Police could still charge Broadwater MP Verity Barton for repeated unlicensed driving

BROADWATER MP Verity Barton’s unlicensed driving could catch up with her after police confirmed they could use toll booth photos to lay charges.

POLICE could use toll point photographs to lay charges against Broadwater MP Verity Barton, who has repeatedly admitted to unlicensed driving.

Ms Barton was interviewed by officers last week over the offence, which she said occurred after she failed to pay tolls and fines.

Her matter has been moved out of the local traffic branch to be investigated by a traffic inspector in Brisbane.

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Criminologist and former detective inspector Terry Goldsworthy questioned earlier police claims that a charge would be hard to prove without a specific date for offences.

“If they have a general idea, they can charge between a specific date range,” he said.

“There would be photographic evidence with (toll contractor) go via of the car going through the toll point, and that could also give them an idea of dates.”

Mr Goldsworthy said it was “certainly unusual” for charges of unlicensed driving to be handed up to Brisbane HQ.

“I’m not sure of the rationale of why they’ve moved a simple unlicensed driving offence — and it is a simple offence — to be dealt with by a commissioned officer in Brisbane,” he said.

“Junior officers deal with those offences every day.”

Police confirmed yesterday that no charges had been laid and could not say how long the investigation would take.

On the Gold Coast yesterday, Premier Campbell Newman rejected any suggestion the government was interfering in police procedure over the matter.

“That’s a matter for the police,” he said.

“The government does not get involved in police operational matters.”

Police Minister Jack Dempsey declined to answer four questions on how many Gold Coast unlicensed driving investigations were being handled by Brisbane and what role, if any, the government had played in Ms Barton’s case being heard there.

Ms Barton, a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Legal Affairs and Community Safety, spoke strongly in parliament in 2013 against hoons who flouted traffic laws. She commended changes to anti-hooning legislation backing the confiscation of vehicles for repeat unlicensed drivers.