ACT Policing and NSW Police join forces to combat illegal driving

ACT Policing's Traffic Operations has joined forces with Queanbeyan's Highway Patrol in an effort to detect motorists driving illegally on ACT and NSW roads.

ACT Policing's deployment of its number plate recognition system RAPID (Recognition and Analysis of Plates IDentified) has resulted in the detection of a number of unregistered vehicles during the first day of a two day campaign (September 8 and 9).

For the first time, the campaign sees RAPID equipment working at a road stop in conjunction with the NSW Police number plate recognition system in an effort to monitor all vehicles travelling through the detection zone.

Over a two hour period today (September 8) in Oaks Estate, ACT Policing noted the following results:

• 10 unregistered ACT vehicles detected;
• 10 ACT persons found with licence issues (either suspended, inactive or unlicensed).

Traffic Operations' Superintendent Mark Colbran said he continues to be disappointed at the number of people who drive unlicensed or who fail to address the issue of proper registration and third party insurance for their vehicles.

"What many people fail to realise is that driving whilst unlicensed or without registration and compulsory third party insurance is not only against the law but also exposes the driver or rider to the potential for significant civil litigation if they are involved in a collision in which property is damaged or people are hurt," Supt Colbran said.

RAPID is in regular use by Traffic Operations throughout the ACT.