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Peter Mickelburough, state politics reporter
02jul04
ALMOST half the state's 65 mobile
speed cameras have not been tested annually as required
by law, sparking fears tens of thousands of fines may
have been illegally issued.
Police records show one mobile
camera was not checked for almost two years.
Ten others were not tested for
between 13 and 19 months and 15 were tested between
a week and four weeks after their annual check was due.
A total of 1562 camera days are
in limbo, with 28 mobile speed cameras not calibrated
within the statutory 12-month period at some stage between
July 1, 2001, and December 15 last year.
Tenix, the private operator of
all mobile speed cameras, yesterday reassured motorists,
saying no fines had been issued by cameras operating
outside the legislated testing period.
But Opposition transport spokesman
Terry Mulder said he did not trust these assurances
after the debacle that forced the Government to waive
or refund $24 million in fines from faulty fixed speed
cameras.
"There does not seem to be
any system. Some cameras are calibrated on multiple
occasions during a 12-month period, others aren't tested
for nearly two years," he said.
Mr. Mulder claimed Police Minister
Andre Haermeyer had once again failed to protect the
interests of the state and Victorian motorists.
He called on the Govern ment to
immediately write to anyone fined illegally and refund
their fines and any demerit points lost.
A spokesman for Mr. Haermeyer said
testing could be delayed while waiting for parts, pending
a court case or because it was surplus to requirements.
"Tenix advises that no mobile
speed camera is used without appropriate certification,"
he said.
Tenix camera operators must enter
the date of a camera's most recent test in a log book
each time a camera is set up.
"The Tenix operator must also
call into the central office and relay the certification
number, which is on a metal strip on the camera and
on the hard copy certificate," he said.
Test dates are also registered
centrally and two weeks before a camera's next required
test a recall notice is sent out and the camera is taken
to RMIT for testing.
© Herald and Weekly Times
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