines get up to 10 years old they have another look at them to see if they can find the person in the system somewhere.

Heard the limit here was 12 years old, but not 100% sure

People moving state/address etc is no excuse it is still on the system somewhere, they usually find you when you go to renew your license.

[MO]

I think a few people have missed a bit,they wont prosecute to get the money they suspend your licence. If memory is right they don't even have to go to a magistrate to do it they have the power.