Two charges including careless driving
The Court: Online Magistrates’ Court
The Date: April 2025
The Charges:
- Road Safety Act 65 – driving a motor vehicle carelessly
- Road Safety Road Rules 59(1) – entering the intersection with the traffic lights showing a red light
Charge 1:
A fine of up to $2,371.08
A loss of licence
Charge 2:
A fine of up to $1,975.90
The Facts:
There were 2 pedestrians who were witnesses and who started crossing the intersection as the lights turned green. Approximately five seconds after the light turned red, our client entered the intersection against the red light. The witnesses crossing the road had to take evasive action to avoid our client. Our client struck a vehicle coming through the intersection, causing the driver of the vehicle to strike her head on her driver’s side window with such force that the glass shattered.
Our client waited at the scene for emergency services to arrive, with the driver of the other vehicle being taken to Footscray Hospital in an ambulance.
We approached the prosecution to negotiate the charges. We negotiated to withdraw charge 1, careless driving, and plead guilty to charge 2. This was on the basis that both the charges were for the same incident.
We pleaded guilty to charge 2, with charge 1 being withdrawn by the prosecution. The court gave our client a fine of $494 without conviction and she did not lose her licence. Our client was very pleased with the result.
Other Case Studies
-
Drug Driving And Disqualified Driving – (Ringwood Magistrates’ Court)A man in his 40’s had three cases heard on the same day. The charges included drug driving twice, disqualified driving twice and possession of 20 ecstasy tablets. He was fined $1500 with a three month licence cancellation.
Read more
-
Disqualified Driving – (Heidelberg Magistrates’ Court)
A man in his 30’s was caught driving on a disqualified licence two months into a six month licence cancellation for drink driving. He was driving for work. The court suspended his licence for 2 months (which overlapped with the drink driving disqualification) and fined him $1000.
Read more -
Unpaid Fines – (Frankston Magistrates’ Court)
A lady in her 40’s had $68,000 in unpaid fines. She was arrested by the Sheriff and taken to court. At court we were able to have her fines reduced to $3,000 payable at the rate of $100 per month. That’s a saving of $65,000.00
Read more -
Disqualified Driving – (Dandenong Magistrates’ Court)
A lady in her 20’s was caught driving on a disqualified licence. She had been disqualified by the Dandenong Court for drink driving. At court we were able to stop her losing her licence for any longer. She was given a fine of $1000.
Read more -
Unpaid Fines – (Dandenong Magistrates’ Court)
We had a client who was driving on Eastlink for work and incurred fines in excess of $45,000. We listened to her story, reviewed her documents and had the fines reduced to a total of $1000 and got her 3 months to pay.
Read more
