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Driving – what's the law?

This video provides basic legal information about driving without a proper licence or car registration. It is the part of a series of videos about the law for people who have recently arrived in Australia.

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Transcript

Text: Driving

[An image shows of a silver sedan pulling up to the curb in a suburban street.]

[Vision changes to an image of a man, Raja, walking along the footpath.]

[Vision changes to the driver getting out of the car and waving to his friend.]

Driver: Hey Raja! Look at my new car.

[Vision changes to an image of Raja expressing his admiration for the car while the driver stands proudly alongside.]

Raja: Wow! It’s good man! When did you get your licence?

Driver: I still got my licence from my home country.

Raja: Well, you want a job?

[Vision changes to an image of the driver happily giving a thumbs up in agreement.]

Driver: Sure.

[Vision changes to an image of the two men standing beside the car.]

Raja: Now that you have a car, you can do some deliveries for me. Come on Monday morning.

[An image shows of the driver holding a box and standing on the footpath in a shopping precinct.]

Driver: OK. I’ll get a GPS!

[Vision changes to an image of the driver happily giving a thumbs up to Raja.]

[Vision fades to black.]

[An image shows of the driver looking towards the rear seat of his car.]

[Vision changes to an image of two young boys sitting in the backseat of the car with no seatbelts on.]

Driver: You like our new car?

Kids: Yeah!

Driver: No more carrying heavy bags Lakshmi!

[Vision changes to an image of the driver’s wife, Lakshmi, sitting in the front passenger seat.]

Driver: And I’ll be working Monday!

[Vision changes to an image of the car parked on a suburban street.]

[The ignition sounds and the scene fades to black.]

[Police sirens sound and an image shows of a police car in the rear-view mirror.]

[Vision changes to an image of Lakshmi sitting in the front passenger seat.]

Lakshmi: Hey, what’s that police car doing?

[Vision changes to an image of the driver looking confused.]

Driver: Oh, I don’t know, but I better stop.

[Vision changes to an image of a policeman standing by the open window of the car.]

Policeman: Can I see your licence?

Driver: Here you are.

[Vision changes to an image of an drivers license from another country.]

Policeman: This licence isn’t valid here. It’s an offence to drive without a valid licence.

[Vision changes to an image of a policeman standing by the open window of the car.]

Policeman: You’ll get a letter and you’ll have to go to court about this.

[Vision changes to an image of the driver looking over helplessly at Lakshmi.]

Driver: Court?

[Vision changes to an image of the policeman writing a ticket.]

Policeman: And your car isn’t registered.

[Vision changes to an image of the driver looking indignant.]

Driver: But I just bought it!

[Vision changes to an image of a policeman standing by the open window of the car.]

Policeman: Well, you have to register the car before you can take it on the road.

[Vision changes to an image of the driver looking over helplessly at Lakshmi.]

Policeman: And the kids aren’t in child seats. I will have to give you a fine.

[Vision changes to an image of the policeman writing a fine.]

Policeman: Make sure you pay by the due date.

[Vision changes to an image of the driver looking helplessly out the car window.]

Driver: How can I pay these fines? I don’t understand!

Policeman: If you don’t understand you can go and get free legal advice from Legal Aid.

[Vision changes to an image of the reception of Legal Aid through glass doors. A sign on the doors reads “Legal Aid Lawyers And Services”.]

Policeman: And you can’t drive until you get the proper licence and register the car.

[Vision fades to black.]

[An image shows of Raja looking incredulously as his friend arrives at work on a bicycle.]

Raja: Where’s your car?

[Vision changes to an image of the friend looking serious.]

Friend: I can’t drive until I get an Australian licence... and I have to go to court!

[Vision changes to an image of Raja looking surprised and sympathetic.]

Raja: Court. Oh no!

[Vision changes to an image of the friend looking serious.]

Friend: And I have to pay so much money in fines!

[Vision changes to an image Raja gesturing sympathetically to his friend.]

Raja: Well, bad luck! No car, no job... Come and see me when your problems are fixed.

[Vision changes to an image of Raja looking disappointed.]

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