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Mark Waugh gets away with Speeding

By Matt Brogan |

Apparently it’s a case of not what you do wrong, but whom you are when it comes to getting off speeding tickets.

Mark WaughCricket legend Mark Waugh is likely to keep his license despite being pulled over by an unmarked car this May for being 43km/h over the limit. His mates Mark Taylor and Alan Jones defence seeming to mean more to the Gosford judge than the facts at hand.

He received a slap-on-the-wrist sentence of six two-hour sessions of the traffic offenders program but will neither be fined, nor lose demerit points with the incident being cited as an “err in judgement”.

Had this been you or me (or a motor sport identity), we’d have had our car confiscated, license cancelled, and been severely fined. The judge also has the power to make us see some time behind bars.

I feel this sends the wrong message to both cricket adoring kids and the general public, and that a dangerous precedent has been set in allowing those of privilege to be above the law.

What do you think? Would the judge be so lenient on you?


 
  • 280zx

    So he shouldnt he’s a bloody legend and he was proberly late for a game anyway ! LOL

  • arsenalroc

    hmmm i wonder if his autograph or one of his prized possesions was part of the deal.. like a ‘gift’ to the judge…
    this is a joke decision which once again shows that sportsman believe they are above the law..

  • http://. ROBERTO

    Agree with writeup!!! Legend YES but above the law NO

  • Glen

    This is not Mark’s fault he got let off, its the judge’s. But what were the circumstances that led to him being booked at that speed? Was he coming from a 100 zone into a 50 zone and the cop was sitting just back from the signs? We dont know so its hard to judge unless you know the facts.

    But if he was doing 93 kays in a 50 zone far away from a 100 zone then he should have lost his license and copped the same punishment as the rest of us. This just proves that the authorities have no interest in road safety.

  • http://www.caradvice.com.au Matt

    I believe it was 123 in an 80 zone on the New England Hwy, Wingen. Even if it was an 100 to 50 change over zone there’d be ample lead indication (ie 100-80 signage, then 80-50 etc) so no excuse.

  • http://www.caradvice.com.au/ alborz

    Damn, I’d be happy with 6 hours of classes to have an automatic license dismissal and thousands in fines revoked!

    Where do I go to get this kind of service?

  • http://. ROBERTO

    Let me know too as would be unreal!

  • http://motorsportbabesau.blogspot.com motorsportBABESau

    Just go down to your local court for a day and watch how many drugged up scum bags get their licences back for similar and often worse offences. This is not the case of a celebrity getting preferential treatment but more a case of the media be playing on Australia tall poppy syndrome.

  • Benjamin Everton

    What an idiot.

    Notwithstanding the fact that I hate cricket, this moron should see jail time. What a twat.

  • Peter

    He got away with it because the lawyer said if he lost his licence, he’d have trouble doing business.

    Tough mammaries.

    If it’s so important, why did he not treat driving as the privilege it is? He’d also had several 0-15km/h speed camera offences in a short space of time.

    He should have been nailed to the wall just like anyone or anybody else should be.

    You get 6 years for recording the Simpsons movie on your mobile phone and nothing if you endanger life and limb on the road.

    Not that I think speed limits are especially scientific, but the law’s the law, no matter if it’s an ass…

  • David

    Hear what motorsportBABEsau is saying but benchmarking against the pondscum doesn’t get far.Tall poppy maybe.
    But he knows the life in the spotlight.I would feel humiliated having to front court for being so dumb & would not expect pity.
    Some individuals are hopeless & the judicial system at times struggles to cope.
    A skilled cricketer BUT shot himself in the foot during his career due to another err of judgement.
    The apparent leniency shown by the judge does not get this guy off the hook.It is a warneing.
    It is up to him to learn.

  • Grumps

    I can tell you all what the definition of frustration is: being a NSW Highway Patrol Officer.

    In my time in the HWP I had a very high traffic conviction rate on matters that went to court. The only problem was the laughably lame sentences handed out by the magistrate.

    True story: One one occassion I had two drink drivers in court the same day. Driver A was mid-range, pleaded guilty and was given 6 months licence suspension and $1000 fine. First offence and an ‘average joe’.

    Driver B was high-range plus hinder police charge, pleaded guilty BUT because he was a well-known businessman and ‘pillar of society’, convicted without penalty – a Section 556A.

    I can give you dozens of incidents where the magistrate has given out a completely ridiculous sentence or let the offender go basically scott free. You can ask any police officer where the problem with the law is and they will tell you it’s the lack of consistent and meaningful sentencing, especially in traffic matters.

    End mini-rant :)

    P.S I was not a ticket happy gung-ho bastard either. I gave out more cautions than I did tickets.

  • Ben from QLD

    The alleged speed of 123km/h in an 80km/h must not have been that dangerous if an unmarked police car followed Waugh for more than 1km before pulling the vehicle over!!

    For an idea of the type of road, have a look at “New England Highway, Wingen” on Google Maps. The road is pretty much straight, open road (overtaking lanes most of the way).

  • andre

    character reference by Alan Jones – WTF? I’d take a character reference by Chopper Read more seriously – what a load of bull

  • Ed Zackley

    It’s the Judge’s fault that Waugh got off but Waughs guilty of using his mates to pervert the Judge !I am keeping the cutting out of the paper and if ever I get in a position to go to court I will submit it as my reason to get off also!Gosford Lawyers should all have copies to tender especially to Magistrate “Gary Cocks” (the name says something) but they will not as they are all mates, so it’s up to us poor buggers to present it!