Fines in mail for dobbed-in drivers

Police are issuing traffic fines to drivers based on phone-in complaints made by other road users.

Benjamin Turner could not believe it when he received an infringement notice in the mail for overtaking a car on the inside as it waited in the middle of the road.

The ticket for $150 arrived in the mail about three weeks ago.

"Somebody apparently complained about me and I received this ticket in the mail."

He said he paid the fine because the notice said if he did not he would incur court costs, but he fails to see how a civilian can get someone issued with a ticket when there was no police officer in sight.

"I think it's unfair that they can do that without having actually caught somebody or even knowing if they had done it. A civilian doesn't have the power to give out a ticket."

Police road safety manager Superintendent John Kelly said police did issue tickets based on complaints about driving made by the public via the Community Roadwatch programme.

He said fines would be issued if there was enough evidence and the complainant was prepared to go to court.

The complainant would give a statement to police who then contacted the vehicle's registered owner, asking who was driving it at the time.

When this was confirmed police issued a ticket, Mr Kelly said.

"It's not done lightly. We still have to have all the ingredients of proof there that go to making up the charge."