$100 licence crackdown

The State Government is preparing a Bill designed to stop motorists cheating the system and help police identify unlicensed drivers or drivers restricted by a learner or provisional licence.

Drivers currently have 48 hours to present their licence to a police station, creating a loophole that can be exploited.

“People can give false names so we appreciate there are problems with the system now,” she said.

“Somebody supposed to be on their P-plates and they are not carrying their provisional licence, they could give someone else's name so there are ways to get around the system.”

Only motorists on a restricted licence are now required to carry it with them.

Road Safety Minister Carmel Zollo said concern about the rule had led to the proposed law change.

She said the new law would prevent people from trying to “cheat the system” and protect other road users from people attempting to drive illegally.

The tougher powers were recommended by the Road Safety Advisory Council and will be similar to those operating in NSW, Tasmania and New Zealand.

Ms Zollo said Victoria and Queensland were considering similar laws.

“It is about helping us reduce serious and repeat traffic offending in our state,” she said.

Opposition Road Safety spokesman Stephen Wade attacked the move. “This proposal smacks of revenue raising - not road safety,” he said.

“If we could get every one to carry their licence, not one life would be saved."

“In the meantime, such a law would penalise law-abiding South Australians going about their daily lives. The onus is on the Government to show how this would help.”

Ms Excell supported the Bill but said the Government should provide a phase-in period for motorists to ensure they were not unfairly penalised.

The Bill is set to be introduced to Parliament later this year.

Ms Zollo also revealed the state's worst drink drivers would be forced to install alcohol interlock devices to regain their licence under a Bill recently approved.

The law will impact on people caught drink driving twice in five years or those who record an alcohol reading above 0.15.

“Despite all the warnings some South Australians continue to risk their own lives and those of innocent members of the community by drink driving,” she said. “We want to get those people who can't be trusted to do the right thing off the road for longer."

“Alcohol interlocks will make it impossible for them to start their car if they register a positive blood alcohol reading.”

The drivers will be forced to have the device installed in their car for the same period of time that their licence was disqualified.

Road Safety Advisory Council chairman Sir Eric Neal said the device would address behavioural issues as well as protecting other road users.

“Preliminary figures from 2007 show nearly all those killed on our roads with a BAC above 0.05 were in fact over 0.15,” he said.

Do you agree that the $100 licence crackdown is just another revenue-raising tactic? Do you have any alternative suggestions?