THE words deem, deemed and deeming are very frequently misused. Deeming occurs when a thing is treated as though it is something entirely different.
It is, in effect, a legal fiction.
For example, a retiree who is actually earning only 0.2 per cent per annum interest on their bank deposit might be deemed to be earning 5 per cent for the purposes of calculating their pension entitlements.
It doesn’t mean they are actually getting 5 per cent but their pension is reduced as though they were.
Reading of police targeting motorists entering the Kwinana Freeway near Manning Road (Police deny revenue raising accusations, Gazette, February 21) it is significant that police Commander Michelle Fyfe says “...the area has been deemed a black spot by Main Roads WA..."
If the officer is correctly quoted and the word is being used correctly then it follows that the area is not actually a “black spot” but it is being treated for the purpose of speed camera placement as though it is one.
One can only speculate why that may be – could it have anything to do with maximising revenue?