Traffic laws are rules that regulate vehicles, pedestrians, animals and other conveyances related to traffic. These laws and regulations may vary from one state to another. These laws exist to make sure you drive safely and follow the rules on the road. Violating traffic laws equates to a traffic offence, which results in punishments.
This body of the law is complicated. An individual who violates the traffic laws can be penalised with anywhere from receiving a fine, incurring demerit points, a probation order to going to jail. The punishment depends on the type of offence, the circumstances, and an individual’s traffic history.
Here are some of the most common traffic offences:
Depending on the traffic offence, an individual can be given an on-the-spot fine, or they may receive their punishment in the mail. The letter containing the details of the offence is called an infringement notice. This will contain the following:
In the case that a violator fails to pay on time, the State Penalties Enforcement Registry can:
An individual may disagree with an infringement notice. They can do so by going to court to dispute it. You need to fill out and submit the following:
The form should be addressed to and submitted to the Department of Transport and Main Roads. Once the form has been submitted, the individual will receive a notice containing the court date and the invitation to appear.
There are cases wherein cameras detect an offence. The infringement notice will be then sent to the registered owner of the vehicle. However, if you are not driving the car at the time of the offence, you must complete a statutory declaration.
If you know the person driving the car, then you must state their name and address in the statutory declaration. If you have no idea who was driving the vehicle, in the statutory declaration, you need to:
It is advisable for you to get legal advice before completing a statutory declaration.
