Automated licence plate readers can scan one plate per second – are yours expired? #DoNotRiskIt
Regina, SK (Nov. 3, 2017) – Your driver’s licence is suspended, or maybe your licence plates are expired, but you still think you can keep driving as long as you’re careful and don’t do anything to attract police attention?
Think again. For November’s Traffic Safety Spotlight, police will be watching for people driving with suspended licences and people driving vehicles that don’t have current plates. They’ll be helped by automated licence plate readers (ALPRs), which make it easier for law enforcement to quickly and efficiently identify risky drivers/vehicles.
Dozens of police cars throughout Saskatchewan have been equipped with this technology over the past few years, with help from funding from SGI.
You need a valid driver’s licence, registration and insurance to legally drive a motor vehicle on public roads in Saskatchewan.
At any given time, more than 50,000 drivers are suspended in Saskatchewan for periods of time ranging from a few days to indefinitely. Unfortunately, some people choose not to abide by their suspensions. In 2016, there were more than1,800 convictions for driving while disqualified.
“People don’t get suspended without cause. They may have their driving privileges revoked due to impaired driving or other dangerous driving behaviours, which can put other road users at risk,” said Earl Cameron, Executive Vice-President of the Auto Fund. “To anyone who makes the bad decision to drive without a valid license or insurance, our message is simple: Do not risk it.”
The consequences for driving while disqualified are serious, with potential Criminal Code charges, fines, jail time and a minimum 30-day vehicle seizure (along with the resulting fees). If you cause a collision and don’t have a valid licence or insurance, you can be held responsible for all the resulting costs.
The consequence for operating an unregistered vehicle is a $580 fine and one demerit point in the Driver Improvement Program. Repeat offences result in a seven-day vehicle seizure.
About SGI CANADA
Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is the province’s self-sustaining auto insurance fund. SGI operates 21 claims centres and five salvage centres across Saskatchewan with a head office in Regina. SGI also works with a network of nearly 400 motor licence issuers across the province. Customers can now do some transactions online. For more information, visit www.sgicanada.ca.
Source: SGI CANADA
Tags: SGI
