SA government making millions from rego fines

More than 3500 drivers are caught in unregistered and uninsured vehicles each month - the highest rate since registration stickers were abolished - delivering a $7 million annual fines windfall to the South Australian State Government.

The number of such offences has risen 50 per cent since the stickers were dumped in July 2011, to save the Government $2 million a year. It has attributed the surge in fines revenue since the abolition of stickers to the increased number of traffic cameras able to scan registration plates, but the figures have prompted calls for a return of stickers, which clearly show when registration fees are due.

The South Australian Motor Trade Association and Opposition say the return of stickers would remind people to renew their registrations and avoid fines of more than $1000 - $404 for being unregistered and $696 for not being covered by compulsory third-party insurance.

Motorists who drive an uninsured car are also liable for medical bills if they injure another person in a crash.

SA MTA chief executive officer Paul Unerkov said the fines increase was not surprising.

"The latest figures seem to back up the MTA's prediction in 2011 that there would be a spike in the number of South Australians unintentionally caught driving an unregistered vehicle due to the abolition of registration stickers," he said.

"Despite the mechanisms in place to notify South Australians when their vehicle registration is due, errors happen and many drivers still prefer the visual cue that a reminder sticker on the windshield gave them." Mr Unerkov is calling on the Government to consider reinstating the registration stickers.

Since the abolition of stickers, News Corp Australia has reported several cases in which fines were withdrawn after renewal notices were sent to the wrong addresses.

These include southern-suburbs woman Chantel Merrett, who successfully challenged her fine in court in May last year, resulting in changes being made to the EzyReg website to simplify the renewal process.

Latest police figures show an average of 2340 drivers of unregistered and uninsured vehicles were caught each month in 2011-12 - the first year stickers were abolished.

In 2012-13, the monthly average was 3412, followed by 3379 in 2013-14 and 3512 a month this financial year.

The increase means the Government is estimated to receive up to $19 million in fines this financial year, compared to $12 million in 2011-12.

Police said they had "continued to pursue opportunities to improve methods of detection" of unregistered and uninsured cars.

Failing to maintain a vehicle's registration and subsequent CTP insurance is an offence

"Increased numbers of fixed cameras and automatic numberplate recognition devices have assisted in detecting offences related to motor vehicles," a police spokesman said.

"In the event that a driver of a South Australian registered vehicle is involved in a crash, (third-party) insurance provides compensation to any parties that may be injured as a result of that crash," he said.

"Failing to maintain a vehicle's registration and subsequent CTP insurance is an offence and may also result in the driver/owner of the vehicle being liable to the costs associated with any personal injury resulting from a crash." Opposition transport spokesman Corey Wingard said stickers were "a useful way to check if a vehicle is registered and also a reminder to renew their registration for many South Australians".

"I have had residents tell me that they have been pulled up by the police for accidentally driving unregistered because they received no reminder notice, and no longer had the sticker to remind them," he said.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the increase in fines was a result of intensified law enforcement.

"My advice is that the increase in detection of unregistered and uninsured vehicles can almost entirely be put down to the installation and use of automatic numberplate recognition and safety cameras," he said.

"For example, about 10,000 unregistered and uninsured vehicles were detected in the last financial year through the safety camera network." Mr Mulligan said the Government provided several registration renewal options, including direct debit, paying online, by smartphone app, telephone, at a post office and through Service SA.

"People can also register to receive a reminder SMS and/or email seven days before their registration is due and can check their current status online or via the smartphone app," he said.