ACT man waived 19-year-old speeding fines after account merge glitch
A driver received fines for 2007 speeding offences after Access Canberra merged his accounts and the fines were waived.
Robert Scott received two fines totalling $327 for speeding in 2007, issued 19 years after the offence. Robert Scott asked to have them waived because of the delay.
Access Canberra agreed. The government said merged customer accounts can trigger the system.
Updated addresses can do the same. The system reissues pending notices automatically.
When two accounts are merged, the system re-examines past matters. It can resend old letters.
Staff should discuss outstanding notices with people before reissuing them. But the system sometimes sends them anyway.
Access Canberra said it has processes to catch unwanted reissues. But they do not always work.
- $327
- Fine amount
- 19 years
- Years delayed
- 2007
- Original offence year
- Two
- Number of fines
Why it mattersThe glitch reveals a system that can surprise drivers with decades-old fines. It raises questions about when the government can pursue old offences.
AustraliaCanberra residents may receive surprise traffic fines years or decades after an infringement if they update their details with Access Canberra.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 22 h ago
