Fines cash rolls into state coffers

$287.9 million worth of fines were tipped into state coffers last year. Source: HWT Image Library

SPEED and red-light cameras are pouring almost $550 a minute into state coffers.

The Herald Sun can reveal Victorians copped almost 1.4 million traffic camera fines worth $287.9 million last year, up $38.3 million on the previous year.

While the number of fines increased by 5 per cent, the revenue shot up by 15 per cent.

Reactivating cameras at Keilor Park Drive on the Western Ring Rd and on the Hume Freeway, plus extra cameras on CityLink, proved major earners.

The most profitable speed camera last year was across a lane of the Western Ring Rd at Keilor Park Drive.

It reaped $14.7 million from 71,224 fines.

The top earning red-light camera was at the intersection of Cemetery Rd West and Royal Parade, Parkville. It issued 6412 fines worth about $2 million.

Exceeding the speed limit by less than 10km/h carries a $176 fine and a demerit point. Failing to stop at a red light carries a $352 fine and three demerit points.

Police Minister Kim Wells said all money collected from speed camera and on-the-spot fines was reinvested in road improvements.

"There is undeniable evidence that cameras save lives by reducing speeds and cutting road trauma," Mr Wells said.

"If you speed, you are endangering your life and the lives of those around you. That is simply unacceptable."

Earlier this month the State Government said it would "increase our use of automated speed enforcement, including point-to-point, mobile, speed and red-light camera system" in its road safety strategy.

Six speed cameras are being installed on the new 27km Peninsula Link from Carrum Downs to Mt Martha.

Traffic camera fines from October to December last year will be published on the Department of Justice's site camerassavelives.vic.gov.au today.

amelia.harris@news.com.au

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Jail guard in fines rort loses job

A JAIL guard has lost his job after trying to get a prisoner to take responsibility for his driving fines.

The officer was accused of contacting the mother of the maximum-security prisoner and trying to persuade her to get involved.

The guard, from privately run Port Phillip Prison at Laverton, wanted the woman to instruct her son to say he was behind the wheel of the guard's car at the time of the breaches, but she refused.

It is believed the fines, which amounted to hundreds of dollars, were incurred on tollway provider CityLink.

An internal jail investigation is believed to have uncovered evidence of the ill-fated scam.

The officer was suspended for having inappropriate dealings with the family of a prisoner and later resigned.

The mother would have left herself exposed to perjury charges had she become involved in the scam.

G4S, the company that runs Port Phillip, declined to comment on details.

A statement from the firm said: "An officer was subjected to an internal investigation and suspended. The officer is no longer employed by G4S."

The prisoner whose mother was contacted is on remand for driving offences.

The Herald Sun revealed in August that a new corruption-busting unit would tackle crime in the state's jails following security failings exposed in the 2010 death of Carl Williams at Barwon Prison and allegations crooked officers were involved in a drug ring with killer bikie Christopher Wayne Hudson.

Meanwhile, the Herald Sun understands a man found dead at Port Phillip Prison last weekend was doing time for stabbing to death a man to whom he owed a drug debt.

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