Subscribe to RSSUnlicensed Get Demerits
Those caught by the Police while driving unlicensed vehicles are to get new penalties. The Government is reducing fines but introducing demerit points.
“We know there are people who would currently rather risk the fine than pay their licensing fees,” says transport minister Steven Joyce.
“That’s unfair to other law-abiding motorists. Demerit points can act as a stronger deterrent than fines as repeat offenders will face the loss of their drivers licence,” says Mr Joyce.
The Government estimates there are around 20 percent of road users who are either unlicensed or drive their vehicle without a WoF at any one time.
Other steps announced today include allowing the NZTA to require people to surrender licence plates when putting their licensing on hold or to decline an application to put licensing on hold when a person has abused this right in the past.
“There is a segment of drivers and motorcyclists who put their vehicle license on hold while continuing to drive their vehicle as a way of avoiding payment. These measures combined with the added threat of demerit points, send a strong message that the government will not tolerate this,” says Mr Joyce.
The Motor Trade Association says it has long supported better enforcement of the existing laws saying there are people out there who don’t license their vehicle, drive without a licence and without a warrant of fitness.
The new penalties apply only to those tickets served personally by a Police officer. Police will continue to give a person ticketed for the first time with an unlicensed car a two week grace period to license their vehicle before any penalties apply.
1 Comments
Police will continue to give a person ticketed for the first time with an unlicensed car a two week grace period to license their vehicle before any penalties apply.
I wish Auckland transport would do the same, but no. They want the money!