News

Car owner told to pay $4k traffic fines racked up by car thief on joyride

May 24, 2018

Paul Glynn was chased down for the thief's fines. Source: Channel 9/A Current Affair.

A “devastated” man has revealed he had his driving licence suspended and was chased by authorities to pay back $4,000 of traffic fines – despite his car being stolen at the time of the offences.

Paul Glynn, 37, works for a construction company, driving delivery trucks between work sites, but was unable to earn an income after his car was stolen by joy riders, shortly after he moved to Melbourne.

The thief managed to rack up the major traffic offences – but it was Paul who was left facing the hefty fines.

Speaking on Channel Nine’s A Current Affair, the furious man revealed it only got worse, as Fines Victoria – responsible for enforcing the payment of fines – accidentally sent the fines to the wrong suburb in Melbourne, meaning Paul didn’t see them immediately and lost his chance to appeal.

“I never had a chance to appeal,” John said. “I’m 37 years old, I have not had one demerit point in the past.”

When Paul Glynn’s car was stolen, thieves took it on a very expensive joyride. They clocked up thousands of dollars worth of fines, but now Paul is being made to foot the bill. #9ACA https://t.co/Fesv0g4oSl pic.twitter.com/J1sV8iYGFk

— A Current Affair (@ACurrentAffair9) May 23, 2018

Despite having all the proof and even a successful insurance claim as well as a police report acknowledging the car was stolen before the offences happened, Fines Victoria still chased Paul for the money, and he was told he’d have to argue his case in court.

“It’s cost me my job, it’s cost me my livelihood, it’s cost me my freedom,” he said on the show. “You’re actually guilty until proven innocent.”

Asked how it’s been financially, Paul added: “Devastating. Zero money coming in, and rent and bills going out.” He was left facing the prospect of having to rely on Centrelink payments.

Having been contacted by the TV show, Victoria Police have since withdrawn the fines, and said in a statement: “The fine was originally issued to Mr Glynn as the registered owner of the vehicle given the fine was issued four days after the car was recovered, having previously been listed as stolen.

“However further enquiries revealed that Mr Glynn’s insurance company had accepted his claim and compensated him for the value of the car, technically making the insurance company the owner of the vehicle at the time the offences were committed. The paperwork transferring ownership of the recovered vehicle from Mr Glynn to the insurance company had not been completed at the time that the infringements were issued.

“Having now confirmed these circumstances, Victoria police has withdrawn the infringements in good faith.”