The Long Arm of the Law
I got my first traffic ticket today. But it’s not like you think. It’s a speeding ticket for going 86 in a 60 zone. But, that’s Kilometres per Houre, which works out to something like 53MPH in a 37MPH zone. That’s not so bad. Going 86 in a 60 sounds a lot more impressive.
Anyway, I was actually caught speeding back in October of last year, the 15th to be exact! I was in Australia at the time, and New South Wales has speed cameras all over the place. I guess that one of them nabbed me. I was a little surprised by that; I thought I had done a good job of obeying the speed limits last trip. (OK, I thought I had done a good job of spotting all the speed cameras in time… whatever.) But I was wrong!
It took them about five months to track me down. The letter showed up today from the Australian government, asking for their fine. Fortunately they take credit cards, so I don’t have to appear in person!
January 29th, 2007 at 12:56 pm
Australia has speed cameras all over the place, both fixed and mobile. They also have lots of red-light cameras. You will find “booze busses” (random breath tests) out and about, and soon they will test drugs as well as alcohol (not sure /which/ drugs, mind you…)
The TAC (Transport Accident Commission) also has had a long-running series of award-winning TV ads against drink driving, drowsy driving, hooligan-driving, etc.
(I once got an 85mph ticket in a 50mph zone in Oregon).