August 20, 2013 South Australia police officers rack up speeding fines while on duty ON-DUTY police officers are racking up more than $1100 in speeding fines each month. Police figures show officers have been fined for speeding 134 times in the past two financial years. Separate figures show that in the 18 months from July 2011, 463 officers caught on camera were granted an exemption because they were “performing their duties’’ at the time. Independent MP Bob Such has questioned whether the officers escaping penalty are being shown too much leniency. SAPOL said those officers caught speeding were setting a bad example to other motorists while Mr Such, who obtained the figures, has questioned the criteria used to grant officers exemption from speeding fines. “Where the system may be rubbery is when officers say they were speeding because they were heading to a job but how many were rushing to an emergency like a bank robbery?’’ Dr Such asked. “The figures show no one — including police — are exempted from speeding laws but the question is are those exemptions which are granted strictly in accordance with need or is an unwarranted discretion being used? “In this case police are judging themselves regarding the issuing of exemptions so you must have absolute transparency in the system.’’ However, Dr Such believes most of the officers being fined for speeding are being caught out for the same reasons as most other motorists. “What is happening to police officers is what happens to other people, which is they are being caught out by poor speed limit signage for 50km/h zones,’’ Dr Such said. “I suspect some officers are also being caught speeding when going down a hill.’’ More than 450 officers caught speeding in the past 18 months were granted an exemption. The police and State Government said the fines figures showed traffic laws were being applied without prejudice. However, Assistant Commissioner Madeleine Glynn said those officers caught speeding were failing to provide “leadership’’ to the public in obeying road rules. Ms Glynn said police were regularly required to urgently respond to emergencies. “And, as you would expect, officers are exempt from speeding fines if issued while performing their duties,’’ she said. “However, those unable to meet this threshold are treated the same as anyone else. They pay the fine and lose demerit points.’’ She said SA Police employed more than 4500 officers, who combined, travelled tens of millions of kilometres each year across the State’s roads. “Taking this into account, the number of police issued speeding fines for payment is comparatively low,’’ she said. “But that is no justification for speeding and all SAPOL members are aware of our policy, which is rigorously enforced. Police work hard to educate the public that road safety is everyone’s responsibility and SAPOL members are required to demonstrate leadership in this area at all times.’’ Police Minister Michael O’Brien said he had “full confidence that SAPOL investigates the circumstances and appropriately disciplines police officers who incur traffic infringements while driving police vehicles’’. “The fact that expiation notices have been incurred shows that rules are applied impartially,’’ he said. “If police officers exceed the speed limit without an operational reason, they will be treated no differently from any other driver.’’ DAVID NANKERVIS - THE ADVERTISER
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 08:59:41 +0000
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