Innocent bystander wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2013 at 6:01pm:

Tax the rich instead, they have more money. 

However, you do have a point that is worthy of discussion. I do not agree with such a hike for the reasons you stated.

We should look a little deeper. The SA state government has recently abolished registration stickers. Victoria did the same this year. They detect unpaid registration with technology that recognises number plates that queries a registration database. I do not know the details of the technology but can make an educated guess as to its likely function which I give below.

1. Camera attached to a computer takes photograph of car (could be a real-time video feed)
2. Computer scans the image to find number plates and read them  (which is likely to be quite accurate due to the use of standard fonts and fixed positions)
3. Computer logs the number plate and filters out recent duplicates (a car passing by a camera will be captured several times in quick succession)
4. Computer uses the best guess of the number plate to construct an SQL query to a registration database and obtain the registration status of the vehicle
5. If the car is unregistered it is logged with location, date and time so an infringement notice can be issued

We should find out a few details. What is the cost of this technology? How is it being funded? Where is it being used - police cars, motorways, intersections?

I think the purpose of the tax hike is to act as a strong deterrent against driving an unregistered vehicle. No doubt there's underlying reasons for increasing the penalty for this particular offence. Maybe there's an increase in infringements since the abolition of registration stickers?

Innocent bystander wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2013 at 7:01pm:



Tell 'em to walk.

It might get rid of some of that 'coke and chips' fat.

Next!

greggerypeccary wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2013 at 6:55pm:


only an old-age pensioner like yourself could possible have such an attitude.  the rest of us live in a world that is increasingly the province of severe fines for trivial offences some of which we are not even aware of.  And since car registration does nothing other than proved revenue the least they can do is make the fines appropriate.

Bam wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2013 at 7:02pm:


yeah... the govt would only increase these fines massively for altruistic reasons... are you serious???  this is the same govt that has put huge numbers of speeding cameras around including on DOWNHILLs on freeways.  funnily enough it has a $2B deficit this year.

longweekend58 wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2013 at 7:18pm:




Don't disagree that there should be a penalty, destroying peoples lives because you have blown the budget is not the answer though.

greggerypeccary wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2013 at 6:36pm:


Agreed... and also don't drive an unregistered/uninsured vehicle. I don't want to get into an accident with someone when it's their fault and they're not registered or insured. I don't know about SA but here in NSW you can register your vehicle for six months or quarterly if you're strapped for cash and can't afford a 12 month rego.

aquascoot wrote on Dec 24^th, 2013 at 7:00am:


Amazing... a decision by the SA government and you manage to drag Abbott into it despite him having SFA to do with it.