School Zone Santa .Com

This week I received this e-mail,
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Hi, I love the site and the campaign.
I got caught by the camera at Kogarah ........ into the new school year having become used to the non-school period. I have received my penalty notice and am considering going to court rather than accepting the fine and points deduction on the basis of the lack of flashing lights. How do the courts respond to the plea that it is unreasonable to expect us to be aware of the time at this crucial period when schools return back. I see from your site that hundreds of people were similarly caught out. Have you any idea about whether it is worth pursuing this or not on an individual basis? it seems disgraceful to me that lights are not routinely used in school zones and hopefully your campaign is going to drive some political action in this regard.

Thanks
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I erased the time this driver was caught out for privacy reasons.

I replied
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Hi, ....

Where did you come from, into the school zone?
Was it from President Ave or Rocky point Rd ?
If it was, then you didn't have flashing lights to help make you aware of the new school year.

Would you have slowed down if you'd known,... of course. All good drivers would, and I don't have any sympathy for the rest.

Maybe if it was pointed out to the judge about the fact that these other busy roads leading into the school zone don't have flashing lights and the Princes Highway does, he might see the stupidity of that idea.
It only takes one car to have an accident and the judge might find it
interesting, that we counted 2,798 drivers coming out of those two streets and South St on the morning school zone time, the 31st Jan, a pupil free day, but a gazetted school day,
and that was only the morning traffic.( archives, Why 30/1/07)

So I think that the drivers on the streets entering that school zone, apart from the Princes Highway, are being discriminated against.
I'd go to court and then it would be up to the RTA to explain why the
drivers on the other roads aren't important, and where does that leave the school children safety wise?

It would be a new defence angle and would get a bit of publicity and action I would think.
The RTA /GOV are treating average drivers like fools and expect them to just take it, and sadly, most do.

Someone has to be the first to test the waters.

The worst that can happen is that it will cost an extra $60 or so, plus your time .

What do you think?

Regards
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I haven't heard back as yet

To take time off work, to go to court, all for a $77 ticket does seem a bit of a waste of time, but that's how the RTA want us to think, to give in, cop the fine, and it's up to you not to forget school zone time again.

If it was pointed out to the judge that the RTA thinks that two sets of flashing lights on The Princes Highway are enough, and lets thousands of cars go through the Kogarah school zone each day without them from the other busy roads.
The RTA has fleeced many millions of dollars from drivers at that school zone,let them explain to the Judge why 2 sets of lights are enough.
Maybe he could rule against the RTA in favour of the driver, school children and common sense.

But first someone has to step forward.

Once the flush of anger after opening the letter subsides, it can then be a case of "they should do something about it."

"What we need is a "THEY"