By Brady Lang

Driving without a licence or an unregistered vehicle: #DoNotRiskIt

Nov 1, 2018 | 3:49 PM

Do not risk it. That’s the message from SGI when it comes to driving while suspended or operating uninsured vehicles. With November’s Traffic Safety spotlight, police will be watching for people and vehicles that shouldn’t be on the road due to suspended licenses or a lack of insurance.

Tyler McMurchy, media relations manager with SGI said it doesn’t seem like an issue right now, but it is definitely one that is becoming more common. There are approximately 54,000 suspended drivers in Saskatchewan on any given day, according to statistics from SGI. 

The SGI monthly spotlight is promoting the hashtag #DoNotRiskIt, urging the public to obey traffic safety regulations.

“One of the reasons for that is the proliferation of license plate readers across Saskatchewan,” he said. “SGI has been funding Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) for law enforcement vehicles for a number of years now. There are currently 138 SGI-funded ALPRs in law enforcement vehicles across Saskatchewan.”

ALPRs are high-speed, computer-controlled camera systems that have been put into various law enforcement vehicles across the province, including those used by police, conservation officers and community safety officers. Up to date, SGI has invested approximately $4.13 million in the technology to cover the actual costs of the ALPRs and installation, maintenance and any necessary repairs. McMurchy said the Crown corporation is really cracking down on illegal vehicles, or illegal drivers across the province.

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“One thing that everybody needs to be aware of is these vehicles can scan one license plate per second,” he said. “So if you’re driving past (a law enforcement vehicle) that is equipped, (it’s) scanning your license plate.”

The consequences for driving with a suspended license aren’t a short list, and can include Criminal Code charges, fines, jail time and vehicle seizures, or for repeat offenders, a five-year provincial suspension or a retake of the driver’s exam. 

If you’re driving without a license, a suspended license, or an unregistered vehicle and get into an accident, there’s a possibility you could be paying for the damages to your vehicle and anything you come in contact with out of your own pocket. That includes houses, other vehicles on the road or any other property.

“It should be a concern for the person who doesn’t have insurance,” he said. “Your insurance coverage won’t kick in. You will be responsible personally for the damage that results in that.”

The fine for driving an unregistered vehicle is $580, and one demerit point in the driver improvement program, with repeat offences resulting in a seven-day vehicle seizure.

brady.lang@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @BradyLangCJNB