Australia is one of the countries with the most strict speed limits and police checks since it has more than a thousand speed cameras. It is always important to be careful on the road, but for a tourist who is not familiar with the traffic rules, a fine for speeding may come as a surprise. But what happens when a tourist gets a speeding fine while in Australia?
Table of Contents
How Speeding Fines Are Issued?
Fines for speeding in Australia are usually processed in two ways:
Bilateral and itinerant speed control devices – These are machines that capture the vehicle’s license plate numbers and a fine is usually sent to the owner of the car.
Police Stops – If a driver is caught speeding by the police, then the driver may be stopped and fined on the spot.
Who is liable for the fine?
Rental Car Users: If a tourist is using a rental car, the fine is usually forwarded to the rental company. The driver will then be charged the fine together with some charges for service.
Privately Owned or Borrowed Cars: If a tourist is using a private car, the fine will be delivered to the owner of the car and he or she has to pay it or inform the authority who was actually driving the car.
Can You Ignore the Fine?
It is always advisable not to try to avoid a speeding fine. The Australian authorities have put in place very efficient systems for tracking down delinquent fines, and the penalties can include:
Other Charges and Penalties – Since fines are not paid, they can have other charges added to them as time goes by.
Legal Action – Sometimes, non-payment can lead to legal actions or limit the ability to leave the country to Australia.
Restrictions on Future Car Rentals – Some car hire companies may report drivers with outstanding fines, which will prevent the driver from being able to hire a car in Australia again.
How to Pay the Fine?
Fines can be paid electronically through the traffic authority website of the respective state. The payment methods are credit cards, bank transfers and others. Tourists should make sure to pay on time to avoid incurring more charges.
Can You Contest a Speeding Fine?
If a tourist has the view that the fine was imposed unfairly, then he or she can demand its cancellation from the traffic authority of the state which imposed the fine. However, it has to be said that fighting fines can take a lot of time, and the success rate is rather low.
Guidelines on How to Avoid Speeding Fines in Australia
Always follow the speed limits, which are usually indicated by signs.
Use GPS applications that notify you of the speed limits and camera locations.
It is important to note that the speed limits can be different and are often determined by the road condition, presence of schools, or construction.
It may be worth checking the rental agreement as it is possible that there are provisions regarding traffic offences.
If you are looking for the most comfortable way of moving around the country, then car hire airport can help you to make your journey comfortable.
Final Thoughts
Getting a speeding fine as a tourist in Australia is not welcome, but it is important to own up to it and deal with it. To this end, it is important that visitors to the country are familiar with the rules of the road and exercise caution when driving.
