The state Government threatens lawsuit against Hume Freeway speed camera operators

The state Government is considering a multi-million-dollar lawsuit against the speed camera operators behind the Hume Freeway debacle.

The threat comes amid claims more motorists have been incorrectly fined by the point-to-point cameras, which time motorists between a 70km stretch of freeway in Melbourne's north.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Roads Ken Lay assured Victorians only nine of the 68,000 motorists caught by the cameras between Craigieburn and Wallan since 2007 had been incorrectly fined.

Premier John Brumby said it might only be a small number of faults, but it undermined Victorians' confidence in the whole speed camera system.

"Victoria Police and the department are examining legal action against the company. There's a contract, the system is meant to work 100 per cent of the time," he said.

Melissa, of Wallan, said she was served with an impoundment notice last Thursday after being caught doing 154km/h in the 110km/h zone in her Mazda 2.

The P-plater, who faced a 12-month licence suspension, said she convinced a local police officer she was telling the truth, sparking the investigation that discovered the faulty cameras.

The threat comes amid claims more motorists have been incorrectly fined by the point-to-point cameras, which time motorists between a 70km stretch of freeway in Melbourne's north.

Victoria Police Deputy Commissioner Roads Ken Lay assured Victorians only nine of the 68,000 motorists caught by the cameras between Craigieburn and Wallan since 2007 had been incorrectly fined.

Premier John Brumby said it might only be a small number of faults, but it undermined Victorians' confidence in the whole speed camera system.

"Victoria Police and the department are examining legal action against the company. There's a contract, the system is meant to work 100 per cent of the time," he said.

Melissa, of Wallan, said she was served with an impoundment notice last Thursday after being caught doing 154km/h in the 110km/h zone in her Mazda 2.

The P-plater, who faced a 12-month licence suspension, said she convinced a local police officer she was telling the truth, sparking the investigation that discovered the faulty cameras.

Disgruntled motorists have told the Herald Sun they plan to fight their fines in court.

The company responsible for the speed cameras, Redflex Traffic Systems, did not return the Herald Sun's calls yesterday, but its chief executive, Graham Davie, told talkback radio he was sorry.

"We deeply regret what has happened and it's obviously something we've been very quick to deal with when we've heard about it," he said. "I am sorry that this event has occurred."

Mr Lay said the cameras would not be switched back on until they had been thoroughly tested.

The problem was caused when the clock on one camera became out of sync with a second camera.

"I am incredibly disappointed that this has happened," Mr Lay said.

(Published by Herald Sun - October 19, 2010)