First driver fined under new law as police crack down on high performance vehicles

A driver has been fined for the first time after a new rule was introduced following the tragic death of a teenager.

A Lamborghini driver is believed to be the first person charged under a new law that requires some motorists to have a special licence.

New legislation in South Australia came into force on December 1 this year that requires drivers of ultra high-powered vehicles (UHPV) to hold a U class licence.

Essentially, it’s a crackdown on drivers of heavy vehicles and so-called “supercars” in a bid to improve safety.

Drivers who flout the rules can be hit with six demerit points a maximum fine of $2500 for the first offence. The penalty for subsequent offences could be one year of imprisonment.

On Monday, police in South Australia revealed a man had been fined for allegedly breaching the new law on Sunday.

The fine was issued on the first day the legislation came into force.

A man was fined under new ultra high-powered vehicle legislation in South Australia. Picture: South Australia Police

“About 7.30am on Sunday 1 December, police stopped a Lamborghini Huracan on Queensborough Ave, Hillcrest after noticing it was not bearing a rear number plate,” a South Australia Police spokesman wrote in a media release.

“The officer identified the vehicle as being classed as an UHPV however checks on the man’s licence revealed that he did not have the required ‘U’ class licence endorsement.

“A 36-year-old man from Evandale was issued with an expiation notice for driving with an expired licence for that class of vehicle.”

Sophia Naismith’s death sparked a campaign for change. Picture: Supplied by family

The UHPV licence is required for a vehicle with a gross vehicle mass of up to 4.5 tonnes or a power to weight ratio of 276 kilowatts per tonne or more (excluding buses and motor bikes).

The requirement for the licence was introduced following the death of Sophia Naismith, according to the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

In June 2019, Sophia Naismith, and her best friend Jordyn Callea, were walking along Morphett Rd in Glengowrie when a $330,000 luxury Lamborghini mounted a kerb and hit the two 15-year-old girls before crashing into a Chinese restaurant.

Sophia Naismith was killed and Jordyn Callea was seriously injured.

Lamborghini driver Alexander Campbell, 37, was found not guilty of death by dangerous driving. He pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of aggravated driving without due care.

He was sentenced to community service hours and handed an 18-month good behaviour bond over the crash.

The Naismiths campaigned for changes and they were introduced, with Attorney-General Kyam Maher saying: “If you drive an ultra high-powered vehicle, you need to go through training to have that accredited on your licence.”

Originally published as First driver fined under new law as police crack down on high performance vehicles