"NIP" from Tasmania
Discussion
My partner received a "NIP" today,by air mail from Tasmania,requesting $80 and the addition of 1 demerit point,or the option to name the driver.Should she pay the fine,contest it, or bin it ?.If she decided to pay should she inform her/my insurance company of the crime ?.Would any of these options affect her UK licence ?.What if she doesn't believe she was driving ?. Cheers J
987cay said:
It's no scam,I was in Tasmania at the time and place stated on the "Tasmania Police Photographic Detection Notice.There is a choice of ways to pay cheques made payable to Fines Enforcement,all enquiries to Tasmanian police (Traffic Liason Services) (03)6230 2280.
Would they accept a reverse charge call?
On a more serious note, it depends if you want to go back there.
Chances are they will keep it on record for a while and if you turn up at immigration you'll either be asked to pay the fine or put on the next plae home, or they won't give a toss.
I got one in NZ a few years back in a hire car. Never paid it, wasn't planning on going back in the next 5 years, so just used to put the demand letters (and there were plenty) in the bin.
Chances are they will keep it on record for a while and if you turn up at immigration you'll either be asked to pay the fine or put on the next plae home, or they won't give a toss.
I got one in NZ a few years back in a hire car. Never paid it, wasn't planning on going back in the next 5 years, so just used to put the demand letters (and there were plenty) in the bin.
I take it you are both UK nationals with UK driving licences.
I think TheExcession has it right. Do you plan on going to Australia anytime in the next few years. If so - write back and pony up the loot. They can't put points on your licence so its only the £50 or so.
I got a parking ticket in Sydney - and paid to avoid trouble when entering the country again.
If, on the other hand, you will not return and won't return for some time...you'll probably get away with binning it. But I'll bet the automated system churns out reminders for years to come if you do...
I think TheExcession has it right. Do you plan on going to Australia anytime in the next few years. If so - write back and pony up the loot. They can't put points on your licence so its only the £50 or so.
I got a parking ticket in Sydney - and paid to avoid trouble when entering the country again.
If, on the other hand, you will not return and won't return for some time...you'll probably get away with binning it. But I'll bet the automated system churns out reminders for years to come if you do...
To me the problem is not so much the fine,although I would obviously prefer not to pay it,it is the fact that they want the name of the driver and their driving licence number.I did intend to return in the next three to four years,but if we don't pay they may well have lost a tourist. J
They have sent the "NIP" to my wife as she paid for the hire on her credit card,and so she is guily,however there is an option to fill in the name and driving licence number of another if she decides she was not driving.My problem is if either of us pay we have declared that we are guilty and so I should tell all of my vehicle insurers to hike the premium and put a mark by my/our name.If this had happened in this country I would go back and visit the scene employ a solicitor and basically fight,if at all possible,however in this case this would be far more difficult and costly. J
If both of you were insured to drive, reply saying you don't know who was driving at the time. They may send a pic, which may or may not identify the driver. If it doesn't, how can she reply honestly who was driving at the time? They will be forced to drop it UNLESS the law in Oz is different and the "keeper" is automatically guilty by default!
987cay said:
They have sent the "NIP" to my wife as she paid for the hire on her credit card,and so she is guily,however there is an option to fill in the name and driving licence number of another if she decides she was not driving.My problem is if either of us pay we have declared that we are guilty and so I should tell all of my vehicle insurers to hike the premium and put a mark by my/our name.If this had happened in this country I would go back and visit the scene employ a solicitor and basically fight,if at all possible,however in this case this would be far more difficult and costly. J
I have no idea if this is correct, but my understanding would be that you only have to declare UK fines, particularly as your licence has not been endorsed.
My advice is to simply ignore it completely. They may send a follow-up letter as a matter of course, as their computer will automatically generate one (or more, even). However, when a 'real person' sees that the address is thousands of miles away they'll just take it out of the system. nAnyway, they would have no evidence of your ever receiving the letter(s) even if you did go back.
Shread it for re-cycling!
Shread it for re-cycling!
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