The Processing of Traffic Infringement Notices

*When a police district finishes a film, the Police take it to the T.C.O. in secure barcoded canisters. The T.C.O. then forward it to a photographic laboratory to be developed and printed.

*When the photographs are returned to the T.C.O., each batch of pictures are checked by Police to ensure that there has been no interference with the radar, such as certain metal signs in the background.

*The details recorded in the photograph's datablock on the photographs are compared with their corresponding Camera Operator Statements to ensure that the datablock details match those on the Statement. (See below for an example of a datablock).

*Data from the Camera Operator Statements are entered onto T.I.M.S. - the computer system that the T.C.O. uses for recording infringement details and issuing Traffic Infringement Notices (T.I.N.s).

*As each photograph is viewed, details from its datablock are entered into the computer, and a Verification Officer verifies if an infringement has occurred.

*If an infringement has occurred and the verification officer can identify the offending vehicles' registration number, then the registration details are retrieved from the Roads Corporation Victoria data base.

*If the vehicle matches the registration details, the officer directs the system to process the Traffic Infringement Notice.

*Each day, a magnetic tape is produced detailing all the infringement notices. This magnetic tape is then couriered to the printer in a secure case, where the T.I.N.s are printed and posted to the vehicles owner. The T.C.O. aims for each T.I.N. to be posted within a week of the film reaching the office.

After a TIN has been Issued

When a vehicle owner receives a T.I.N., they can accept responsibility for the infringement and pay the fine. Alternatively, if the owner of the vehicle was not driving the car at the time the offense occurred, the owner must nominate the actual driver of the car. Another T.I.N. is then issued to the nominated driver, and the original T.I.N. is cancelled. If the owner is genuinely unable to name the driver, the owner can produce a Statutory Declaration to satisfy the T.C.O. of this fact.

The driver of the vehicle has the option of objecting to the Notice and requesting that the matter be dealt with by a Magistrates Court.

At any stage the motorist can request a color copy of the photograph, which can be obtained for $7.50. The motorist may also choose to view the image at the T.C.O. free of charge.

Once the payment is made, it is recorded against the offense, and details of the penalty demerit points are sent to VicRoads to be assigned to the driver.