Articles by Damon Guppy

The practice became a hot topic on social media this week after a truck driver in NSW posted a video of an officer giving him a speeding ticket based on his "estimation".About 80,000 motorists are caught driving over the speed limit in Queensland each month, most of them detected by fixed cameras.Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart yesterday said officers "absolutely" issued infringement notices based on estimations.He said police did not simply conjure up rough figures but used highly calibrated speedometers, comparing the pace as they trailed the driver in question for several hundred metres.If the magistrate's not satisfied, then they'll throw it out"Estimation has been at the heart of policing for the last 100 years," Mr Stewart said."They will follow a vehicle for a period and they will then lock in their estimation on their speedo." He said police only adopted the method when they were in a vehicle without a fitted radar.Mr Stewart said motorists dubious of an officer's judgement could dispute the ticket in court."If the magistrate's not satisfied, then they'll throw it out," he said. "I've seen it happen. It happened to me."Estimation in policing had existed effectively for "hundreds of years"RACQ spokesman Paul Turner said estimation in policing had existed effectively for "hundreds of years"."We're a motoring organisation and we don't like motorists being stung for speeding but the best way to avoid that is to not speed," he said."We don't get a lot of complaints from our members on this."Chris Smith filmed and posted an encounter with a police officer when he was pulled over for speeding while driving his B-double on the Newell Highway on Saturday."You can't show me the radar?" Mr Smith asked. "I don't need to. Everything is based on my estimations," the officer replied.He uploaded the clip to Facebook. It has been viewed more than 1.5 million times.

The plummeting prices come as an RACQ report shows 2014 was the most expensive year on record to fill up in Queensland.Costco at North Lakes yesterday was selling unleaded fuel for 99.7¢ a litre, the first time the price at the bowser had dipped below a dollar since early 2009.In Brisbane, the ULP average was $1.09 per litre, the lowest in more than five years.Make the most of the prices now because they can't last foreverPrices have been gradually forced down by a global oil glut caused by steady supplies, weakened economies and a drop in demand, particularly in Europe and Asia.But motorists have been warned the pump prices could flatline soon and eventually rise once the global market stabilises."We're just saying make the most of the prices now because they can't last forever," RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith said."The worst thing you can do is wait until you're on empty to fill up. If you can get the lowest price, take advantage of it while you can." Long queues of motorists waited at Costco outlets at North Lakes and Mango Hill, where unleaded fuel sold for $1.02 per litre yesterday morning.The American retail giant only offers discounts to its membership, but Ms Smith said its price drop would put pressure on surrounding petrol stations.Brisbane's ULP average was $1.50 per litre, peaking at $1.65 per litre last JanuaryCostco opened its stores in the Brisbane area last year to take on other discount fuel retailers such as Coles and Woolworths.The company's Australian chief executive, Patrick Noone, said the success of these stores paved the way for expansion."We'd like to build a couple more stores in Brisbane in the south or southwest," he said."People are very happy. When you're working with very slim margins, you can offer these prices." Ms Smith said although southeast Queensland was enjoying the benefits at the bowser, regional motorists were still paying too much.Cities such as Cairns, Townsville and Rockhampton were paying about 5¢ a litre more.But that is still a stark contrast to last year's record high prices. RACQ's annual fuel price report shows Brisbane's ULP average was $1.50 per litre, peaking at $1.65 per litre last January.The average mark-up at city petrol stations was 10.2 per cent. Weipa motorists paid the highest price in the state at the pump, forking out $1.78 per litre for most of the year.