Suspended drivers ‘epidemic’

Magistrate Denis Temby has declared the number of people caught driving under suspension is at ‘‘epidemic proportions’’.

Mr Temby made the comment last Wednesday after nearly a third of the listings in his courtroom at Rockingham Magistrate’s Court were for people caught driving without a valid driver’s license.

Peel Metropolitan Traffic Sen. Sgt Stuart Mearns said increased intelligence and technology meant more people were being caught and appearing before the courts.

Sen. Sgt Mearns said there were more than 3500 suspended drivers in the Peel area and since the start of July, police had impounded 83 vehicles after catching suspended drivers.

‘‘We deliberately target known, repeat drivers under suspension,’’ he said.

‘‘We get the court lists, we know where they live, we know they are under suspension.’’

In 2011-12, 564 suspended drivers in the district had their vehicle impounded for 28 days after 650 were seized in 2010-11.

Sen. Sgt Mearns said attitudes of drivers who were not meant to be behind the wheel of a vehicle was a major issue for police.

‘‘They don’t see it as a crime,’’ he said.

‘‘The reason they’re suspended is they’re not a very good driver.

‘‘They are thumbing their noses at the court and thumbing their nose at the community and society.’’

After a tip-off from the public, police caught a Bertram couple driving under suspension following a targeted operation two weeks ago.

The woman was caught driving twice in the same week, once in her personal vehicle and the second time in a company vehicle. Her partner was also caught driving under suspension in his work vehicle.

Police seized all three vehicles.

The penalty for driving under suspension includes a fine of up to $6000 and a 12-month prison sentence.