200 Year old law to be used to avoid speeding fine in court

A top Queensland barrister will use case law dating back 200 years to try to avoid a $146 speeding fine.

Tony Morris QC is mounting a landmark legal challenge against Queensland's speed-camera laws, The Courier-Mail reports.

Mr Morris says he wasn't driving when his Volvo was photographed doing 57km/h in a 50km/h zone last year.

But he won't say who was behind the wheel.

He has invoked a spousal privilege case from 1817, arguing it's unconstitutional for a Queensland court to fine him when there's evidence he was not the driver.

He says he was in a meeting with top judges when the Volvo was snapped, and they are willing to testify that he was with them.

He argues the spousal privilege principle, established in England 200 years ago, means a husband can't be compelled to provide information that incriminates his wife

 "I decline to identify the person who was in charge of the vehicle at the relevant time," Mr Morris reportedly wrote in a letter to the Department of Transport

 

Earlier this year, Mr Morris wrote to federal, state and territory attorneys-general saying he planned to challenge parts of Queensland's speed-camera laws.

Under the laws, the registered owner of a car has two options: name the driver or say they don't know who was driving. Car owners can't, under the law, say they know who the driver was but refuse to give a name.

Mr Morris has told The Courier-Mail he can't see why he should dob someone in for driving the car when the legislation is invalid.

He said the Volvo caught by the speed camera was not his usual car, but would not tell the paper who usually drove it.

The case will go to the Court of Appeal within weeks.

Image: Today / Nine News

One camera rakes in £160k in one morning on the M6 this week!

1,600 people will be getting Fines in the post for being caught speeding through M6 roadworks on the the morning of Tuesday 10th March.  The fines will generate upwards of £160k for the government.

The camera in question is located  on the M6 at junction 17, the speed limit has been lowered to 50mph on that stretch while roadworks are carried out.

NW Motorway Police tweeted: “The speed cameras on the M6 J17 in the road works are working, the limit is 50mph. In one morning 1600 offences have been recorded. #noticket”

Dashing Santa Busted For Speeding

Santa Claus has been caught speeding in New Zealand on his way to an old folks' home. "I've been a bit naughty - I ended up in too much of a hurry to deliver everything," said the rogue Santa who talked on condition of anonymity.

He had a lot to fit in before Christmas Day, he said. "But I think I've sent a message out there that Santa's not above the law and he deserved his ticket and he will not be doing it again - and hopefully it's a lesson for everyone else." Police pulled over the portly, jolly man on Friday in Cornwall St in Masterton.

Masterton police acting Sergeant Shayne Nolan said not even Father Christmas was exempt from the zero speed tolerance. Santa was driving 19km/h over the limit, which earned him a $120 ticket and 20 demerit points.