FRIDAY, JULY 2, 1976
FAILURE TO CARRY A DRIVING LICENCE WHILE DRIVING
TO BE MADE A FIXED PENALTY OFFENCE
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A NEW BILL MAKING FAILURE TO CARRY A DRIVING LICENCE WHILE DRIVING A FIXED PENALTY OFFENCE IS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.
THE BILL, KNOWN AS THE MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS (ROAD TRAFFIC) BILL, 1976, WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE FOR THE INFORMATION OF THE PUBLIC.
THE BILL AMENDS THE SCHEDULE TO THE FIXED PENALTY (CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS) ORDINANCE BY ADDING THE NEW OFFENCE OF FAILING TO CARRY A DRIVING LICENCE WHILE DRIVING TO THE LIST OF OFFENCES FOR WHICH A FIXED PENALTY MAY BE DEMANDED.
THE PROPOSED FIXED PENALTY FOR THIS OFFENCE WILL BE $50.
IF THE BILL IS PASSED, THERE WILL THEN BE 74 FIXED PENALTY OFFENCES.
THE BILL ALSO AMENDS THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE BY REMOVING THE PUNISHMENT OF IMPRISONMENT FOLLOWING A CONVICTION FOR FAILING TO CARRY A DRIVING LICENCE WHILE DRIVING.
THIS MEANS THAT MOTORISTS WHO PERSISTENTLY FAIL TO CARRY A DRIVING LICENCE WHILE DRIVING CAN BE PROSECUTED INSTEAD OF BEING DEALT WITH UNDER THE FIXED PENALTY SYSTEM AND BE LIABLE TO A FINE OF $1,000 FOR THE FIRST OFFENCE AND $2,000 FOR THE SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT OFFENCES.
THE ORIGINAL PENALTY WAS A FINE OF $1,000 AND THREE MONTHS IMPRISONMENT FOR A FIRST OFFENCE AND $2,000 AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT FOR THE SECOND AND SUBSEQUENT OFFENCES,
THE REVISED LEGISLATION FOLLOWS REPRESENTATIONS MADE BY UMELCO OFFICE AS A RESULT OF PUBLIC CONCERN OVER THE ORIGINAL PROPOSED PENALTY.
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