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Tuesday, January 22, 1974
The maximum fixed penalty under the system is $200 and the maximum
demerit points for a fixed penalty offence is five. However, some serious
offences, which are always taken to court and are not included under the
fixed renalty system, have been brought into the demerit system and can
carry demerit points up to a maximum of 10.
Proposed supporting legislation, the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill
1974, also published today seeks to make it compulsory for drivers to carry
their driving licence at all times while driving. Failure to do so could
result in a fixed penalty of $50.
A new style, laminated driving licence is to be introduced which
will be similar to the present identity card.
If approved there will be no period of grace for producing, a licence,
it must be shown when demanded.
:
Some of the more important points contained in the Fixed Penalty
(Criminal Proceedings) Bill are:-
*
All warning notices and summonses, other than the original
ticket, are posted and not delivered by hand.
If a driving licence is suspended, the driver must
surrender it to the Commissioner for Transport and the
suspension period is counted as beginning on the date of
surrender. However, a licence which is suspended and has
not been handed to the Commissioner is still invalid so it
is in the interest of the driver to surrender it as quickly
as possible.
While a person is suspended from driving and he applies
or obtains another licence, he is liable to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for six months. The person also facos the same penalty if he drives while under suspension.
Licence ..............
J
.