Unregistered Cars, Illegal Drivers All Over The Road
The Age
Tuesday August 23, 2005
A MASSIVE increase in the number of unregistered vehicles and unlicensed drivers being detected on Victoria's roads has been revealed.
Police statistics show 46,601 people were caught driving unregistered vehicles last year - almost double the 23,911 recorded six years earlier.On average last year, about 900 unregistered vehicles were being detected on the roads every week, or more than 125 a day.Experts say the figure is likely to be a fraction of the full number of unregistered vehicles because such offences are usually only detected when drivers are stopped for other misdemeanours, such as speeding."Almost 50,000 vehicles is scary but I think it's probably a bigger problem than that," said RACV general manager Ken Ogden. In the six-year period, the number of motorists caught driving without a licence also rose significantly, from 12,362 in 1998 to 17,787 last year.The revelations come as police prepare to introduce new number plate recognition cameras that will target unregistered and unlicensed drivers - almost certainly adding to the number caught.The head of the Victoria Police traffic support division, Peter Keogh, said the introduction of more speed cameras in recent years had contributed to the increase in the figures because some drivers booked for speeding were then found to be unregistered and because speed cameras had resulted in the issue of more licence demerit points. But Superintendent Keogh said there were other factors. "To be honest, some people are probably taking the chance not to be caught," he said.According to one theory supported by Mr Ogden, rises in the cost of vehicle registration may have tempted some people to drive unregistered."Motorists are more than paying their way in terms of fuel tax and registration fees," Mr Ogden said. Between 1998 and 2005, registration for a family sedan in Melbourne, including compulsory third-party insurance, increased from $442 to $546. A report in June by Ombudsman George Brouwer found an outdated VicRoads computer system and problems with the registration process had also contributed to the number of unregistered drivers.Superintendent Keogh said police believed those who drove unregistered might be more likely to commit other driving offences. VicRoads head of licensing and registration Geoff Shanks declined to speak to The Age, but a spokeswoman said the roads body believed the increase in unregistered driving offences in recent years was due to increased police enforcement, rather than an increase in the number of unregistered vehicles on the road.Meanwhile, number plate recognition cameras, which will target unregistered cars and unlicensed drivers, are likely to be introduced in Victoria within six months, Superintendant Keogh said.The British-designed system features a camera connected to a computer and a database of blacklisted vehicles. "It's a camera that reads number plates as a car is passing," Superintendent Keogh said. "It checks that plate with data in the computer which tells if there is a reason for police to stop the car, for example if it is unregistered."The devices, which cost about $20,000 each, are able to notify police if a passing vehicle is of interest before it has travelled 200 metres. The vehicle can then be pulled over by a second police unit further down the road.As well as unregistered and unlicensed vehicles, the technology will allow police to scan for stolen cars and vehicles connected to other crimes.
© 2005 The Age