Revenue Collecting?

[Rossluck]

The QLD Government has recently been bemoaning the fact that the budget will be effected by a dramatic drop in state revenues because of the economic downturn. These losses are mainly in the area of land transfer duties and so on.

Yesterday they announced a whopping 33% increase in all traffic fines. In addition, they want to use unmarked vans as roadside radar traps so that fewer "headlight-flashing" warnings save people from being fined.

Now call me cynical, but is there a connection? Or are they just trying to "reduce the road toll", as they have suggested?

[Gingermick]

You're cynical, but then, as cynic is what an idealist calls a realist.
Won't matter if you obey the road rules. However, about the unmarked vans issue, she said that they were more likely to pick up offenders, that comment seemed to indicate they were more concerned with catching people than getting them to slow down. I dont really care as I dont speed or run red lights.

[Rossluck]

You're cynical, but then, as cynic is what an idealist calls a realist.
Won't matter if you obey the road rules. However, about the unmarked vans issue, she said that they were more likely to pick up offenders, that comment seemed to indicate they were more concerned with catching people than getting them to slow down. I dont really care as I dont speed or run red lights.

I agree with all of that, Mick. My thing is that they should call a spade a spade. If it's an avenue of revenue collection, fine. I can accept that, because it's our money being spent on things for us. But when they tell us they're doing it for the sole purpose of saving lives .... mmmm, I dunno.

[damian]

I have a couple of problems with that proposition. Taxes are for balancing the budget. The traffic act was written supposedly for public safety. I object first to being accused of endangering the public when I am demonstrably not in order for an incompetant state government to pay it's army of spin doctors and hangers on, and I am infuriated that public safety is given a back seat to economic considerations.

Unmarked speed cameras do nothing for public safety. In fact there is a mountain of credible research that shows speeding fines don't do anything for public safety. Meanwhile the filth in parliment hammer propoganda insisting they are doing something about a problem they are completely neglecting.

Don't imagine your safe if you don't speed. I've been booked (by police) at least 3 times when I KNOW I was under or on the speed limit (there are several other instances when I very much suspect it but don't KNOW for certain). Guilty unless you can prove your innocent. No chance. And don't imagine I'm a speeder. I'm probably one of the slowest drivers you'd meet, quite happy to sit 2 seconds behind whatevers in front of me, and completyely focused on the task at hand all the while.

I was amused both by Judy Spence's stmping out of teh press conference and her office once again being broken into/vandalised. Then again if you can get the electorate to drink their own sewerage what hope do we have...

[Gingermick]

yes, better to be concentrating on driving than on what speed you're doing.
So damian, you're not happy to be drinking your own poo? Just thin out brizzies populace a lot and you wont have to.

[damian]

I won't have to soon. The first thing I'll do when I move house is run the place on rainwater. I live alone and use about 95 kl/yr, so I need about 180 sq/m of roof to run the whole house.

Don't get me started on Brisbane. The only reason I'm not moving up north is that here at Mt Crosby/Karana Downs we have a nice little isolated forgotten enclave that does a nice impression of a country town. I'm sure eventually it'll get as wrecked as the rest of the south east, but for now I really like my local area, so I'm staying. Afterall your still stuck with the same state government we suffer...