The police are not handing out fines in New South Wales for a week [1], starting last night, after pay negotiations stalled yet again.
Police will stop issuing on-the-spot fines for traffic, parking and boating offences for a week, after their pay negotiations with the NSW Government fell through.
The Government had until four [yesterday] afternoon to come through with a better pay offer, which didn’t include cuts to shift allowances or workers comp payouts.
Peter Remfrey from the Police Association has told 2GB’s Jason Morrison they have been left with no choice.
“We’ll be announcing a week of what we’re calling a ‘fine-free week’,” he said.
“Our members will be requested exercise their discretion and not issue on-the-spot fines for traffic and other offences such as the criminal infringement notices, public parking notices, rail infringements and boating infringement notices as well.”
Instead, offenders will be issued with warnings for minor offences or court attendance notices for serious matters.
The fine-free week begins at 6pm on Wednesday and will run until 6pm on Tuesday, July 15.
“At no time will the community be at risk,” Association president Bob Pritchard told reporters.
[..]
Mr Pritchard said the association had provided the government with a detailed plan on how it could save almost $200 million a year while improving policing.
So, an increase in the speed of traffic for a week? It’s very likely, in my view, that people will be willing to speed a bit more than usual this week on the assumption that the police will turn a blind eye.
Incidentally, in the above linked article, you can listen to 2GB’s Jason Morrison’s full interview with Bob Pritchard. It’s an interesting interview.
Samuel