Bus company pleads guilty to underpaying TAC premium

18 January 2012

A Diggers Rest bus company has paid the Transport Accident Commission more than $50,000 in backdated premium charges after its director failed to pay the full amount of the TAC charge on its vehicles.

Rockleigh Tours director Laurence Pincini today appeared in the Sunshine Magistrates' Court on a charge relating to incorrectly registering the location where 14 of the company's vehicles were garaged, reducing their Transport Accident Charge by $50,288 over 8 years.

The buses were operating out of Diggers Rest, a medium TAC premium risk zone, but were incorrectly registered at Riddells Creek and Gisborne, both low TAC premium risk zones to which a lower TAC charge per vehicle applies.

Mr Pincini today pleaded guilty to one charge of failing to pay the full amount of the TAC charge.

Rockleigh Tours has repaid the $50,288. Mr Pincini received a good behaviour bond with no conviction recorded.

He was also ordered to pay legal costs of $1000 as well as contributing $750 to the court fund.

Transport accident charges are used to pay for treatment and support services for people injured in transport accidents.

The TAC has a responsibility to the community to ensure the financial health of the TAC scheme and that it can continue to look after injured Victorians.

For further information please contact: Emily Bogue on 0429 416 778.