2016-08-31
Ms DUNN (Eastern Metropolitan) — My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Public Transport. Protective services officers working at train stations and other public transport hubs are able to issue infringement notices for a variety of alleged offences. There is a 60-day period during which the fine can be contested by the recipient of the fine. Separately, Public Transport Victoria has a policy of keeping video footage from closed circuit television cameras for 30 days. Therefore if a fine is contested after 30 days but before the 60-day deadline, the CCTV footage, which may provide evidence for an appeal, has been deleted.
This exact scenario has played out for a minor at Belgrave train station. He was issued a fine by protective services officers for allegedly behaving in an obscene, offensive, threatening, disorderly or riotous manner, but he claims he was actually the victim of a violent assault from which he sustained significant injuries and ongoing emotional duress. The incident may have been captured on CCTV, but by the time his objection to the fine was lodged the CCTV footage from the Belgrave train station had been deleted. This inconsistency in evidence retention is simply inadequate and does not provide a fair basis on which patrons of public transport can contest fines.
The action I seek from the minister is that she increase the holding period of CCTV footage at PTV facilities from 30 days to 60 days.