In a major operation this morning, NT Police have stopped and tested 1,323 vehicles, fined 24 people for driving unregistered vehicles and issued 13 defect notices on un-roadworthy vehicles.

The crackdown on vehicle registrations was conducted in conjunction with random breath testing undertaken between 7am and 11am on McMillans Road.

Police also apprehended two drivers with mid and low-range breath alcohol readings of 0.089 and 0.079.

Seven drivers were found to have expired or suspended licences.

Police were accompanied this morning by officers from the Department of Transport in order to facilitate on-the-spot registration of vehicles, and several people took advantage of this.

The intention of the crackdown is to reinforce the message that registration of vehicles is required for safety reasons and also to remind people that Police will still know whether a vehicle is registered or not despite registration stickers no longer being required.

“It’s so important that a vehicle is registered. There’s a greater chance that an unregistered vehicle is not road worthy, which puts all road users at risk of crashes and injury,” said Superintendent Robert Rennie.

“Police have Automatic Number Plate Recognition technology (ANPR) which makes it easier to detect unregistered vehicles.  Police are in the process of expanding the roll out of the ANPR technology to additional Police vehicles across the Northern Territory.

“The advice from Police is simple. Don’t let your vehicle registration run out. Don’t drive an unregistered car or motorbike and don’t put your safety or the safety of your family and other road users at risk.”

The vehicle registration fees were used in part to fund the Northern Territory Motor Accidents Compensation scheme and anyone who is injured while driving or a passenger in an unregistered vehicle may not be covered for medical costs.