Victoria to close demerit-point loophole on vic licences

The Victorian Government will next year close a legal loophole that allows speeding drivers and other traffic offenders to pay a higher fine to dodge gaining demerit points on their licences.

A News Limited report revealed that approximately 50,000 drivers each year have elected to pay a higher fine, leading to government revenue of $112 million over three years.

Under the loophole, drivers can accept a $717 fine on top of their initial fine and avoid gaining demerit points if they don’t tell police who was driving at the time of the offence.

Drivers can pay the additional ‘failure to notify a driver’ fine as many times as they wish to dodge demerit points.

Approximately 158,000 motorists have paid the extra fine in the past three financial years, with a police source telling News Limited reporters that truck and taxi drivers and companies were among the worst offenders.

Victoria’s Roads Minister, Terry Mulder, confirmed the loophole would be closed in the New Year to ensure drivers and companies were more accountable for their actions on the road.

In Victoria, a driver may have their licence suspended for three months or more if they get 12 demerit points over a three-year period.

Vic sex offenders dot get away after a 24 hours escape

Sean Andrew Carmody-Coyle, 27, and David Gregory Byrnes, 26, walked out of Corella Place, near Ararat Prison, late on Wednesday night.

They were captured on the Western Highway at nearby Buangor on Thursday afternoon.

The pair both served sentences for sexual offences, but were under court supervision orders which dictated they live at the facility and adhere to a curfew.

Police say both men will be charged with breaches of the Serious Sex Offenders Act.

The maximum penalty for a breach is five years' imprisonment.

Byrnes was put on an eight year supervision order in May last year, while Carmody-Coyle was put on a five year order in February.

Victoria Police Acting Commander Neil Paterson said both men had extensive criminal histories of violence and sexual offences.

It is the second time Byrnes has escaped from the facility.

Corrections Victoria Commissioner Jan Shuard said Corella Place was designed to ensure authorities could monitor sexual offenders upon their release from prison.

"This is not a secure facility. It is not a prison. They are not contained at this facility," she told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday.

"They are electronically monitored, supervised by staff and accounted for."

Last month, Corrections Minister Edward O'Donohue announced residents at the facility would be made to wear upgraded GPS devices, to be rolled out from July this year.

The men were wearing radio anklets that informed authorities they had left the grounds of Corella Place.