A Canberra man has received two speeding fines from 2007, nearly 19 years after the alleged offenses occurred. Robert Scott, 42, stated he was unaware of the violations until the notices arrived recently, each with a $167 penalty.
Scott claims he has no recollection of the incidents or receiving any notices at the time. He expressed confusion about how the fines could resurface after so long, noting that he has registered multiple vehicles and had his license checked since 2007 without any outstanding issues being flagged.
Access Canberra explained that old infringement notices can be reissued when duplicate customer accounts are merged. According to an ACT government spokesman, updating information on a historical account can, in certain circumstances, prompt the system to reissue pending notices or correspondence. While processes are in place to prevent such occurrences, the agency acknowledged that merging historical records can occasionally lead to old notices resurfacing.
Scott intends to appeal the fines, with legal advice suggesting that challenging the fines is reasonable given the significant delay. Hayder Shkara, director at Fourtree Lawyers, advised motorists in a similar situation to question the original issuance and service of the notices and to inquire about the reason for the extensive delay. Shkara noted that while a delay does not automatically invalidate a fine, if the matter has resurfaced due to an administrative issue within the government's system, the citizen should not bear the consequences.
"The first question I would ask is: what exactly happened to these fines in 2007? Were they properly issued and served, did they become enforceable, and what enforcement steps occurred after that?" Shkara said. He added that the reason for the delay would significantly impact any appeal process. The fines were allegedly for speeding on Hindmarsh Drive on April 22 and May 25, 2007.