END OF THE ROAD
Judge rings bell on serial speedster’s case against school zone
A CAIRNS man’s six-year legal crusade against a notorious Cairns school speeding zone has been thrown out by the city’s top judge.
Ian Crossman was caught by police speeding in the 40km/h limit of the Mother of Good Counsel school zone on Sheridan St in May 2013.
The Cairns North site has been the subject of motorist frustration for years and is regarded by Cairns Regional Council as a major impediment to traffic flow along the city’s busiest road.
In a judgment handed down by Cairns Supreme Court Justice Jim Henry yesterday, it emerged Mr Crossman was not disputing his ticket, but the legitimacy of the speed zone itself.
He described it as an “illegitimate local fabrication of a school zone” and argued it should be removed.
He further said everyone caught speeding there since its installation should get their money back.
The council has called for the zone’s removal and even upgraded Seymour St on the eastern side of the school for parents to drop off and pick up their children, but the Department of Transport and Main Roads has said there were no plans to remove it.
Justice Henry said Mr Crossman had failed to provide anything to back up his claims, despite previously being given an adjournment to gather more evidence, and dismissed the case.
He described Mr Crossman, who represented himself in court, as an “experienced litigant” due to his multiple court appearances.
“Published on the Queensland Courts website are no fewer than four appeals by Mr Crossman from the Magistrates Court to the District Court, four appeals from the District Court to the Court of Appeal and one appearance in QCAT,” Justice Henry said.
“In relation to the MOGCS speed zone alone, he claims ‘19 appearances (two by phone QCAT) over three years’.”
He also said he told Mr Crossman has application was “doomed to fail” due to lack of evidence about the legitimacy of the speed zone.
Mr Crossman has also been ordered to pay TMR and the Queensland Police Service’s legal costs.