A GROVEDALE woman was fined $400 without conviction in Geelong Magistrates\u2019 Court for having deliberately struck a Surf Coast Shire school crossing supervisor with her vehicle.<\/p>\n
The woman, 65, pleaded guilty to charges of careless driving and having disobeyed a traffic control signal.<\/p>\n
In November, she drove through a red light entering an intersection being controlled by the crossing supervisor during school pick-up hours, and deliberately struck the supervisor with her vehicle.<\/p>\n
The supervisor was shaken but not seriously injured.<\/p>\n
The defendant appeared in court on May 27.<\/p>\n
Charges of unlawful assault and assault with a weapon were withdrawn.<\/p>\n
Torquay police Leading Senior Constable Lisa Kearney said the incident was serious.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe victim in this matter was simply fulfilling her duties in helping children safely cross a busy road when the female has deliberately driven through the red light and struck her.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Surf Coast Shire oversees 12 school crossings and employs 20 crossing supervisors.<\/p>\n
Shire general manager of environment and planning Ransce Salan said the safety of all council employees was always priority.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur employees should be able to go to work expecting to be safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very disappointing that some might be subjected to unlawful acts of aggression while working to preserve community order and the safety of others.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe urge people to show care and respect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Council employees have been subjected to 17 incidents of assault, intimidation or use of inappropriate language in the year to May 31.<\/p>\n
During May, the Surf Coast Shire raised the issue of occupational violence and aggression against council officers for discussion at the Municipal Association of Victoria\u2019s State Council meeting.<\/p>\n
The MAV State Council resolved to call on the Victorian Government to provide greater protection for authorised council officers by including them under the Sentencing Act 1991.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A GROVEDALE woman was fined $400 without conviction in Geelong Magistrates\u2019 Court for having deliberately struck a Surf Coast Shire school crossing supervisor with her vehicle. The woman, 65, pleaded guilty to charges of careless driving and having disobeyed a traffic control signal. In November, she drove through a red light entering an intersection being […]<\/p>\n