Before the wheelclamps, an answer to an often asked question.

Why the santa suit?........

It is to stand out.

To be noticed.

Any cause no matter how worthwhile, won't happen unless it gets publicity.

To get publicity you have to be different to attract attention, or pay for it, standing out, is the only option for me.

Also Santa likes children and school zones are about children.....
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As I keep bringing pages up from the past to show people more easily, the order of pages is a bit mixed up sorry , and there are quiet a few places where things are repeated

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There was talk on 2GB on THE CHRIS SMITH SHOW this afternoon about wheelclamps and hoons and parent responsibility.

I'll put up any news paper clippings I see, if it's reported in the paper.

If you click on the "P" plate driver crisis" category (on the right)and scroll down to you get to wheelclamps, you'll see the ideas are similar to the ones I emailed ministers about.
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A recap of events at the Beverly Hills variable speed zone.

July 07
I noticed that the RTA were installing fixed speed cameras at Beverly Hills and on 25 July wrote on this website that there was going to be drama when they were switched on because of the road conditions there.

SURE ENOUGH 2 WEEKS LATER THIS WAS IN THE LEADER.

The premier Mr Iemma made this speech at the swearing in of the new police commissioner.

I could see no "justice in policing" happening at Beverly Hills.

I tried to get media attention with the "SPEED CAMAERA 100M"
sign and others to no avail, school zones and speed cameras are old news, who cares about the injustice at Beverly Hills?

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A "class action" was set up by enterprising lawyers.

" Between 200 and 300 drivers are contacting the lawyers a day re the class action after getting tickets in the mail from Beverly Hills."

I had a little trouble working out the explaination above, as the entry form sent to me by the "Not Guilty lawyers" to get on the "list" clearly states.

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"If you wish to be part of the group that are making representations to the minister (referred to in ltr attached) we will require an amount of $110.00 to be deposited into our trust account. Details are as follows:

Bank: Westpac. Account Name: Nyman Gibson Stewart
BSB: 032 006 AC No. 218 939"

"In the event that you retain this firm for the representations to the Minister and the fine is not waived, and you instruct us to act on your behalf in Local Court proceedings to plead guilty, the fee for such a plea will be reduced to $600 exclusive of GST. If you do not retain this firm to act on your behalf for representations to the Minister but you later instruct us to act on a plea of guilty in the Local Court for a speeding offence, our fee will be $750 exclusive of GST."

"To ensure your inclusion, the initial non-refundable payment of $110 should be paid into our Trust account as soon as possible."
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The newspaper clipping above was early on in the piece, when I spoke to Mr Miralis in Sept he said the figure was over 4000, so I read 4000 x $110 and an unknown number at the extra $650.(or $750 exclusive of GST)

I had an idea to help the lawyers with their claim in the "class action" entry form: (see below)

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"We have raised these issues with the media who have highlighted the unfairness of your situation and will continue to escalate the publicity."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 4/10/0
Dear Mr......
I spoke to you on 2 Oct concerning the school zone at Beverly Hills.
As you know as School Zone Santa I have been emphasizing the need for repeater flashing lights at Egbaston St.
I have e-mailed the Roads Minister Mr Roozendaal about this matter 3 times with no reply forthcoming
The e-mails and his non reply are on my web site www.schoolzonesanta.com
(one page back under heading “No hope for some people”)

The letter sent to me from your office says in part,

“We have raised these issues with the media, who have highlighted the unfairness of your situation, and will continue to escalate the publicity”

I have a request that could help “escalate the publicity”, be of benefit with your class action, and help my efforts to get a bit of common sense into the situation at Beverly Hills.
When school goes back after the break I will be back at the school zone, but to really make a difference, I need a bit of help.

As Mr. Roozendaal won’t answer my e-mails privately, I would like with financial assistance from your company, to place a paid open letter to him in newspapers stating my concerns re the Beverly Hills School Zone, and the resulting publicity should bring this mess back in the public eye, adding more pressure on Mr. Roozendaal to use a bit of ministerial discretion.

And an open letter in the leader should get more local drivers who have been caught, and are still being caught to contact you through a link on my web site.
A second letter in the Daily Telegraph would attract drivers who live outside the area.

I would imagine that this could be written off as advertising costs.

I would request you give this idea urgent consideration as I would like to have the letters drafted and published on the 16/10/07 Thank you

Yours faithfully ]
Hans Stephens

PS. Unless something is done, it can only get worse for drivers at Beverly Hills when the RTA take away the trailer mounted computer signs that now warn drivers of the 24 hour speed cameras.

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I received this email back, but as you can see no mention of my idea of the open letter or financial help.
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Distressed drivers continued to email me about Beverly Hills

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Hi...
I was fined on the 10th October travelling at 61km/h on what I thought to be a 60km zone. I exited Toranga Terrace & drove onto Stoney Creek rd to drive to Botany to avoid the M5. I'm now in danger of losing my licence...
I'm writing to the RTA today but any help or advice would be appreciated!

Thanks for your time, regards
.........................................................................
Hi Mr Stephens,
I met you about a month ago on King Georges Rd while you were dressed
as Santa making the public aware. I was the electrician doing some
work in the florist on the corner. I have been given the run around
by the government departments and need your advice on the following:
1. I got booked on 23rd July by the new speed camera on King Georges
Rd at 2.34pm doing under 15km/hr going northbound and the fine
still has not been cancelled.
2. I had to pay the fine due to the time frame given by the SDRO even
though I had sent dispute letters to the RTA and State Debt Recovery
Office.
3. I mentioned in my letters that there were no signs posted as I
entered King Georges Rd from a side street.
4. My second fine from the same camera was on the 30th August at 3.52pm 1
15km/hr under and also northbound.
5. The third and final one was on the 12th September at 3.49pm at
15km/hr under northbound.
All I am Asking for you is your opinion on how I can beat these fines
and my best way about it.
Kind regards,
.........................................................................

Hi,
Can you help me with a typical letter please?
I was fines on 14th Aug doing 51km/hr (thought it was 60km/hr zone because there were NO 40km/hr SIGNS) and I really need to get this overturned.

Can YOU HELP ME PLEASE

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These are just three of the many I have.

If you know you are speeding and get caught OK, but people have lost their licence without knowing.

Is that justice?

So after the Lawyers asked me for copies of photos off the website which I sent straight away (for free), I tried again.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxHi Dennis,
About "ACA" I know exactly what you mean, they take all this footage and then some pony tailed editor puts on air his slant.

But as I've said there isn't too much sympathy by most people for those caught by speed cameras, unless they've been caught themselves.
As for the media, they aren't interested unless there's a different or unusual angle.

I want to put posters that are the same as regulation size RTA 60 signs on every lamp post on the whole length of the Beverly Hills 60 zone (both sides) up high enough that a ladder is needed to take them down, to emphasize the patent lack of real RTA ones

I've thought of using the back of election posters that still festoon poles but that could be a little dangerous taking them down.

I know I've asked before, but it would help, if you know someone or some business who could perhaps pay for the flute poster board I would need.

As I think the erecting of these posters might not be entirely legal, discretion is assured if you can help.

Mrs school zone santa is not as keen as I about my Beverly hill activities so I can't justify using any more of my/her money

It's for a good cause Dennis, Mr Roozendaal has to be embarrassed into doing something.

Regards Hans

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No help was forthcoming so, as School zone santa.com is definitely a non profit one man band, I went to a plan B, to collect something I could use, and help clean up the environment at the same time.

The fact that the election posters are still there, could be a story in itself.

I have still and video footage of me climbing the ladder and removing the posters on this side of the pole, kindly taken by a lady off to catch a train to work.

BUT I HAVE NO FOOTAGE OF ME FALLING OFF THE LADDER GETTING A POSTER DOWN FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SAME POLE.

AFTER I'M FINISHED WRITING THIS I'LL WAKE MY WIFE AND CRAWL TO THE CAR AND GO TO THE CARINGBAH MEDICAL CENTRE TO SEE WHY I CAN'T WALK ON MY RIGHT LEG.
........................................................................

Xmas day

.

After I had surgery at Sutherland Hospital to reassemble a smashed heel bone.

and this means I'm on crutches for three months, which is a bit difficult being self employed.

This would never had happened if there had been a bit of common sense shown at Beverly Hills, after the RTA must've realized that there was a problem with the thousands of drivers being booked in such a short time.

I predicted trouble on 25 July on this web site and after giving the highly paid brains at the RTA time to also notice the problem, I emailed the Roads Minister Mr Eric Roozendaal.

All that was needed was one phone call from him to get a flashing light unit installed at Egdbaston st, he is the Transport Minister after all.

This is the first of 4 emails I sent in September and were unanswered.

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To: enquiries.roads@roozendaal.minister.nsw.gov.au
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 8:58 PM
Subject: school zone

Dear Minister,
I would like to bring to your attention a situation at a school zone on King Georges rd. Beverly hills.
There are flashing lights at this zone and now also a new set of speed cameras, but a lot of drivers don't realize that the whole shopping strip is a school zone.
Because it's such a long zone, (1,1 klm) can a second warning light unit be added to the school zone sign that's half way, heading South towards Hurstville, similar to the one already on the other side of the road.

Without going on in detail here, my concern about this school zone is explained, with photos, on my web site www.schoolzonesanta.com

Thank you for your time

Regards Hans Stephens

Thank you
Hans Stephens

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This is the page on the day I sent the E-mail.
................................................

What is needed at King Georges and Edgbaston Beverly Hills is get one of these flashing light units

and put it where this school zone sign is on the right

and I would say that would help with the school zone "speeding" for drivers heading south.

Drivers now just cruise down this divided road after traffic lights change at Morgan st forgetting all about the school zone.

There needs to be more 60 signs (because it's 70 both sides of the Beverly Hill shops) and if a larger school zone sign with Flashing lights had been installed at Edgbaston steet, I don't think the RTA and ultimately, Mr Roozendaal would have this problem.

This item was sent to me

So because he "welcomes" letters but doesn't bother to answer them, I thought it might be an idea to ask why, say in a paid OPEN LETTER to him in a major newspaper.

I would ask him why, what I think is a reasonable suggestion to help motorists at Beverly Hills, is ignored.

An open letter to a minister by an ordinary citizen is a reasonably unusual thing to, and might generate a column inch or two and extract a response.

But to put an open letter in the paper costs money.

I couldn't get any help to fund a paid open letter, so later after an opportune news report, I tried the letters page and presto

THIS WAS IN THE LETTERS PAGE NOV 8
............

THE LETTER IS EXPANDED BELOW

I got a letter (Aust. Post) from the ministers office two working days later, so publicity does work.

The letter is shown in full further back in the site, and says that
my "interest has been noted"

I have had numerous letters printed in newspapers, there's one on the page below about the police car story,. never once has a reporter rung to ask why I'm doing this.
Am I bitter about something?
Have I got a vendetta against the RTA?

No I have all my 12 points and know there has to be road rules but average drivers have to be treated with respect, and not treated like halfwits who have to be cowed into submission.

Like the way drivers are forced to use the Lane Cove tunnel by leaving only one lane on Epping road for cars and now half a dozen cyclists have a lane to themselves.

There's respect for tax ,car registration, licence, greenslip etc. paying motorists.

I wonder why the Iemma Government paid the toll company millions to put off the closing of the lanes till after the last state election.

You'll see the mess in Lane Cove next week when schools are back and everyone (except me) is back at work.

What would happen if drivers on mass just drove through the tunnel without e-tags and when they received fines elected to go to court.

The courts would be clogged up for years.

That may be civil disobedience but it would send a message not to treat ordinary people like ninnys.

In the Sunday Telegraph this Morning is a page of articles concerning speed cameras and school zones.

"Drivers caught by new speed cameras will receive a warning letter instead of a fine and loss of points."(for the first month of the new cameras being switched on)

"It is understood the policy has been introduced to avoid a repeat of last year's class lawsuit that forced the Sate Government to repay $1,000.000 in fines because of inadequate signage,"

But a bit to late for all the drivers who since last August that have lost their licences because of multiple fines at Beverly Hills.

Another article (SAME PAGE) shows that in :

June 07 8,986 drivers were caught speeding in school zones.
July 07 17,140 ...... .... ...... ........ .. ...... .....
AUG 07 28,630 ...... .... ...... ........ .. ...... .....

The Beverly Hill speed cameras were switched on in July.

How many people are now driving their cars without a licence because of the bulls..t at that is Beverly Hills, because they need to drive to get to work.

When the figure came in in July of 17,140 up from 8,980 the previous month then 28,630 in August the RTA should have realized then that they had a problem but no:

"It's for the safety of the children" was the spin from government.

To hell with the plight of ordinary drivers with multiple fines coming
in.

.......................................................................

THIS I WROTE EARLIER ON THIS SITE.

.......................................................................

I wrote on this web site predicted trouble on 25 July 07, and after giving the highly paid brains at the RTA time to also notice the problem, I emailed the Roads Minister Mr Eric Roozendaal.

All that was needed was one phone call from him to get a flashing light unit installed at Egdbaston st, he is the Transport Minister after all.

This is the first of 4 emails I sent in September and were unanswered.
Untill I mentioned that fact in a letter to the Daily Telegraph.
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To: enquiries.roads@roozendaal.minister.nsw.gov.au
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2007 8:58 PM
Subject: school zone

Dear Minister,
I would like to bring to your attention a situation at a school zone on King Georges rd. Beverly hills.
There are flashing lights at this zone and now also a new set of speed cameras, but a lot of drivers don't realize that the whole shopping strip is a school zone.
Because it's such a long zone, (1,1 klm) can a second warning light unit be added to the school zone sign that's half way, heading South towards Hurstville, similar to the one already on the other side of the road.

Without going on in detail here, my concern about this school zone is explained, with photos, on my web site www.schoolzonesanta.com

Thank you for your time
Regards Hans Stephens
......................................................................

Thank you
Regards Hans Stephens

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

This is the page on the day I sent the E-mail.
................................................

What is needed at King Georges and Edgbaston Beverly Hills is get one of these flashing light units

and put it where this school zone sign is on the right

and I would say that would help with the school zone "speeding" for drivers heading south.

Drivers now just cruise down this divided road after traffic lights change at Morgan st forgetting all about the school zone.

There needs to be more 60 signs (because it's 70 both sides of the Beverly Hill shops) and if a larger school zone sign with Flashing lights had been installed at Edgbaston steet, I don't think the RTA and ultimately, Mr Roozendaal would have this problem.
......................................................................

THE LAST PARAGRAPH(ABOVE)IN VIEW OF THE RTA'S DECISION (Daily Telegraph 17/2/08) TO SEND A WARNING INSTEAD OF A FINE FOR THE FIRT MONTH AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF ANY NEW CAMERA, IS MOST TELLING.
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I sent this e mail to the roads minister on 4/1/08

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Dear Mr Roozendaal,

I emailed you a number of times last September, and was informed in a letter MO7/612 that my concerns " had been noted.

I am getting emails on my website nearly every day with drivers complaining to me of the inadequate signage at the variable speed zone on King Georges Rd Beverly Hills.

I noticed that the RTA were busy this morning calibrating the South speed camera in readiness for the new school year.

I also note that there is still no extra flashing light unit that I said was needed at Edgbaston st on my website July 25 07 ( even before the cameras were activated) and asked you to consider in my first email in September.

There is an extra flashing light unit already heading North, so any driver speeding going North has fair warning.

The new school year starts at the end of the month, and now that the speed camera trailer warning signs are gone, obviously a large number of drivers unaware that the whole length of this "unusually long" variable speed zone is in fact, a school zone, will endanger children by speeding.

The drivers going South and stopped at traffic lights as they come down King Georges rd at Tooronga St, Morgan st, really need that extra set of flashing lights to help make them aware of the school zone, and drivers coming out of Stoney creek road heading North would really find it handy to see a 60km/ph sign before they get to the speed camera out of designated school zone hours.

If going over the 40km/ph limit as they pass the hidden South speed camera they will be caught, but I feel that just sending a fine ( or multiple fines) three weeks later to the owner a number plate does nothing to slow drivers at the time of the offence.

As speeding in school zones is extremely dangerous, I will endeavour to help the RTA slow down cars for the children's safety, when school resumes, as school zone santa.

I don't want to do it, my wife definitely doesn't want me to do it, but if I can make the road safer for just one of the "most vulnerable amongst us, the children," I feel it's the right thing to do.

The media as you know is very fickle and one minute they complain that the speed cameras promised haven't been installed yet, and next minute they accuse you of revenue raising, but they love a story with a different angle.

You will no doubt have enough on your plate at the end of the month once traffic really starts after the school holidays, explaining the reasoning behind the Epping Rd/ Lane cove tunnel traffic mess, without the Beverly Hills saga being revisited.

I don't care if drivers get booked for speeding as long as they know fairly when they are speeding.

Thank you for your valuable time,
yours faithfully,
Hans Stephens
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As you know I didn't go to Beverly Hills, like I wanted and I feel that a good opportunity was lost in not doing so.

Unless direct action or there is a bit of civil disobedience taking place to protest against inept government decisions,things won't change.

I heard on a news report this morning that The pedestian council of Australia's spoksperson has called on Mr Roozendaal to install more speed cameras at school zones.

Mr Roozendaal will "have blood on his hands" if he doesn't.

Pretty strongs words coming out of the Pedestrian council, but there was no mention of more flashing lights at school which would do more good.