Steve Barrett $443 speeding fine scrapped after court battle | Newcastle Herald

newcastleherald.com.au · Feb 20, 2026 · Collected from GDELT

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Police have withdrawn a $443 fine against a 68-year-old pensioner, after he was unlawfully fined for speeding in a school zone.Subscribe now for unlimited access. or signup to continue readingSave 30%All articles from our website & appThe digital version of Today's PaperCrosswords, Sudoku and TriviaAll other in your areaSteve Barrett, of Nelson Bay, was forced to take the matter to court, after numerous NSW government representatives ignored his pleas for the fine to be scrapped."I've had to go through the NSW government's bureaucratic bullshit to get a just and common sense result," Mr Barrett said."When I got to court, Magistrate Peter Feather suggested I should write to the NSW Police and request a review."This followed Mr Barrett informing the court that he intended to call NSW Roads and Regional Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison as a defence witness."I wrote directly to Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon and his deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson," Mr Barrett said.The letter was sent to the NSW Police Traffic and Highway Patrol Command for consideration."They acted very promptly and with great common sense and withdrew the fine," Mr Barrett said.A letter to Mr Barrett from NSW Police's "ministerial and executive services" said the fine would be withdrawn.As the Newcastle Herald previously reported, Mr Barrett said a police officer hiding behind parked vehicles "jumped out in front of me with a speed gun".This incident happened at 9.04am on Ingall Street at Mayfield East on August 5."He clocked me at 57kmh," Mr Barrett said.Mr Barrett said he immediately asked the highway patrol officer "where is the sign?".A key issue was there was no 40kmh school zone sign on the left side of the road, as Mr Barrett drove south down Ingall Street from Crebert Street.Signs at 50 Ingall Street - the spot in question - were on both sides of the street facing northerly drivers.After Mr Barrett drew attention to the issue in the Herald, Transport for NSW quietly installed a new end-of-school zone sign.Under the Road Rules 2014 (NSW), a school zone is defined as the area between a "school zone sign" and an "end school zone sign" (or another speed limit sign).Mr Barrett contacted the roads minister and Revenue NSW twice, seeking to have the fine overturned.In a letter on October 24, minister Aitchison wrote that "Transport for NSW investigated the location and identified the 'end school zone' sign to be missing on Ingall Street"."Transport for NSW advises the sign was installed on October 1, 2025."Despite this, the government would not scrap the fine.After Mr Barrett asked the government to review the fine, Revenue NSW chief commissioner Phil Minns responded.In October last year, Mr Minns wrote that "following a careful review of the matter", he had determined that the fine could not be scrapped."If Mr Barrett wishes to dispute the fine further, the local court is the appropriate authority to make a determination," Mr Minns wrote.Mr Barrett said this amounted to "bad luck, you can pay the fine or go to court"."This is where the whole NSW government system breaks down," he said.Mr Barrett, a former journalist with Nine News, 60 Minutes, A Current Affair and Seven News, was never going to let the matter go."I was left with no choice but to go to the court of public opinion," he said. Mr Barrett initially spoke to the Herald about the issue, as he "feared there would be hundreds of other unsuspecting drivers illegally booked on a backward sign".He said the fine being scrapped and regaining the four demerit points he lost was "a victory for me and the Newcastle Herald".More from Court and CrimeDailyYour morning newsToday's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update.