Nearly 20 months after the introduction of reforms to NSW licence laws, Mudgee Local Court heard an application to remove a disqualification.
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In October 2017 the amendment gave local courts the power to lift the disqualification period for those who have been compliant with their disqualification period for two or four years - depending on the case.
They are then eligible to reapply for a licence, however they still need to apply to Roads and Maritime Services and complete standard road safety and knowledge tests prior to having their licence reinstated.
Those who have been convicted of driving offences involving death or grievous bodily harm aren't eligible.
Upon granting a 28-year-old man's application in Mudgee Local Court on Wednesday, Magistrate David Day noted that the effect of the changes hasn't been what some had predicted.
"When these reforms were introduced it was anticipated that there would be a flood of applications," he said. "But in the country the flood wasn't forthcoming and it was suggested - not by me - that it's because people here can't stay out of trouble for two years."
The defendant's solicitor, Emma McDonnell, suggested, "perhaps they believed that the temptation to drive is greater without public transport." To which His Honour concurred, "quite right, Ms McDonnell".
Attorney General Mark Speakman called the changes "incentives for disqualified drivers to do the right thing" at the time of the announcement. And added, "the reforms will have a significant effect in regional and rural NSW where limited public transport options impact on unauthorised drivers' decisions to risk getting back behind the wheel".
The then Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight, Melinda Pavey, said that aim was also to put an end to lengthy disqualification periods which she claimed weren't a deterrent.
"The reforms also deliver a clearer pathway back to lawful driving for disqualified drivers who comply with their disqualification and demonstrate they can be trusted," she said. "Lengthy disqualification periods - which can currently exceed 10 years - provide no incentive to return to lawful driving."
The reforms also included the abolishment of the Habitual Traffic Offender Scheme, whereby a person convicted of three relevant driving offences in a five-year period was banned from holding a licence for five years.