Speed limits are essential in helping to keep roads safe for pedestrians and other motorists. Driving at speeds above the speed limit is dangerous as it not only puts your own life in danger but can also cause damage to property or injuries to others in the event of an accident.
Because of this, speed limits are stringently enforced in the state of Victoria and you run the risk of having your driving license suspended if you repeatedly flout them. In this post, we take a closer look at speed related driving offences and provide a guide to speeding fines in Melbourne and the surrounding areas.
What Happens if You Are Caught Speeding
If you are caught speeding in the state of Victoria, you can be given a speeding ticket by the police and subsequently charged in court. Depending on the speed at which you were travelling, the penalty can vary significantly. For exceeding the speed limit by less than 10km/h, you can be fined $240 and given 1 demerit point. This increases to $385 and 3 demerit points for exceeding the speed limit by between 10km/h to 24km/h.
If you drive at between 130km/h and 134km/h in a 110km/h zone, the penalties are a little different as well as this constitutes an offence of excessive speeding. Not only will your driving license be suspended for 3 months but you will also have to pay a fine of $285. If you exceed the speed limit by more than 25km/h, you will also be charged with excessive speeding and can be penalised with a fine of between $529 to $962 and your driving license will be suspended for anywhere between 3 months to 12 months.
What to Do if You Have Been Charged with Speeding?
If you have been charged with speeding and have been asked to appear in court, you have two options. Firstly, you can opt to plead guilty to the offence and accept any penalty that the magistrate gives you. Pleading guilty may be indicative of your willingness to cooperate and you may potentially receive a lighter penalty.
Alternatively, you can opt to plead not guilty. Doing so is much more complex and you will need to provide evidence that you were not speeding. You can also opt to raise a defence. For example, a possible defence might be that you were rushing to the hospital with someone who was having an emergency or that you were not driving the vehicle at the time of the offence.
When to Engage a Criminal Lawyer?
If you have been charged with speeding but would like to plead not guilty, it is crucial that you engage a reputable criminal lawyer with experience in driving offences. They would be in the best position to help you understand what defences would be valid in your case and can help you make submissions before the court.
Leanne Warren & Associates is a leading firm of experiences criminal lawyers in Melbourne and we can help with any legal issues you might be facing. Contact us today for a free consultation on your legal needs.
