Italy: More Officials Arrested for Photo Enforcement Corruption

Two police officers arrested and four raids conducted as part of ongoing investigation into speed camera corruption scandal in Italy.

A pair of senior police officers in Brindisi, Italy were arrested Tuesday in a speed camera bribery scheme. The owner of a BMW X6 blew the whistle on officers Giuseppe Manca and Antonio Briganti after a speed camera accused him of driving 160km/h (99 MPH) on state route 16, where the limit is 110km/h (68 MPH).

The driver faced a fine of between 500 to 2000 euros (US $650 to $2615) plus license points. The officers offered to make the conviction disappear for payment of 250 euros (US $327) in cash. The officers were able to erase the conviction from the speed camera logs to prevent detection of their tactics.

The attempt at secrecy failed when the BMW found he was out of cash. The driver's account of what transpired is supported by surveillance video showing one of the policemen escorting him to a bank in the village of Pezze di Greco to withdraw money. Judge Paula Liaci ordered Briganti and Manca to be placed in preventative detention.

Meanwhile, the public prosecutor in Grosseto conducted four raids on the offices of speed camera companies in Capagnativo and Scarlino. Investigators uncovered irregularities in the way speed camera contracts were handed out in those jurisdictions between 2005 and 2007. Previously, local police handled speed camera operations, but prosecutors insist forgery, corruption and bid rigging led to the decision to contract out the photo ticketing services.

Investigations into Italian speed camera fraud have been in the works for years. Earlier this month, seven were arrested in Frosinone for rigging speed camera contracts. In March, the Guardia di Finanza announced five indictments in Brescia. In August 2009, speed cameras were shrouded in black plastic as up to 200 officials faced charges in Caserta. In September, a judge ruled that a group of 15 mayors, cops, speed camera company employees should stand trial on fraud charges.

Politicians Caught Speeding

New Victorian police commissioner Ken Lay vows to demand honesty and loyalty from brass

Victorian Police Ministers Caught Speeding

Jan 31st 2011 - JUST days after being sworn in as Victoria's police minister, Peter Ryan was clocked speeding in Melbourne. Mr Ryan says he was caught speeding in a street near the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Parkville. Normally we would take some pleasure in politicians getting caught up in this nightmare of their own making, but it appears that Peter Ryan might be the one politician that gets what is wrong with the use of speed cameras in Victoria.

Mr Ryan has asked Auditor-General Des Pearson to review the performance of fixed and mobile speed cameras.

WA Minister Troy Buswell Caught Speeding 3 x in 6 Months

NEW Transport Minister Troy Buswell has been exposed as a serial driving offender, with revelations he has been caught speeding three times in the past six months and has previously lost his licence. An investigation by The Sunday Times has revealed Mr Buswell, who along with Police Minister Rob Johnson is responsible for road safety, was caught speeding at least five times in the past five years. One of those offences was just a few weeks after he was returned to Premier Colin Barnett's ministry in December.

The Opposition said Mr Buswell's driving record made a mockery of attempts to cut the road toll, as the State Government poured about $500 million a year into road safety and $30 million towards new speed cameras.

This morning, Opposition Transport spokesman Ken Travers called for Mr Buswell to be stripped of the transport portfolio.

PolicSpeedCameras.info - If you drive in Western Australia, you are going to get caught speeding not matter who you are! Why? Because the system targets 95% of safe drivers instead of 15% of idiots travelling well above the speed limit. There is no shame in getting caught speeding in WA, only same for those Ministers who don't bother to change the system when it clearly doesn't target the right group of WA motorists. Driving a 0-9 km/h over the speed limit isn't a criminal offence (even if the system treats you like a criminal).

In years gone by, police officers had a conscience and only issued infringements above 9km/h over the speed limit. Automated ticket machines don't have a conscience and can target every driver, and not lose any sleep over it.

"A survey of other state ministers by The Sunday Times this week revealed Health Minister Kim Hames was fined $75 for driving 0-9km/h over the speed limit just before Christmas.

Sports Minister Terry Waldron was fined $75 for speeding on Albany Highway in September, while Mines Minister Norman Moore confirmed he had lost his licence "in connection to a speeding-related offence in 1968".

Mr Colin Barnett and his Liberal Party should fix the speed camera system as they said they would. The shame for the Liberal Party is that the system is unfair and they haven't done a thing to fix it, only make it worse!

Politicians seem to have a facination with "Naming & Shaming" offenders. We think it's a good idea too. Don't you? These are some of the unintended consequences of treating road users like criminals.

Victorian Police Minister Bob Cameron says he's not concerned he was kept in the dark for two months that the state's top traffic cop had copped a speeding fine.

Mr Cameron was only advised this week of the fine issued last November to Deputy Commissioner for road policing Ken Lay.
Mr Lay has denied covering up the $245 speeding fine for driving at 80km/h in a 70km/h zone at Tooborac, northern Victoria, on October 1.

He received the fine in mid-November and after discussions with Chief Commissioner Simon Overland agreed to conceal the indiscretion until after the dangerous Christmas driving period.
Mr Lay, who also lost three demerit points on his licence, was the front man in a heavily promoted Traffic Accident Commission (TAC) campaign to reduce the state's road toll over the summer holidays.

The traffic offence was strategically revealed on Friday in the Herald Sun newspaper with a 600-word statement from Mr Lay.
Mr Cameron said he wasn't worried that the fine was kept from him for two months until just before Mr Lay went public with the incident via the newspaper.

"No, Ken and Victoria Police make these decisions and I have to say, that's exactly what they've done, they've told everyone," he told reporters.
Bumbling his way through media questions about the incident, Mr Cameron said Mr Lay had done the right thing by now going public and should not step down.

"It's up to Ken to tell his boss, the chief commissioner, and it was up to them to determine when they would tell the public and they've done that," he said.
"Ken Lay I think is a very good deputy commissioner, I think he should stay and be a very good deputy commissioner, and people should really take this as a timely reminder that no one is above the law and everybody has to be paying attention on the roads."

Facing the full force of the media on Friday, Mr Lay said he made no apologies for keeping the fine a secret for two months and denied it was a cover-up.
"I'm not sure I did cover it up," he said.

"There was every intention to come out with it and my decision was based on the fact that we had a six-week campaign rolling out over the most dangerous time on our roads and that campaign didn't need to be muddied by Ken Lay talking daily about the speed camera fine that he got.
"I make no apologies for that decision, I think it was the right decision."

Mr Lay said he never considered resigning over the incident and it was his first traffic fine in 35 years of driving.
Mr Overland on Friday stuck by his deputy commissioner and the decision to conceal the fine.

"I am fully supportive of (Mr Lay's) approach and after observing some of the reaction to the issue today, I believe we have absolutely made the right decision to delay making this public," he said in a statement.
"This ensured that the issue did not detract from the road safety message over the critical Christmas and New Year period.

"Ken has my full support as Deputy Commissioner of Road Policing."
The Traffic Accident Commission (TAC), whose safe driving ads Mr Lay fronted over the Christmas period, also reiterated its support for the assistant commissioner.

TAC spokeswoman Amanda Bavin said Mr Lay's fine was a reminder that no one was immune from the law and if a driver did speed they would get caught.

Magistrate Carmen Randazzo to resign over speed tickets

Speeding Minister expects to lose licence

New South Wales - Posted Tue May 13, 2008 ABC News

Driving Mr Della Bosca ... The Education Minister expects to lose his licence for 6 months.
New South Wales Education Minister John Della Bosca has admitted he expects to lose his driver's licence over of a string of speeding offences.
Mr Della Bosca had already been moved back onto P plates earlier this year because he had been fined a number of times for speeding.
"Regrettably, I have now received another infringement notice," he said in a statement released this afternoon.

"Today, I advised the Roads and Traffic Authority that I was the driver and as a result, I expect to lose my driver's licence for six months."

The Minister, who lives on the state's central coast, says he has not yet received official notice about his licence status but has stopped driving in the meantime.
"In addition to the penalties provided by the law, I have surrendered my general entitlement to a ministerial vehicle, although I anticipate that to fulfil duties and functions as a Minister, some driving services will be required," the statement said.

"I regret my carelessness and I can report that speed cameras are effective."
When asked about Mr Della Bosca's situation this afternoon, NSW Opposition Leader Barry O'Farrell raised his pinkie finger - a gesture made famous by a Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) anti-speeding commercial.
"The RTA's message is clear, [Roads Minister] Eric Roozendaal's statements are clear: 'idiots speed'," he said.
Mr O'Farrell says the case is embarrassing.

"John Della Bosca has to ensure that he doesn't circumvent the penalty by simply relying more on his government car," he said.

 

Maitland Mercury The Sunday Times - 01 February 2008

Western Australian MPs racked up thousands of dollars in speeding fines last year in their taxpayer-funded cars, a special Freedom of Information probe revealed.

But the Government has refused to reveal the names of the MPs, though The Sunday Times has discovered they include Attorney-General Jim McGinty and Liberal leader Troy Buswell.

The Sunday Times has obtained copies of 34 traffic-infringement notices, under a Freedom of Information application.

In some cases our lawmakers --who talk toughabout roadsafety-- were driving nearly 30km over the speed limit,reachingspeeds of up to 124km/h and copping $500 fines as a result.

The lead-foot pollies paid nearly $7000 in fines last year foroffences in 2006 and 2007.

One politician was caught speeding on Christmas Eve and another MPwas nabbed on New Year's Day -- holiday periods when politicians urge the public need to drive safely.

The FOI application by The Sunday Times was initially rejected. The Department of Premier and Cabinet would only confirm 34 politicians had copped speeding fines. After an appeal, an internal review was conducted and more details were released.

The department refused to release the names of the errant MPs, citing their right to privacy. However, several owned up after being canvassed by The Sunday Times.

They include Attorney-General Jim McGinty, Liberal leader Troy Buswell, Liberal deputy leader Kim Hames, Energy Minister Fran Logan, shadow treasurer Steve Thomas and Local Government Minister Ljiljianna Ravlich.

In a day of confessions:
* Mr Hames admitted getting two speeding tickets for doing 77km/h in a 70km/h zone and 87km/h in an 80km/h zone near Mandurah.

* Mr Thomas admitted being pinged for doing 120km/h in a 110km/h stretch on the Old Coast Rd.

* Mr Logan admitted being fined $100 and losing one demerit point for exceeding the 90km/h speed limit on the Perth to Yanchep road by between 10km/h and 19km/h in 2006.

* Ms Ravlich admitted receiving a $100 fine and losing one demerit point for doing 70km/h in a 60km/h zone on Stirling Highway.

* Mr Buswell admitted receiving speeding tickets in October and December 2006. He said he lost no demerit points for speeding in December, but lost one point for doing 90km/h in an 80km/h zone near Mandurah.

Mr McGinty said he could not remember details of his driving offence.

"Obviously we all have to be mindful of the road rules but from time-to-time people do exceed the speed limit and politicians are no different to others,'' Mr Buswell said.

But Premier Alan Carpenter said he had not had any speeding fines in two years, and politicians should lead by example.

"The simple message is that speed kills and politicians should be leading by example,' he said. "I hope those caught learned a valuable lesson.''

Police Minister John Kobelke agreed that the state's lawmakers needed to practice what they preached.

"Politicians as community leaders need to set an example, even if some of us fail from time to time,'' he said.

"Those who break the law will pay the appropriate penalty.''

But Road Safety Council independent chair Grant Dorrington took a more sympathetic view.

Mr Dorrington, who confessed to having lost his licence at 18 when he reversed into a car, said politicians were no different to anyone else and made mistakes.

"I think MPs are only human,'' he said. "They are just ordinary people given positions in parliament.

"At times, you can lose your concentration and be five or 6km over. "The real issue is people who do it (speeding) regularly.''

The FOI findings also revealed delays in issuing speeding tickets. It had taken police five months to send out some notices.

Assistant Commissioner of Police John McRoberts this week called for infringement management and speed camera operations to be privatised.

"We don't believe they are core police functions,'' he said.

"We also believe that another government department or agency or a private company is better suited to this function.''

 

Police Minister Caught Driving Under Suspension

 

The Western Australian Minister for Police John Dorazio, after tripling speeding fines this months, was caught red handed driving while under suspension. According to official news Mr. Dorazio was caught by his own ridiculous legislation.

You see, previously the police had to serve you with a suspension from driving notice before you had to stop driving. But with the huge work load from the plethora of new speed cameras, the onus is now on individuals to make sure they aren't under suspension. Well "Mr. Minister" didn't pay his fines now did he!

Isn't it wonderful when politicians get a taste of their own stupid driver onus laws. Now if Mr. Dorazio can manage a speeding fine under his own new "triple the cost" speeding fines, from one if the 32 new speed cameras, I promise I won't ask Santa for anything this Christmas!

What worries me is why the State Premier didn't sack Mr. Dorazio on the spot. He had to fall on his own sword and resign. Is it the old Labor buddy system at work again?

 

More than a third of Victoria's TAC fleet cops traffic fines   by Fiona Hudson Heral Sun - Victoria, Australia January 13, 2008

MORE than a third of the Transport Accident Commission car fleet has incurred speeding or traffic fines in the past two years. Despite the latest TAC advertising campaign - "Take a Damn Good Look At Yourself" - documents show the road safety body's drivers have incurred 37 fines. Offences by TAC staff included excessive speeding, running red lights and throwing away a lit cigarette butt. Four drivers were booked for speeding 10-15km/h over the limit, data obtained by the Sunday Herald Sun under Freedom Of Information laws show. The worst breach recorded in a TAC car was a staffer caught doing 74km/h in a 60km/h zone, which attracted a $750 fine. Four TAC cars were booked for running red lights. The revelations come after the TAC axed a $500,000 sponsorship of Collingwood football club over rookie Sharrod Wellingham's drink-driving ticket last week. Three TAC staff were repeat offenders and 26 drivers were nabbed for speeding at less than 10km/h over the limit - despite the State-Government-owned TAC spending millions of taxpayer dollars encouraging Victorian drivers to "Wipe Off 5". And the road safety body said yesterday it could not be sure other staff weren't personally fined for failing to wear seat belts, drink-driving or using mobile phones, because telling management about those offences was voluntary. About 700 employees share the TAC's fleet of 88 cars. Drivers incur the penalties and demerit points attached to breaches, not the TAC. Senior managers were among the offenders. "A range of employees from all levels incurred infringements," TAC spokeswoman Lauren Treacy said. Though all those involved in the offences could have faced dismissal, they had been given only mandatory counselling.

Speed camera chief Mereddyd Hughes caught by speed camera

By Chris Newbigging

Politics & the law

30 October 2007 14:41

Chief Constable Meredydd Hughes – the country’s top traffic cop and a leading advocate for speed cameras – has been sent a Notice of Intended Prosecution for a speeding offence on a North Wales road earlier this year.

An official statement has been issued by South Yorkshire Police:

'Chief Constable Med Hughes has received a notice of intended prosecution in respect of an alleged driving offence in North Wales in the early morning of a Bank Holiday Monday in May while he was on holiday.

No summons has yet been received'.

According to road safety campaigners Safespeed, Hughes’ car was photographed driving at 90mph in a 60mph speed limit – above the threshold that magistrates recommend disqualification.

Paul Smith, founder of SafeSpeed.org.uk, said: " The critical question is: ‘Was Mr Hughes causing a danger to the public?’

“Given his training and position, I am quite confident that he was not. I challenge him to admit - here and now - that the speed limit cannot define the point at which a speed becomes dangerously fast.”

The alleged offence took place on the A5 near Chirk in North Wales on Bank Holiday Monday in May while Hughes was on holiday. His car was captured by a fixed speed camera. In the past, the Chief Constable has advocated a return to ‘less conspicuous’ speed cameras as a method of convincing drivers to slow down.

The Chief Constable is also Head of Roads Policing for the Association of Chief Police Officers, a position he took over from Richard Brunstrom, the ‘Mad Mullah of the Traffic Taliban’. Brunstrom is also Chief Constable of north Wales, the area Hughes is alleged to have been caught speeding in.