A “computer glitch” usually refers to the person operating it.

ACT Policing recently announced that more than 1500 motorists received up to 8 year old traffic infringement notices as a result of a “computer glitch”.

CT: “Computer Glitch” blamed as ACT drivers forced to pay old traffic fines

Motorists face suspension of their licences if they fail to pay the fines and many recipients are understandably outraged.

Kamy Saeedi Law has labelled the AFP and RTA actions as “likely unlawful” recently on local radio and in the Canberra Times.

At least one such ticket has already been successfully challenged prior to the breaking of the news that over 7000 such historical tickets were re-issued. The government “revealed the advice the RTA has received confirms the pursuit of these matters years later is unreasonable”.

As the arguments for challenging the tickets relates to ongoing client cases I cannot comment directly at this stage how the tickets can be successfully challenged but the crux of the argument rests on procedural fairness and the broad principles of Criminal or Administrative Law…
or you know…the vibe.

“It goes against basic principles of criminal justice to make an accused person prove they should not be forced to pay the fine,”

Any recipient is free to challenge the ticket on their own but the surest way is to contact a criminal lawyer to avoid any potential loss of licence.