2 x speeding fines in Oz - advice please!

*pinkchick*

I hope someone may have some experience here and can help.


I recently visited my friend who now lives in Australia. We drove the Great Ocean Road in Victoria and my friend, who was the lead driver, received 2 'infringements' through the rental company. They have charged us $80 admin fee and have passed my friend's details on to the enforcers.


Turns out I was driving at this time, and I live in the UK. From a quick Google I think the fines may be quite heavy, although we don't have the amounts yet.


My questions are - if my friend tells them I was driving and I accept this fault, will they send me the fine? If so, what would potentially happen if I then ignored said fine?! Would they chase me? Ban me from the country? Or could they then turn back to my friend who's a permanent resident of Victoria, and charge her CC?


Thanks in advance for any advice or experiences shared!

Mimi_Arc_en_ciel

might be better asking this in the motoring forum.


AFAIK the debt wont go away, and will be logged on their databases. If you then head back to AUS and get pulled over it will show on the file.

agrinnall

In many cases the hire company would simply have paid the fines, added the admin charge, and taken the money from the CC that they held.

However, it sounds like in this instance the authorities haven't issued a fixed penalty, so you may well be right that the fines will be hefty. I would be surprised if once you have identified yourself as the driver that they could pursue your friend for the eventual amount. Whether they will take action to recover the money from you in the UK I don't know, it may depend on how much it is and whether it is worth their while. I doubt if they'll put wanted posters up at the airports ready for your next visit but it's possible that they have a system in place to alert them should you be in the country again.

littlereddevil

If you were the additional driver on her credit card surely they could still charge her credit card?

*pinkchick*

littlereddevil wrote: »

If you were the additional driver on her credit card surely they could still charge her credit card?

That's my worry. But I thought if I was identified as the driver, it would alleviate any responsibility from her? I just don't know if they could go back to her if they didn't get the money from me? The enforcers shouldn't have her CC details, but the rental company do...

tomtontom

You need to be asking this to someone with knowledge of Australian law. Any advice given based on what would happen here is pointless.

*pinkchick*

tomtontom wrote: »

You need to be asking this to someone with knowledge of Australian law. Any advice given based on what would happen here is pointless.

I'm not sure where to find such a person? I thought someone on here might have had a similar experience

agrinnall

*pinkchick* wrote: »

I'm not sure where to find such a person?

Australia? Or more specifically, an Australian forum.

Voyager2002

You did the crime, so pay the fine.

After all, how would you like it if Australians flooded in here, broke the law putting the lives of our people at risk, and then ran away without facing the consequences of their actions?

*pinkchick*

agrinnall wrote: »

Australia? Or more specifically, an Australian forum.

But then how would they know how the law relates to a UK citizen? I thought it better to ask Brits who may have had this happen to them, rather than Australians who only know what happens to Australian citizens

*pinkchick*

Voyager2002 wrote: »

You did the crime, so pay the fine.

After all, how would you like it if Australians flooded in here, broke the law putting the lives of our people at risk, and then ran away without facing the consequences of their actions?

1. I didn't endanger any lives
2. I'd much prefer a fellow human being not be penalised with a huge fine for going a few mph over the speed limit. That's why I always flash to warn people ahead if there's a mobile speed camera ahead