By JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
FINES revenue from a controversial Norlane red-light camera have fallen 97 per cent after motorists’ complaints to the Independent prompted an official investigation.
Justice Department figures show that 39 motorists were fined a total $12,777 at the intersection of The Boulevard and Melbourne Rd in the three months to June compared to more than $400,000 every quarter last year after the opening of an adjacent Bunnings store.
Before Bunnings opened the fines totalled $67,726.
Road Safety Camera Commissioner Gordon Lewis investigated the intersection after motorists began complaining of unfair fines.
He concluded driver impatience caused the high number of infringements because the “vast majority of vehicles were photographed entering the intersection against a red arrow when they were the last vehicles in the queue”.
Mr Lewis said VicRoads changes to the intersection would help drivers turning right from The Boulevard, which he predicted would reduce the number of red-light offences.
Geelong motorists appeared to have heard the message about speeding elsewhere as well, the statistics indicated.
The Princes Fwy camera system snapped 15,563 drivers between April and June, issuing $3.3 million in fines, compared to the March quarter when 19,386 were fined $4.1 million.
However, Geelong and Melbourne-bound cameras at Forsyth Rd Bridge, Point Cook, were among the top 10 for fines.
Another Norlane intersection, at Sparks Rd and Princes Hwy, also recorded fewer offences and fines. The June quarter had 663 speeding drivers fined a total $150,574, compared with 805 slugged $203,526 in the previous three months.
