New Road Penalties

[EVLO]

http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/road-safety-minister-liza-harvey-announces-tougher-traffic-penalties-400-fine-for-mobile-use/story-fnhocxo3-1226976080611

Some standouts:


new $1200 fine for altering number plates or fitting a device that prevents effective identification.

$550 for not wearing a helmet on a motorbike.

new penalty of three demerit points for failing to drive at a speed at which you can safely stop when approaching a pedestrian crossing.

A new penalty of two demerit points for entering an intersection after the traffic light has turned yellow.

Using your mobile phone in the car will now cost you $400, and drink-driving will cost you at least $400 for an 0.05 offence.

[Sfidz]

Is there a official Government document stating the changes out yet?
Would love to have a read through it.

[Fukushima]

A new penalty of two demerit points for entering an intersection after the traffic light has turned yellow

That one sounds a bit pingpingpingpingy and way too open to interpretation. The rest are just indirect tax increases.

[MadDocker]

new penalty of three demerit points for failing to drive at a speed at which you can safely stop when approaching a pedestrian crossing.

How do they actually issue this fine? Only if you actually hit someone? How the fuck are they going to know if you may or may not have stopped in time?

Love the road traffic laws and their enforcement. So, so vital in saving lives in the community. Revenue is just a bonus.

[n1ghth4wk]

A new penalty of two demerit points for entering an intersection after the traffic light has turned yellow.

So just smash on the brakes and get rear ended by a cop car or some pingpingpingping looking at their phone when it turns yellow when you are 5m before the intersection.

[Uber XR]

This is why women shouldn't be in power

[huggy_b]

[url]new penalty of three demerit points for failing to drive at a speed at which you can safely stop when approaching a pedestrian crossing.


I like this one. Equally they should hit up pedestrians who walk across controlled intersections willy fucking nilly when its red - I hate those pingpingpingpings. They get upset when I try and run them over.....a few hours in the city and they'd make thousands at $20 an infraction.

[dmanvan]

So just smash on the brakes and get rear ended by a cop car or some pingpingpingping looking at their phone when it turns yellow when you are 5m before the intersection.

exactly... what a crock of shite./ I have successfully taken a police officer to court over a light infringement. Argued that according to driving guidelines book that everyone gets when going for their license that distance to stop is reaction time at speed travelled plus distance to stop from the current speed before the intersection. guess what pingpingping of a officer (she was too), had to suck it up and lose.....

I cannot see how they can even try to enforce that one (what the hell is the point of all their red light /speed cameras on intersections for anyway) .

Based on above the judge said that my vehicle would have had to have been well before the solid line that is at most intersections...

Reaction time + speed ( some of the Racewars drivers know all about this one.....)

--better get my suit out might have to go and brush up on my 'I put it to you, officer pingping' , 'your honour', yes, your honour' and other high class phrases....

[Lonewolf]

shouldnt the safe speed to be able to stop in front of a pedestrian crossing be, well the speed limit?

[masTers]

I like this one. Equally they should hit up pedestrians who walk across controlled intersections willy fucking nilly when its red - I hate those pingpingpingpings. They get upset when I try and run them over.....a few hours in the city and they'd make thousands at $20 an infraction.

I also hate the pingpingpingpings who press the button then cross anyway, so when you get to the red light, and the cross walk light goes green, your waiting for no one to cross.

[Lonewolf]

I hate that too, but still do it hahaha

[d1mitch]

exactly... what a crock of shite./ I have successfully taken a police officer to court over a light infringement. Argued that according to driving guidelines book that everyone gets when going for their license that distance to stop is reaction time at speed travelled plus distance to stop from the current speed before the intersection. guess what pingpingping of a officer (she was too), had to suck it up and lose.....

I cannot see how they can even try to enforce that one (what the hell is the point of all their red light /speed cameras on intersections for anyway) .

Based on above the judge said that my vehicle would have had to have been well before the solid line that is at most intersections...

Reaction time + speed ( some of the Racewars drivers know all about this one.....)

--better get my suit out might have to go and brush up on my 'I put it to you, officer pingping' , 'your honour', yes, your honour' and other high class phrases....

exactly, its fucking ridiculous, whats the point of an oragne light if you still get penalised for crossing the lights during it. we should just have red and green.

if they police this heavily all this will do is make people slow down at green lights just in case it goes orange just before they enter the intersection and cause mass pile ups from people emergency braking as soon as it goes orange

[S85FI]

I also hate the pingpingpingpings who press the button then cross anyway, so when you get to the red light, and the cross walk light goes green, your waiting for no one to cross.

This maybe changing soon. Pretty sure the city will do trials and let you cross if no pedo...

[Brett_J]

That one sounds a bit pingpingpingpingy and way too open to interpretation. The rest are just indirect tax increases.

I assume there's more to this than what's written in the article, it is Perthnow remember.

[millzy_88]

exactly, its fucking ridiculous, whats the point of an oragne light if you still get penalised for crossing the lights during it. we should just have red and green.

if they police this heavily all this will do is make people slow down at green lights just in case it goes orange just before they enter the intersection and cause mass pile ups from people emergency braking as soon as it goes orange

Going to be very open to challenging so I wouldn't worry too much. And I imagine aimed at people that see it go Amber while they are 300m off and then get on the gas and only just make it through. Up till now they probably couldnt punish such behaviour unless they captured the persons speed. Now they can.

41. Stopping for circular yellow signal or yellow arrow
(1) If a traffic-control signal facing a driver displays a steady
circular yellow signal or a yellow arrow, the driver shall not
proceed beyond the stop line associated with the signal or the
stop line of the lane associated with the signal or in the absence
of a stop line, at a point adjacent to the nearest appropriate
traffic-control signal, unless the driver is so close to the stop
line, or traffic-control signal, when the circular yellow signal or
yellow arrow first appears, that the driver cannot safely stop the
vehicle before passing over the stop line.
Points: 2 Modified penalty: 2 PU
(2) If a traffic-control signal facing a driver displays a steady
circular yellow signal or a yellow arrow and the driver cannot
safely stop the vehicle in accordance with subregulation (1), but
can stop safely before entering the intersection, the driver shall
stop before entering the intersection.
Points: 2 Modified penalty: 2 PU
(3) If a traffic-control signal facing a driver displays a steady
circular yellow signal or a yellow arrow and the driver is not
able to stop safely under subregulation (1) or (2), and enters the
intersection, the driver shall leave the intersection as soon as the
driver can do so safely.
Modified penalty: 2 PU

[Uber XR]

exactly, its fucking ridiculous, whats the point of an oragne light if you still get penalised for crossing the lights during it. we should just have red and green.

if they police this heavily all this will do is make people slow down at green lights just in case it goes orange just before they enter the intersection and cause mass pile ups from people emergency braking as soon as it goes orange

I think it may be to do with people turning at Lights with no arrow. Ie: several cars running through an orange last minute after being stopped waiting for a break.

[mr_rotary]

I assume it be for those vehicles (like I had yesterday) where just as you go through a orange light on a corner, you still have two more cars follow behind you plus another that goes through on the red. Happens too often.

Edit - beat me to it!! ^^

[Evoboycorey]

I Read the whole list from WAPOL on Facebook this morning. (also posted to wajcc lel)

The one that stod out for me was 'Any BAC - 400$ fine'

So a beer and parmy at the pub could potentially cost $400 if you got breath-od.

[millzy_88]

They can't do that ^^ without changing the limit from .05 to zero surely.

[fourseven]

Think it applies to learner/novice drivers who are required to have a 0 BAC.

http://www.ors.wa.gov.au/Road-Safety-Topics/Latest-Law-Changes/Road-Traffic-Offences-Penalty-Changes

Also applies to:

Holders of Extraordinary licences
Recently Disqualified Drivers
Drivers of:
vehicles exceeding 22.5 tonne GCM
vehicles carrying dangerous goods (when such goods are being carried)
buses (while carrying passengers where the vehicle is equipped to carry more than 12 adults including the driver)
small charter vehicles (when carrying passengers for hire or reward)
taxis (when carrying passengers for hire or reward)

[JME]

Probationary drivers cannot blow bac numbers. I'd safely assume it's because of this.

[Trolley]

In relation to the "three demerit points for failing to drive at a speed at which you can safely stop when approaching a pedestrian crossing." I have a feeling this may be so that the fuckheads who like to do 60 clicks through school zones/crossings can be shafted a bit harder than just a speeding fine and 0/1 demerit point. If so, good.

[ChrisGTR]

So driving with no plates has only gone from a $50 fine to $100?

[Uber XR]

Reading through the list found a few I wasnt aware of.


Where overtaking on the left is not permitted, in the vehicle being overtaken, driver increasing speed of vehicle while being overtaken or failure of driver to move to the left $200 2 Points


Altering number plates or fitting device that prevents effective identification $1,200^0 Points




^Legislative changes are currently underway that would lead to introduction of this offence with an associated penalty of $1200.

So its not Illegal YET

[Brett_J]

So a beer and parmy at the pub could potentially cost $400 if you got breath-od.

Should lose your license for eating "Parmy's"

[crabman]

This maybe changing soon. Pretty sure the city will do trials and let you cross if no pedo...

So you're allowed to run red lights?? Riiiiiggghhhtttt


I think it may be to do with people turning at Lights with no arrow. Ie: several cars running through an orange last minute after being stopped waiting for a break.

This probably wouldn't be such an issue if you could still turn when clear to do so. So many intersections have been changed to hold a red arrow, at stupid times at night as well. So you have to wait a full loop before you can turn safely. Its almost like they have done this to enable more fines to be issued.

[ossie_21]

Still failing to see why pissy driving can't be at least a 2k fine & absolute minimum of 12 month on the spot loss of licence



So you're allowed to run red lights?? Riiiiiggghhhtttt

I'm guessing you've never been to America... Standard practice & it works well, you can't go straight or across an intersection or anything like that, but if you are turning immediately & the lights are red, you can turn if there is no pedestrians. Related to that is the "red man/green man" over there is a actually a countdown timer that tells you how long until the signal changes, then it does. None of this fucking around flashing light that you have no idea when it will stay lit up, so it helps drivers & pedestrians.

[S85FI]

So you're allowed to run red lights?? Riiiiiggghhhtttt
.[/I]

Correct. Trials will be done with pedo crossing and a red arrow. No car or no pedo will mean go go go. Not too many places with city congestion in other countries that dont do it.

[SSICK]

Was in a car with mate driving through Vic Park, he drove through a pedestrian crossing at about 50km/h and there was a guy walking up to the crossing (didn't have to wait for us to go through) cops saw it, we got pulled over and the cop said that the pedestrian is pretty much a stop sign. 3 points and 3 demerits later....thought it was a bit rough.

[thommo]

Still failing to see why pissy driving can't be at least a 2k fine & absolute minimum of 12 month on the spot loss of licence




I'm guessing you've never been to America... Standard practice & it works well, you can't go straight or across an intersection or anything like that, but if you are turning immediately & the lights are red, you can turn if there is no pedestrians. Related to that is the "red man/green man" over there is a actually a countdown timer that tells you how long until the signal changes, then it does. None of this fucking around flashing light that you have no idea when it will stay lit up, so it helps drivers & pedestrians.

This is only when turning with the flow of traffic (left in Australia), but yes it's awesome and should be brought into Australian road rules

[ossie_21]

This is only when turning with the flow of traffic (left in Australia), but yes it's awesome and should be brought into Australian road rules

Yeah that describes it better with words, that what was in my head haha. In America it's turning right or either way from a one-way street, other countries probably have the same but that's the only overseas place I've been to

[crabman]

Correct. Trials will be done with pedo crossing and a red arrow. No car or no pedo will mean go go go. Not too many places with city congestion in other countries that dont do it.

Shit I went full retard thinking about driving straight when waiting on a red due to the person hitting the button and walking. Like when a whole intersection is brought to a standstill due to it. My bad. The whole turning left when clear to do so is common sense, pity no-one is allowed to have it.

[satch]

Crossing intersection at Yellow light might be for pingpingpingpings who drive into the intersection as they dont want to wait for another set of lights and block the intersection for opposing traffic. See this all too often unfortunately.

[Chu]

Still failing to see why pissy driving can't be at least a 2k fine & absolute minimum of 12 month on the spot loss of licence.

I disagree. I don't think the difference between someone that blows 0.049 and someone who blows 0.05 should be 12 month suspension and $2k+ fine. That's like the logic that going over the speed limit by 1kmh should be treated as a major speeding offence, even though the increase in danger is negligible.

[ossie_21]

I disagree. I don't think the difference between someone that blows 0.049 and someone who blows 0.05 should be 12 month suspension and $2k+ fine. That's like the logic that going over the speed limit by 1kmh should be treated as a major speeding offence, even though the increase in danger is negligible.

To be fair I probably should have said 0.08 & above which is considered high-range. But with that logic you get those differences in regards to any form of limits, 1kph could be the difference between hoon law & not.

[Chu]

To be fair I probably should have said 0.08 & above which is considered high-range. But with that logic you get those differences in regards to any form of limits, 1kph could be the difference between hoon law & not.

Which I also don't agree with haha. Yeah I see your point.

[S85FI]

So I ponder on this change and wonder how many political votes were needed to stay in power.

So... beat an old lady, ensuring she needs major surgery, pinch anything she has and drive off in her battery powered wheels. As long as I don't break any road rules I should only get a caution.

[crabman]

Anyone got links on where exactly all the revenue, traffic fines specifically, goes and how it is spent?

[anton]

So just smash on the brakes and get rear ended by a cop car or some pingpingpingping looking at their phone when it turns yellow when you are 5m before the intersection.

exactly what i was thinking. not worried ive got insurance

[protecon]

This whole thing smells like a Government "focus group" that has thrown out wild ideas, in a vain attempt to justify their involvement.

Why don't they spend more time analysing traffic flow (including pedestrians), to determine particular areas for attention.
I'm sure if they'd opened up a suggestion box to the public, and waded through all the stupid AM-radio-listener tripe, they'd have plenty of feedback on how to improve Perth roads (or Perth in general).

We have a saying in the oilfield - Always involve the right people in the decision making.

[ossie_21]

Anyone got links on where exactly all the revenue, traffic fines specifically, goes and how it is spent?

Road trauma fund

or

Road trauma fund

[TurboHead]

Only fines from red light and speed cameras goes into the RTTF.

[dmwill]

Obscuring plates just made me think of one thing....bike racks on cars.

Fuck removing my plate from the car every weekend and fitting it to the rack.

[protecon]

Obscuring plates just made me think of one thing....bike racks on cars.

Fuck removing my plate from the car every weekend and fitting it to the rack.
Pay $15 for a replacement plate and permanently fix it to the rack?

[crabman]

Only fines from red light and speed cameras goes into the RTTF.

Where can we see the balance of this and outgoings? It must be quite a large fund....

I hate how this info isn't easily accessed by the public, especially with that internet thing and all.

When you Google it all you get is a bunch of news stories about wasted projects, floor spending and slush fund stories. States fucked.

[dmwill]

Pay $15 for a replacement plate and permanently fix it to the rack?

While there is nothing stopping you from getting an extra plate, it's technically illegal to have a third plate as I understand (sounds a bit retarded).

NSW and VIC have had auxiliary bike rack plates for a while (which are just a smaller plate to match). WA just needs to catch up and have those available.

[karnage]

Got to pay for the MP's above average pay rise some how......

[Satan]

A new penalty of two demerit points for entering an intersection after the traffic light has turned yellow.

^^

Reminds me of when I was driving once with cops in a Hilux behind the car following me. Crossed the Albany Hwy lights in front of Bob Jane heading towards Leach. The light turned yellow after I crossed the line (just about half way through the intersection. Next thing the hilux is on full noise with lights and sirens going off.

Pulled to the side

One cop comes out

Cop: Do you realize you've ran a red light? Any reason you didn't stop?

Me: It turned yellow when I crossed half of the intersection. I said to him, my brakes bite pretty good and I'll have no trouble stopping. If I slammed on the brakes from where I was wouldn't I be blocking the intersection?

Cop: From where we were we saw you had plenty of time to stop.

Me: If you are saying I should of stopped as soon as it went yellow I would be blocking the intersection, right?

Cop: Wait a minute

Takes the license and goes to speak to the other officer sitting and comes back

Cop: I've just talked to my partner and from looking into it a bit more we agreed if you were to stop it would of been a interference to other traffic. Sorry for any inconveniences.

I'm thinking it's good that he apologised but first accuses me of running a red light when obviously it wasn't and I was well past the intersection (would of been red for them when they crossed past the car in front of them)
I drove off thinking was it really necessary but they are the police and can say and do what ever they want.

Face palm there and then

Shame he wasn't a grammar policeman, he might have fined you for not knowing the difference between have and of.

[Sciflyer]

While there is nothing stopping you from getting an extra plate, it's technically illegal to have a third plate as I understand (sounds a bit retarded).


Yep if you dont hand over your old plate when requesting a new one you have to sign a stat dec stating you do not still have the old plate for whatever reason

[Trolley]

Take the corrections to Perth's Shittest Satan ;)

[Sciflyer]

exactly, its fucking ridiculous, whats the point of an oragne light if you still get penalised for crossing the lights during it. we should just have red and green.


Perthnow has got it wrong. This is not a new law, you can read the correct wording and the current and new penalties here http://www.ors.wa.gov.au/Road-Safety-Topics/Latest-Law-Changes/Road-Traffic-Offences-Penalty-Changes

The important part of the law that wasnt quoted was "when safe to do so". So no, you will not have to come to a screeching halt sideways to avoid the yellow! This is exactly the same situation that already exists now, only the penalties for entering the intersection when you couldve *safely* stopped have increased.

As usual, it is up to the police to determine whether you couldve safely stopped in time, exactly as it is now.