Police rack up $20,000 in outstanding fines

[Ronin 09]

Taken from today's Age:

Nearly 30 Victorian police officers have been ordered to pay up after checks by the Sheriff's Office revealed more than $20,000 in outstanding fines, some issued five years ago.

The fines - for parking and speeding infringements, CityLink toll evasions and other infringements and civil debts - were issued to the officers while they were off duty.

The debts were revealed after the force's ethical standards department sought a review of Sheriff's Office records to determine whether police were following the law.

The findings come as the force struggles to maintain public confidence amid widespread corruption claims.

Ethical standards department commander David Sprague said the 28 officers had been told to pay the fines immediately to ensure they maintained the "highest integrity".

"Although we accept that from time to time they may incur minor infringements, it is their responsibility to ensure prompt payment," Mr Sprague said.

"We regularly conduct checks as part of our ethical health strategy. It's just another proactive step to ensure Victoria Police maintains the high standards expected by the community." :bs!:

The Age understands that some of the fines had been imposed on officers because they failed to renew their car registrations, but police could not confirm this yesterday.

Commander Sprague said none of the officers involved had been detected driving while unlicensed or during periods of licence suspension because of accumulated demerit points as a result of the debts.

He said that notices had been sent to all members involved asking why they had failed to pay. If the explanations were not sufficient or the officers had deliberately evaded the debts, they would face further disciplinary action including admonishments, caution notices and internal fines.

[doxximus]

i know a few police officers that need to get their personal cars checked out by the epa as well....wonder what will happen

[predator]

rofl.. must be a pretty ****ing dumb cop who actually gets caught..

usually they just flash their badge and its like "ohhhh, nudge, nudge, nudge, wink wink" and on their way.. ticket free.

[RBN1]

great another thread thats going to turn into cop bashing.

[Guest INASNT]

Police maintains the high standards expected by the community."  

Maybe when hell freezes over

[Zahos]

"Although we accept that from time to time they may incur minor infringements, it is their responsibility to ensure prompt payment," Mr Sprague said.

F***ing arseholes make speeding by 5km over the limit look so bad with their recent advertising campaigns, and yet, when one of their wn do it, it is expected they incur minor infringements??

OH, I see, so it's no big deal when you do, but if I do I'll be stonned to death by an angry mob b/c of your ad campaigns?

[predator]

here if you don't do 10km/hr over the limit in the right lane you almost get rammed off the road!

such a contrast.. they really gotta drop that 3km/hr bullshit down there, its all a load of crap. i hear this year the road toll down there is back up a fair amount.

whenever i see Bracks and his smug fat face on tv here, i just cringe.

[SS8_Gohan]

They say 5km's over 60 you double your chance of crashing? So if you're doing 100 on the ring road you should be in a casket, but hang on... highways with 100km/hr speed limits are the safest places to drive :confused: