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Aus: Cops to disqualify driving license to anyone guilty of anything

O

opi8

Bluelighter
Joined
May 21, 2010
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1,979
... Plus have interlock devices fitted when they get their license back if they thought about smoking a joint when in highschool.

EXCLUSIVE: TENS of thousands more Victorians each year stand to lose their drivers' licences under a new law police are vowing to exercise in court.

Sweeping legal changes which came into effect on September 30 allow courts to suspend or cancel the licence of any person convicted or found guilty of any offence - regardless of whether that offence has anything to do with driving.

Victoria Police has exclusively revealed to the Herald Sun that it will seek to use the new powers in up to 50,000 court cases each year.

It has already briefed its prosecutors on the law.

"If you're convicted or found guilty of any offence, a court may suspend or cancel and disqualify your licence," said Acting Senior Sergeant Richard Bowers, of the Victoria Police Prosecution Division.

"The legislation does not govern or put a limiting factor on which cases it applies to. It's any offence, and it's completely open to the magistrate as to whether or not they impose it.

"Unless a superior court gets hold of one of these cases and says 'Well, this is an inappropriate exercise of discretion,' it will remain open for use for a magistrate to use in any way they see fit."

But the move has angered civil libertarians.

"We are very disturbed at the lack of consultation, given this is such a sweeping and draconian measure," Jane Dixon, SC, the president of Liberty Victoria, said last night.

"To deprive someone of their driving licence can often also deprive them of their livelihood.

"We believe, for well-being, there should be a strong foundation between driving and the offending."

Victoria Police said it would advice its prosecutors to use the legislation in any case where the offending can be linked to using a vehicle, which it estimates at around 50,000 cases a year.

"We will raise the legislation in circumstances where driving had been part and parcel of the offending," Sen-Sgt Bowers said.

"It may be an offence where the accused used a car to commit the offences; for example, residential burglaries, using the car to get around."

In another change to the law, anyone disqualified from driving may be forced to fit an alcohol interlock device in their vehicle when the licence is reinstated, if the original crime can be linked in any way to alcohol or drugs.

First-time offenders, and those guilty of even the most minor offences, will not be exempt from the new law.
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More bullshit at : http://m.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/cops-to-use-licence-to-disqualify-anyone-guilty-of-anything/story-fni0fee2-1226768223410
 
Fucking absolute horse shit this, I never even heard of this before clicking this thread right now, what in the absolute fuck?! In the last few years this is really becoming a police State, I fear that in another decade we will have no rights left at all. I cannot understand why a country that was traditionally liberal and progressive is going backwards so fast in recent years, but it is well and truly happening.

What do they hope to achieve with this? All it does is make life harder for people with convictions, harder to work and harder to live, this is not the situation you want to create for people convicted of a crime if one wants to keep the recidivism rates down. Pretty sure anyone caught dealing who loses their licence as a result and in turn loses their job is gonna go straight back to dealing. It just makes no sense.

I am so angry and disappointed as a citizen of and driver in the State of Victoria. Shame on whatever fuck wits passed this legislation.
 
This is the arbitrary use of power defining tyranny. Why must cops always seek new ways to nurture criminality and marginalize an ever-growing segment of the population?
 
They must be desperate.. you know what fuck them and their bullshit.. I thought the US was the "land of the free" but wow you guys might be pulling ahead..
 
Looks like no one will be driving in au anymore. At least there will be less pollution. Thats so fucked up.
 
So this law affects tens of thousands? If the courts do follow through they will create a near-permanent criminal underclass. Maybe I made the assumption about needing a drivers license to work. It surely is that way here. I would lose my job for sure. Can't commute, no mass transit where I work.
The courts are totally overreaching here. So if I get a misdemeanor pot charge, my drivers license is revoked? What next gulags?
 
I predict that sales of motorised and/or electric bikes will skyrocket in Victoria, and with many novices commuting, will result in many more road deaths.
 
Are motorised or electric bikes even legal? They'll probably get you on that charge and disqualify your car license.

As already mentioned this law is a total joke, and I really can't see them using it much, if at all. I hadn't heard of this at all before reading it here either.

But in NSW we have a law that barry o'fail got passed that is something to do with if you get caught doing graffiti and you are on P's or L's (and maybe full, not too sure) they can take away your license as a penalty. There was a semi-recent article that I read that said since the law was passed (pretty sure it was like a while ago, 6-12 months maybe?) there has not been one instance of it being used in court as a punishment as yet.
 
Everyone's license should be revoked. Cars are a planetary infection. They've arguably done more damage to the earth than the comet that eliminated the dinosaurs.
 
23536 said:
Everyone's license should be revoked. Cars are a planetary infection. They've arguably done more damage to the earth than the comet that eliminated the dinosaurs.
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Humans are a planetary infection, motor vehicles are just a systemic expression of that infection.
 
Police states are scary no matter what the circumstances. If they keep this up it is going to look like Mad max over there before too long.
 
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