Blitz: Senior Sergeant David Magher.
ERIN PEARSON
POLICE are urging drivers across the region to update registration and licence details to avoid “heavy fines” after an operation caught illegal motorists last week.
Senior Sergeant David Magher said police issued 14 tickets for unregistered vehicles or unlicensed drivers in the licence plate blitz at Drysdale.
“The real thing that stands out is 14 people got tickets for $611 each, which is a pretty hefty fine,” Snr Sgt Magher said.
“In a lot of cases people could’ve avoided it just by renewing their license and registration. There is a heavy penalty for not doing it and of course then you’ve got to turn around and register your vehicle anyway.”
Snr Sgt Magher said a woman in her 70s was one of two who would face court on charges of unlicensed driving.
After losing her license due to drink driving she never applied to court to get it back, he said.
“You have to go and stand up to a magistrate and tell them you understand the consequences of your actions,” Snr Sgt Magher warned.
“People have an obligation on the roads and we’re just educating them. If we have to penalise them well so be it if it makes them learn.”
Snr Sgt Magher said an automatic number-plate recognition technology scanned 3128 vehicles.
The technology used number-plate details to databases, instantly identifying wanted drivers or vehicles.
Snr Sgt Magher said police conducted similar operations without warning around the region “fairly regularly”.
