How much fine (for killing a motorcyclist in TAS) ?
Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 8:40 pm
$350 and 3 months of license suspension apparently 
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DAVID KILLICK
September 17, 2007 12:00am
THE Tasmanian Motorcycle Council has slammed the "tiny" $350 fine given to a careless driver involved in a fatal collision with a motorcyclist.
Midway Point motorcyclist Raymond Knight, 39, died when he hit a car doing a three-point turn on Fingerpost Rd at Campania on May 20.
On Friday, Rex Godfrey, 65, of Carlton, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving without due care and attention.
A charge of causing death by negligent driving was dropped.
Magistrate Michael Hill imposed a $350 fine and suspended Mr Godfrey's licence for three months.
Later there were wild scenes outside the court as the victim's grief-stricken daughter shoved Mr Godfrey into a wall.
TMC president Shaun Lennard said the penalty did not adequately reflect the loss of a man's life.
"It's not what happened outside the court that should be the news story -- it's the injustice handed down to the family of Raymond Knight and all motorcycle riders inside the court," he said.
"Nobody expects to come over the crest of a hill in a 100km/h zone to find someone doing a three-point turn on the highway. It should be illegal to do that anyhow.
"I don't know exactly what was presented, but it seems that a guilty plea to the far less serious offence has avoided a prosecution for the appropriate one."
Mr Lennard said Mr Godfrey's carelessness had resulted in someone's death and the penalty should have been much higher.
"Magistrate Hill said the court could not ignore the fact that a death had resulted -- and then went for a tiny fine," he said.
Mr Lennard said the TMC would be asking Tasmania Police why the case had not been pursued with more vigour.
"This seems to reflect much of the approach to road safety in Tasmania. It's only speed, alcohol or drugs that makes you culpable," he said.
"But inattentiveness or making a stupid judgment about where to make a three-point turn isn't considered serious -- even when it results in an innocent person's death.
"The TMC has questions we will be asking Tasmania Police about this case -- predominantly around why the more serious charge was not pursued in court."
===
DAVID KILLICK
September 17, 2007 12:00am
THE Tasmanian Motorcycle Council has slammed the "tiny" $350 fine given to a careless driver involved in a fatal collision with a motorcyclist.
Midway Point motorcyclist Raymond Knight, 39, died when he hit a car doing a three-point turn on Fingerpost Rd at Campania on May 20.
On Friday, Rex Godfrey, 65, of Carlton, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving without due care and attention.
A charge of causing death by negligent driving was dropped.
Magistrate Michael Hill imposed a $350 fine and suspended Mr Godfrey's licence for three months.
Later there were wild scenes outside the court as the victim's grief-stricken daughter shoved Mr Godfrey into a wall.
TMC president Shaun Lennard said the penalty did not adequately reflect the loss of a man's life.
"It's not what happened outside the court that should be the news story -- it's the injustice handed down to the family of Raymond Knight and all motorcycle riders inside the court," he said.
"Nobody expects to come over the crest of a hill in a 100km/h zone to find someone doing a three-point turn on the highway. It should be illegal to do that anyhow.
"I don't know exactly what was presented, but it seems that a guilty plea to the far less serious offence has avoided a prosecution for the appropriate one."
Mr Lennard said Mr Godfrey's carelessness had resulted in someone's death and the penalty should have been much higher.
"Magistrate Hill said the court could not ignore the fact that a death had resulted -- and then went for a tiny fine," he said.
Mr Lennard said the TMC would be asking Tasmania Police why the case had not been pursued with more vigour.
"This seems to reflect much of the approach to road safety in Tasmania. It's only speed, alcohol or drugs that makes you culpable," he said.
"But inattentiveness or making a stupid judgment about where to make a three-point turn isn't considered serious -- even when it results in an innocent person's death.
"The TMC has questions we will be asking Tasmania Police about this case -- predominantly around why the more serious charge was not pursued in court."
Seems she was a bit upset too.
no I'm not a redneck...little pink maybe... 
