Who should pay?

[CountryVic]

Last month, 4 work colleagues were going in a work car to another office for the week. We were to meet at work for 7.30am and the drive was an hour, and we returned for 5pm. Two people were not able to drive, one has a frozen shoulder, and the other has not got a full licence (trainee) so the driving was left to myself and one other, let’s call her Sonia.
I drove every morning, and Sonia drove 4 of the 5 afternoons, all good. Until a speeding ticket arrived at work. My boss sent an email to all 4 staff advising as per policy that we signed when taking the car, this needs to be paid by the driver, so can we please confirm who was driving on Thursday afternoon at 4.36pm so they can update the details and have the ticket sent in the correct name and with licence details.
I responded to the email 2 days later when my manager called me to follow up, I had assumed Sonia had responded and taken ownership. I CC everyone in the email and confirmed Sonia was driving, but she replied saying she can't be sure and she thinks it was me! The other 2 staff said they think she drove, but it was a while ago so can’t be sure, so the manager had head office send the full ticket so he can see who the driver is. Of course it shows Sonia, we look nothing alike, but she still says she does not think she should be held fully responsible.
The ticket is $260 and Sonia is suggesting that we split it 4 ways paying $65 each and as we all benefitted from driving together. The other staff member with the frozen shoulder agrees that this is fairest, I disagree and have said no, I won’t be paying this.
On Friday morning I got an email saying this needs to be resolved on Monday, if we can not agree then we have to to attend a meeting with the manager and someone from corporate services as they oversee the work car bookings.
The manager has said it’s up to us how to handle it, reminded us we’re all one team, here for one another but I have said there is nothing to handle, the photograph shows Sonia driving, she should pay the fine, it’s a legal document and nothing to do with work at all. I am happy to go to the meeting and advise this.
The other staff member has put $65 in an envelope for the manager, the trainee has said she’s not got any spare cash until payday and could she pay it over a few pays, I have said there is no expectation for anyone by but Sonia to pay as she was the one with her foot on the accelerator!
Am I wrong here?

Sonia broke the speed limit. Sonia pays the fine. No-one else had their foot on the accelerator.

I am not sure it’s in the interest of team harmony to make everyone pay. It’s unfair and will cause resentment.

This is entirely on Sonia and it should also be seen as a kick up the arse for your employer.

If this happened in the UK they'd be required to keep sufficient records of who was driving. 'Not remembering' is an offence more serious than speeding and there's been high profile cases where people have been jailed for taking points for others because its perverting the course of justice. Perhaps ask Sonia to read about Vicky Pryce and Chris Hume .

If it's for 'the team' then the company should pay.

Why on earth should the passengers pay? If there was an accident, would you also be responsible for that? Not a chance would I pay.

I recently drove friends to a festival and frustratingly I got a speeding ticket for going 35 in a 30 (first time ever!). It didn’t even occur to me to ask my friends to contribute as it was my fault.

Why would anyone but her pay for the crime she committed. If I’m accepting a lift, I’m not giving the driver permission to break the law.

No one made her speed. I wouldn't be paying wonder if she would be so keen to split if she had been a passenger!

I'm surprised an Aus govt job manager would be asking you to split it or resolve yourselves. We used to take fleet cars if going somewhere & & it was clear if you drive, you are responsible for speeding fines. No arguments tolerated.

She should know police love to cover country roads!!

It’s definitely her responsibility as she was the one speeding.

I think work should pay the fine though - rather than getting you all to chip in.

I’m shocked at people saying to pay. DONT PAY. It would set a dangerous precedent for if and when this happens in future.

absolute madness expecting the passengers to pay when she was speeding. Especially as one of them hasn’t even passed their driving test - how is it fair to make it their responsibility to ensure the driver follows the rules of the road?

I wouldn't pay as it sets a stupid precedent.

When Sonia was trying to blame you was she suggesting the fine should be shared? Or did she only come up with that idea when it was proven she was driving? That would affect how I respond.

Also, 20 years ago, my DH (then my boyfriend) picked me up and parked somewhere he shouldn’t and got a fine.

We argued big time about that - he thought I should pay at least half as he was parked there for me. I said it was his fault he got the fine (I didn’t tell him where to park, he told me where he was parked), so he should pay.

We’ve been together for 20 years, but it’s something that - if either one of us ever brought up even now - we’d still bicker about as I thought it made him seem like such a dick and he thought it made me seem ungrateful.

So I see why Sonia would think she shouldn’t pay the whole thing. But I also think she’s wrong!

Does she want to split the points too? She is so cheeky.

This. I'd be much more annoyed about the trainee being guilted into paying than me.

The other factor is Sonia trying to blame you. On principle I wouldn't give her a penny after that.

Oh please. Sonia is fully responsible

The driver made the mistake, she needs to pay it.

Then if it’s in a company policy document that any speeding fines are paid by the driver Sonia pays.

Presumably you were told to car pool. If you declined and did you wanted to drive alone, would your work pay? If they would, I might agree to contribute to the fine, but be very clear there's no obligation to do so and that your employer needs to make this policy very clear so that staff can choose whether to pool or not.

If, as I suspect, your work would NOT pay for you all to choose to travel separately instead of car pooling, then I'd refuse because to do so would put all staff in an impossible situation. If car pooling is (essentially) mandatory, then paying the fine means that you are accepting that staff are being forced to accept responsibility for the actions of the driver, when they have zero control over that. Absolutely unenforceable and unfair.

If also be pointing out that the driver clearly didn't think the fine should be shared when she was arguing about who was driving (because it wouldn't matter) She just wants to duck as much responsibility for her mistakes as possible.

Driver broke the law. Driver pays.

Only the driver should pay she was speeding no one else.

The fine is the penalty for speeding. Only one person was speeding so unless you were all egging her on to, the driver is solely responsible. The fine is to send a message not to speed. I wouldn’t contribute towards it.

I drove myself and 3 colleagues to a city I've never been to before for a meeting. I went through a bloody bus gate and got fined. Completely my fault, it didn't ever occur to me to spilt the ticket since I was driving.

I think drivers pay speeding tickets, personally.

And you still married him? 🤯