From this month, it’s harder than ever to drive a high-performance car in Australia, something one Lamborghini owner found out the hard way. On the very first day of a new law, he finally received what could be the inaugural ticket for driving an “ultra-high-performance vehicle” without the newly required driver’s license for it.
Earlier this year, the province of South Australia passed a law requiring anyone wanting to drive a car with a power-to-weight ratio of at least 370 horsepower per 1,000 kg (2,200 pounds) to buy an ‘ultra-high-performance’ car to acquire. vehicle license (UHPV). It also requires these individuals to leave features such as traction control turned on at all times.
A 36-year-old man without a license plate on his Lamborghini Huracan STO found this out the hard way on December 1, when the law came into effect.
At around 7.30am on Sunday, December 1, police stopped a Lamborghini Huracan on Queensborough Avenue, Hillcrest, after noticing it was not carrying a rear number plate. The officer identified the vehicle as a UHPV, but checks on the man’s driver’s license revealed he did not have the required U-class endorsement,” South Australia Police said in a post on Facebook. The maximum penalty for this first offense is $1,625 USD ($2,500 AU).
Somewhat hilariously, obtaining this special license requires little more than an online exam that reportedly takes less than an hour to complete. That makes them about $40 USD ($61 AU), and then Bob’s your uncle, they now know how to safely drive an ultra-high-performance vehicle. Will those who obtain this sacred driver’s license gain new privileges, such as driving at higher speeds or the freedom to pass in special places? Absolutely not. Their privilege is essentially simply being able to continue driving the car they were in last month.
While it may sound wild to Americans, the new law is in line with a long history of strict Australian motor vehicle laws regarding driving behavior and car modifications. The police can confiscate a vehicle after only a second violation in some hooning situations for example.
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