XN000022-1974-07-05 — Page 5

FRIDAY, JULY 5, 1974

DEHERIT POINTS SYSTEM DROPPED FROM NEW FIXED PENALTY BILL

A NEW BILL OFFERING MOTORISTS A SIMPLE ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF PLEADING GUILTY TO CERTAIN EXISTING MOVING TRAFFIC OFFENCES IS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY.

THE BILL, KNOWN AS THE FIXED PENALTY (CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGSƆ BILL 1974, WAS PUBLISHED IN TODAY'S GOVERNMENT GAZETTE FOR GENERAL INFORMATION.

THE ORIGINAL BILL, WHICH INCLUDED A DEMERIT POINT SYSTEM FOR CERTAIN TRAFFIC OFFENCES, WAS WITHDRAWN AS A RESULT OF PUBLIC COMMENTS ON IT.

THE NEW BILL IS LIMITED SOLELY TO A FIXED PENALTY SYSTEM AIMED AT STREAMLINING TRAFFIC OFFENCE PROCEDURES. OF EXISTING OFFENCES COVERED BY THE BILL HAS BEEN CUT TO 73.

THE NUMBER

OF THESE 73 OFFENCES, THE AMOUNT OF FIXED PENALTY FOR 22 HAS ALSO BEEN REDUCED BY HALF. THE PENALTIES ARE $50 AND $100, EXCEPT FOR THE OFFENCE OF NOT IDENTIFYING THE DRIVER WHICH CARRIES A $200 PENALTY.

OFFENCES STRUCK OFF THE LIST FOR FIXED PENALTIES INCLUDE CARELESS DRIVING AND FAILING TO CARRY A DRIVING LICENCE LYEN DRIVING. THE LATTER IS PROVIDED FOR IN SEPARATE AMENDING LEGISLATION AND WILL BE DEALT WITH ACCORDING TO EXISTING PROCEDURE.

COMMENTING ON THE NEW BILL, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN POINTED

OUT TODAY THAT IT INTRODUCES NO NEW OFFENCES.

THE FACT IS THAT THE OFFENCES FOR WHICH A MOTORIST COULD RECEIVE A FIXED PENALTY TICKET HAVE ALL ALONG BEEN IN EXISTENCE UNDER CURRENT LAW,+ HE SAID.

NOTHING WILL BE CHANGED EITHER AS FAR AS THE EXISTING PROCEDURE OF DISCHARGING CRIMINAL LIABILITY FOR A TRAFFIC OFFENCE IS CONCERNED, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE FIXED PENALTY SYSTEM WAS SIMPLY AN ALTERNATIVE WAY OF PLEADING GUILTY TO CERTAIN OFFENCES, AND IT DID NOT IN ANY WAY WHATSOEVER DEPRIVE THE MOTORIST OF HIS PRESENT RIGHT TO HAVE HIS CASE CONTESTED IN COURT.

+THE MOTORIST CAN BY ALL MEANS OPT NOT TO PAY THE FIXED PENALTY, THUS EXERCISING HIS EXISTING PRIVILEGE TO HAVE HIS CASE DEALT WITH ACCORDING TO THE PRESENT PROCEDURE IS, HEARD IN COURT,+ HE SAID.

THAT

/+TI WOULD