Police probe Gibson's record
GYMPIE MP David Gibson faces possible large fines or even jail for unlicensed driving, if a threatened police investigation discloses multiple similar offences.
Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson yesterday announced a high-level investigation into other possible breaches during the time Mr Gibson's licence was suspended (as a result of not paying a speeding fine last year).
THE increasingly strange saga of MP David Gibson's unpaid speeding fine grew stranger yesterday when Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson announced further investigations into Mr Gibson's driving history.
Mr Gibson announced yesterday he was seeking legal advice on his position.
Mr Atkinson denied Mr Gibson was being discriminated against by the further probe.
He said Mr Gibson would be interviewed by an inspector from the state traffic support branch, who would ask him about other times when he may have driven while his licence was suspended.
"In circumstances where the driver is identified, (the police response) will normally include a police interview with the driver," Mr Atkinson said.
Meanwhile, lawyers throughout Queensland are hopeful the Gibson case will lead to changes in legislation which many say has been unjust for years.
One said a conservative government last century had introduced a change requiring motorists charged with unlicensed driving to prove any claims that they had not been informed of a suspension.
"It was introduced by a conservative government to make it easier to get convictions, mainly against young blokes, but now it seems to have come back to bite them," he said.
"A lot of people will be hoping that something will change now that there has been such a high-profile case."
Young people needing their licences to get to work in regional areas had sometimes lost their jobs as well as their licences.
"Gibson is not exactly losing his all here."
Lawyers also have questioned details of the Gibson saga, saying it seems unusual, if reports on the matter are accurate.
Mr Gibson yesterday Tweeted that he was looking for a good lawyer.
Premier Campbell Newman has now promised to review of how the State Penalties Enforcement Registry delivers licence suspension notices.
Current law means that if a driver, like Mr Gibson, wants to claim he did not receive notices of suspension, he bears the onus of proof.
