June 25 1999
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hon Maurice Williamson
Minister of Transport

WILLIAMSON STANDS BY COMMENTS

Transport Minister Maurice Williamson stands by the comments he has always made about ticketing of drivers who are not carrying their driver licence since the new regime came into effect on May 3.

He was responding to claims made by Labour Police spokesperson George Hawkins, who said Mr Williamson had broken a promise due to 463 drivers a week being ticketed for not carrying a licence.

"I've said all along that if you're not committing another offence and can satisfy police of your identity, you won't get ticketed and this remains the case," said Mr Williamson.

"The 463 people a week issued with these tickets have not satisfied this criteria."

Mr Hawkins claimed that the increase in such tickets being issued from 176 a week, before May, and 463 after the new regime indicated the Government could not be trusted.

"I would have thought an opposition Police spokesperson would know more about the reasons for the limited amount of tickets issued before the change."

Before the changes came in, drivers who were not carrying a licence had seven days to produce one, which made it almost impossible for police to link the driver to the subsequent licence produced.

"With the new changes, Police now have the confidence and power to make the link immediately, which explains the increase."

"I stand by the statements I have always made about mandatory carriage. It's also important to remember that Police issue at least 7000 traffic infringement notices a week so 6537 drivers receiving such notices have not also been ticketed for not carrying their licence."

ENDS

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