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Answer 1 -
What is a Traffic Offenders Program or TOP? |
A Traffic
Offenders Program or TOP is a not-for-profit incorporated association
and is an educational pre-sentencing option available to
Magistrates/Judges after a person has been found guilty of an offence.
Pre-sentencing means
that an offender attends the Program and then receives his/her sentence
when they return to Court after completing the Program.
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Answer 2 - Who
runs the Program? |
Our Program is a community owned, community
managed Program.
The
Program Co-ordinator is Graham Symes.
An
Advisory Board, consisting of community members, administers the
Program.
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Answer 3 -
How do I get to attend the Program? |
You have to be charged with a traffic offence,
attend Court, plead guilty and it is up to the
Magistrate/Judge as to
whether you are allowed to attend the Program.
When the Court places you on
our Program you are required to contact our Co-ordinator to confirm
your attendance.
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Answer 4 -
Can my solicitor or I ask to go on the Program when I appear
in Court? |
Yes, but attending our Program is at the discretion of the Magistrate/Judge.
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Answer 5 -
Why should I attend the Program? |
If
directed by the Magistrate/Judge you MUST attend.
From your point of view you will learn valuable information that will
educate you and change your attitude and demonstrated behaviour to
your driving.
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Answer 6 - How much does it cost to attend the Program? |
Nothing, the Program is free to offenders because we believe that
no-one should be precluded from attending because they do not have the
money to attend.
Also, the valued sponsorship of the Blacktown RSL Club means that we don’t have to charge a fee like many other similar Programs.
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Answer 7 - How long do I attend the Program for? |
The Program lasts for 8 weeks in total.
* there are 7 weeks when 8 presentations are given
*
on the eighth week you bring in the completed assignment for the
previous week’s presentation
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Answer 8 - How long do the presentations go for each night? |
Normally for 2 hours finishing at 9.00 pm.
Some
nights they may finish earlier if there aren’t many questions asked.
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Answer 9 - What happens for first time attendees? |
Arrive before 6.30 pm.
*
bring the Traffic Offender Guidelines stamped by the
Court with you
*
bring a pen and notebook to take notes during each
presentation
*
at 6.30 pm the Program Co-ordinator, Graham Symes, will inform you of
what is expected of you and what you have to do while attending the Program
*
you’ll be issued with a document outlining your
obligations and requirements
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Answer 10 - What do I have to do when I attend the Program? |
Be punctual, arrive early (by 6.30 pm); presentations commence sharply
at 7.00 pm.
*
if you arrive after 7.15 pm you will not be allowed to attend that
evening’s presentation
* NO EXCUSES ARE ACCEPTED FOR LATE ARRIVAL
* if you
aren't allowed to attend because of your late arrival you will have to
re-attend that presentation when it is on next, this will require you
to contact your Solicitor/Court and have
your 'Return to Court' date changed
* you must bring a pen and notebook to take notes during the
presentation
* each night you attend you MUST
register, your to
print your name clearly, complete your Date of Birth, Date
Going Back to Court and the Court you are returning to
* for each presentation you are required to complete an
assignment (i.e. 8) answering questions given by each presenter
* hand in your
completed assignment the week following the
presentation
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Answer 11 - If I attend the Program will it help me when I return to Court? |
There are NO GUARANTEES when you attend the Program.
The
outcome will be determined by the Magistrate/Judge.
We
have been advised that the Magistrate/Judge
does
look at your assignments and summary prior to your attendance back at
Court.
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Answer 12 - Who gives the various presentations? |
Each presenter is an expert in their specific field and a brief
biography for each can be found on the ‘Program Presenters’ page of
this web-site
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