Loophole allows thousands of bikers a year to get off speeding fines Biker snapped doing 118km/h in a 50km/h zone gets away with it thanks to no frontal identification. SPEED camera watchdog Gordon Lewis believes it's intolerable that politicians haven't closed a loophole which allows bikers to avoid fines. He today used his annual report to criticise the State Government for not adopting a recommendation he made a year ago to stop the rort. Mr Lewis said the fact motorcycles aren't required to have frontal identification means thousands of Victorian bikers a year escape being fined despite speeding past cameras. "That situation cannot be tolerated," he said. I am satisfied that the case for frontal identification of motorcycles is inarguable. Mr Lewis's annual report, which was tabled in State Parliament today, recommended that "immediate steps be taken to enable frontal identification on motorcycles and motor scooters." It said police have had to let off almost 20,000 motorcyclists who sped past front-facing cameras in the past three years because the lack of frontal identification meant they couldn't be identified. More than 1000 of them were over the speed limit by between 25km/h and 44km/h and 210 were more than 45km/h over. Those not penalised included a motorcyclist doing 222km/h in a 60km/h zone at Caroline Springs and another doing 118km/h in a 50km/h zone at Shepparton. Mr Lewis's annual report also said: EVERY booked motorist should have access to a free copy of their speed and red light camera photograph. HE has found no evidence of any faulty or inaccurate speed cameras. POLICE should be able to hide speed cameras behind bushes and road signs if the safety of the operator warrants it. Mr Lewis said his office had monitored a representative sample of 50 speed cameras during 2012-13. "There were no instances in which a road safety camera system recorded infringements incorrectly," he said. While human error can never be excluded, the checks and balances implemented in respect of road safety cameras should reassure the motoring public about their fairness, accuracy and reliability. Mr Lewis recommended scrapping the current system of how motorists access copies of their speed and red light camera photographs. The images can be viewed free if they attend at the Civic Compliance office in Melbourne or can be bought for $7.50. Mr Lewis urged the State Government to allow motorists free access to their traffic camera photographs through a secure website, as already happens in New South Wales and South Australia. "It is my view that images of infringement offences should be provided free of charge to the public," he said. It is my belief that free access to images of infringement offences provides greater fairness, transparency and certainty for motorists. He also recommended that motorists booked in areas where variable speed limit signs operate, such as when passing roadworks, should be able to view photographs of the variable speed limit signs operating at the time they were snapped speeding. Motorcycle lobby groups argue that fitting front numberplates to motorcycles would affect the aerodynamics of bikes and make them more dangerous. They are expected to campaign strongly against any move by the State Government to force them to fit front number plates. Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews today said the State Government had failed to deliver on its promise to provide motorists with free copies of traffic camera photographs. "There has been no action on this, three years on motorists still have to make a payment in order to receive that image," he said. Denis Napthine has refused, has failed to deliver on the commitment he made three years ago. He's now being reminded yet again by Gordon Lewis, the traffic camera commissioner, to deliver on that promise, to keep his word. Victorians are right to ask why are we still paying to view these images. If we are about trust, if we are about transparency, Denis Napthine needs to deliver on this commitment. If he won't he needs to explain why. Mr Andrews said the Opposition was committed to remove the charge for traffic camera photographs if elected next year. Police Minister Kim Wells today said the State Government would consider all of Mr Lewis" recommendations. "Commissioner Lewis has thoroughly examined Victoria's speed camera arrangements and has found our road camera system is accurate and that motorists can be assured of the system's fairness and reliability," Mr Wells said.