Police investigating after Gold Coast MP admitted she drove while unlicensed

POLICE are investigating revelations Broadwater MP Verity Barton drove while unlicensed after she confessed to the offence last week.

POLICE are investigating revelations Broadwater MP Verity Barton drove while unlicensed after she confessed to the offence last week.

Police yesterday confirmed the case was with a traffic inspector in Brisbane, but could not give a time frame for when — or if — charges would be laid.

Broadwater MP Verity Barton.

Ms Barton on Friday admitted she had “unknowingly” driven while unlicensed after her licence was suspended twice due to unpaid fines — in 2012 and 2013.
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If she drove both times her licence was suspended, she could have her car impounded under the same hoon laws she presented to parliament in 2013.

“We all know how hardworking our QPS officers are and anything that we can do to make the burdens of their job a little bit easier and a little bit less are, in my opinion, a good thing,” she said at the time.

Other penalties for unlicensed driving include fines of up to $4400 and a year in prison.

Ms Barton, who went to bizarre lengths to avoid questions on the issue last week, did not answer calls from the Bulletin yesterday, instead sending a text message saying “I haven’t got anything more to say that I haven’t already said”.

Gold Coast Traffic Branch Acting Senior Sergeant Steve Young said the matter was with branch’s Brisbane HQ.

“Road Policing Command is investigating a matter that has come to our attention,” he said. “At the conclusion of that investigation, as with all matters, the evidence will be considered and a decision to charge or not to charge will be made.”

The Department of Transport and Main Roads website warns that if a person drives a vehicle while their licence is suspended “you will be charged with unlicensed driving”.

Government Ministers are required to release their diaries to the public