An 18-year-old driver became the first in South Otago caught out by a new law when his car keys were confiscated for breaching his licence conditions, Balclutha police said.
The teenager, who has a restricted licence, was found to be carrying passengers when his car was stopped on Barnego Rd last Friday night.
Police said an argument developed with the driver when they confiscated his keys and he had to call a fully licensed driver to pick him up.
Sergeant Martin Bull, of Balclutha, said under the new law, which came into effect on December 1, learner and restricted drivers found in breach of their driving conditions would have their keys confiscated or their car immobilised.
"If you are [found] in breach of your licence, you will not be able to continue in your night's activities with just a ticket . . . you will have to comply with the law," he said.
The way drivers are fined has also changed.
Under the new law, fines have dropped from $400 to just $100, but the demerit points associated with infringements have increased from 25 to 35.
Sergeant Bull said this meant a driver had to be caught only three times breaching their licence conditions to suffer a three-month loss of licence.
- Rachel Taylor
