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WarrenerraW
Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Location: Melbourne
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Post subject: Melbourne - the city of fines | |
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Is it just me or is this state obsessed with fining people for all sorts of misdemeanors. Parking fines, speeding fines, red light camera fines, didn't declare you're $10.20 bank interest... well that's another fine. Then we get shafted for saving for our future (super, HISA: term deposits etc etc.)
$75 on the spot fines for invalid travel on public transport or $217. They have the gall to slug the public with that yet they can't run an efficient and effective public transport service that runs on time. A little bit of heat and trains are stuffed. A bit of rain and the trains are stuffed again.
Our ever changing speed zones are designed to catch people out. I've driven through areas where the speed changes at least four times. No doubt it's designed to confuse people and catch them out.
Now I heard talk about reducing the blood alcohol limit from .05 to .02. Why? Bugger that. You either keep it as it is or make it zero. Making it .02 will throw everyone over the limit and is designed to raise further revenue for the state.
Are other states the same? |
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Mugwump
Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Location: Between London and Melbourne
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It's a great point. There is an old joke that runs something like "Heaven in Europe is when the French are the chefs, the Italians are the lovers, the Germans are the engineers, the British are the police, and the Swiss make everything run on time. Hell is when the British are the chefs, the Swiss are the lovers, the French are the mechanics, the Italians make everything run on time .... and the Germans are the police.
Every time I come home to Australia from the Uk, I am amazed at the "Germanic" intrusiveness and literalness of policing. In Britain, the police start with the intent of the law, not its letter, and assess whether the conduct seriously offends the intent. The rights of the responsible citizen thus stand above the literalness of the law. In Australia, the law seems to be a trap to snare and fine the unwary honest citizen. I am also struck by how readily Australians (or at least Victorians) grumble, and accept this on the basis that they cannot affect it. _________________ Two more flags before I die!
Last edited by Mugwump on Mon Aug 11, 2014 1:08 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Jezza
2023 PREMIERS!
Joined: 06 Sep 2010 Location: Ponsford End
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Well we aren't called a 'nanny state' for nothing _________________ | 1902 | 1903 | 1910 | 1917 | 1919 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1935 | 1936 | 1953 | 1958 | 1990 | 2010 | 2023 | |
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5150
Joined: 31 Aug 2005
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Some things don't make sense - no ticket $217 fine / belt the crap out of someone, get legal aid to represent you and walk away with a slap on the wrist. |
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003 Location: Andromeda
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I don't get too upset by this stuff generally—most fines exist as necessary deterrents—but I don't like the crackdowns on jaywalking. It's really one of those laws that should only be enforced when a pedestrian is putting lives in danger by crossing erratically, not because they started walking a few seconds after the red man started flashing.
Also, memo to public transport safety officers (if any are posting here!)—you're there to provide basic protection for commuters, not to enforce bureaucratic rules. It was pretty funny in hindsight, but I can't believe I got an official warning (and a threat of a triple figure fine) for running up the down escalator on an empty platform.
A bit of common sense and moderation wouldn't go astray. _________________ All watched over by machines of loving grace |
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Mugwump
Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Location: Between London and Melbourne
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^ sounds a bit as though you don't get too upset about this stuff generally - except for the ones that you personally might transgress ... _________________ Two more flags before I die! |
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HAL
Please don't shout at me - I can't help it.
Joined: 17 Mar 2003
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I'm glad you got a laugh out of it. |
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Skids
Quitting drinking will be one of the best choices you make in your life.
Joined: 11 Sep 2007 Location: Joined 3/6/02 . Member #175
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I just got a speeding fine in the mail, 97 in a 90 $75 and 0 points.
7k's/hr over the limit on a dual lane hwy (the old 'stang is in mph & I had just had new, bigger wheels fitted) cruising with the traffic flow.
.02? Like you say, they may as well just make it Zero. I remember when I first got my license, the BAC limit was a flat .08, even for P platers. The second day I had my license I got pulled over & blew in the road side breatho which came up as over the limit. They took me to the cop shop and I gave another sample into the big machine .... .079, on your way son _________________ Don't count the days, make the days count. |
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nomadjack
Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Location: Essendon
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Skids wrote: | I just got a speeding fine in the mail, 97 in a 90 $75 and 0 points.
7k's/hr over the limit on a dual lane hwy (the old 'stang is in mph & I had just had new, bigger wheels fitted) cruising with the traffic flow.
.02? Like you say, they may as well just make it Zero. I remember when I first got my license, the BAC limit was a flat .08, even for P platers. The second day I had my license I got pulled over & blew in the road side breatho which came up as over the limit. They took me to the cop shop and I gave another sample into the big machine .... .079, on your way son |
You got off light. 7kms over the limit here gets you $165 fine these days |
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Wokko
Come and take it.
Joined: 04 Oct 2005
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The creep of tyranny. Must keep the citizens in line, no marching out of step. What starts out as seemingly worthwhile seems to inevitably creep up as governments and councils become addicted to the revenue stream that fines create. As people stop speeding so much, they increase the fines. As people stop fare evading (or getting better at it), so they increase the fines.
Nevermind that the punishment is a lot worse for the poor and nothing at all to the rich (had a well of friend who sped everywhere and said he only backs off once the demerits add up), nevermind that it is better roads and safer cars that have the greatest impact on road tolls. Nevermind that checking your speedo constantly is more dangerous than travelling 5km over the limit. Must keep the money flowing in. |
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think positive
Side By Side
Joined: 30 Jun 2005 Location: somewhere
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HAL wrote: | I'm glad you got a laugh out of it. |
I did too _________________ You cant fix stupid, turns out you cant quarantine it either! |
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Mugwump
Joined: 28 Jul 2007 Location: Between London and Melbourne
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Wokko wrote: | The creep of tyranny. Must keep the citizens in line, no marching out of step. What starts out as seemingly worthwhile seems to inevitably creep up as governments and councils become addicted to the revenue stream that fines create. As people stop speeding so much, they increase the fines. As people stop fare evading (or getting better at it), so they increase the fines.
Nevermind that the punishment is a lot worse for the poor and nothing at all to the rich (had a well of friend who sped everywhere and said he only backs off once the demerits add up), nevermind that it is better roads and safer cars that have the greatest impact on road tolls. Nevermind that checking your speedo constantly is more dangerous than travelling 5km over the limit. Must keep the money flowing in. |
Agreed: "Creeping tyranny" is probably a bit strong, but it is in the nature of government to want to enlarge its reach and control, and i agree that this type of tax - for that is what it is - is vilely regressive. _________________ Two more flags before I die! |
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swoop42
Whatcha gonna do when he comes for you?
Joined: 02 Aug 2008 Location: The 18
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David wrote: | I don't get too upset by this stuff generally—most fines exist as necessary deterrents—but I don't like the crackdowns on jaywalking. It's really one of those laws that should only be enforced when a pedestrian is putting lives in danger by crossing erratically, not because they started walking a few seconds after the red man started flashing.
Also, memo to public transport safety officers (if any are posting here!)—you're there to provide basic protection for commuters, not to enforce bureaucratic rules. It was pretty funny in hindsight, but I can't believe I got an official warning (and a threat of a triple figure fine) for running up the down escalator on an empty platform.
A bit of common sense and moderation wouldn't go astray. |
You first. _________________ He's mad. He's bad. He's MaynHARD! |
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David
I dare you to try
Joined: 27 Jul 2003 Location: Andromeda
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Yeah yeah, I know, but I guess my point is that bizarre behaviour on its own shouldn't be a fineable offence. _________________ All watched over by machines of loving grace |
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WarrenerraW
Joined: 18 Apr 2008 Location: Melbourne
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I think it's great that our police force can take the time to stand at intersections and book people for jaywalking while real criminals carry on. |
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