QUERY ON TICKETS ISSUED FROM ROGUE CAMERA ON WELLINGTON RD

John Ferguson From: Herald Sun September 13, 2010 12:00AM
A FAULTY speed camera was replaced at a notorious EastLink location after it was discovered taking rogue images.

The Wellington Rd speed camera site is arguably Australia's most controversial.

Documents show that on March 2 last year, a tollway camera in lane 3 was taking images when it wasn't meant to.

The contractor sought access to the camera to determine why it had malfunctioned.

It is believed the camera had been intermittently taking sub-standard images in the weeks leading up to March 2.

The Government insists, however, that no wrong infringements were issued from the camera during this period.

"The technical issues experienced at this site related only to the camera unit and image quality," a Department of Justice spokesman said.

But Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu has slammed the accuracy of the cameras, accusing the Government of a speed camera cover-up.

"The Government should be honest with Victorians about road safety, but (Premier) John Brumby has been deceiving Victorians for years on speed cameras," he said.

Freedom of Information documents show that the contractor sought access to the site for three hours to reboot the system but took only five minutes to carry out the work.

According to the Government, the rogue images were detected at Rowville during regular daily testing, but the camera was kept online until March 6, when it was deactivated.

The camera was replaced on April 1 and, according to the Government, no speed detection devices were found to be faulty, nor were incorrect infringements issued.

But evidence of the malfunction is certain to inflame debate about the Wellington Rd cameras, which first became an issue in 2008.

Librarian Dave Blomley told the Herald Sun yesterday that he was recently caught by a camera even though he was still at work.

Scores of people have complained about the accuracy of the EastLink cameras.

Most fines on EastLink are reportedly issued on the Dandenong Bypass at Keysborough, Wellington Rd and EastLink's two tunnels.

The Government insisted that no incorrect speeding fines were issued when the Wellington Rd, lane 3, camera went wrong.

"No incorrect infringements were issued from this site," the spokesman said.

"Victoria's camera network is subjected to rigorous testing and certification procedures that are recognised as among the most robust in the world."