Licence dodgers have paid more than $260,000 in fines since a new electronic monitoring system was introduced onto Bermuda's roads – including one owner who racked up $63,000 in citations.

The Electronic Vehicle Registration system (EVR) went live in July to track unlicenced and uninsured vehicles.

According to Premier and Transport Minister Ewart Brown a report last month showed that EVR had collected more than $267,000 in fines from people attending Magistrates' Court.

"Vehicle owners now realising they cannot beat the system are going to TCD to ensure their vehicles are tagged," said the Premier.

On average eight percent of all four-wheeled vehicles went unlicenced.

The Premier added: "For the motoring public, unlicenced vehicles on the road equate to greater risk because unlicenced vehicles have not received an annual safety inspection.

"Today I can report that our roads are indeed safer than they were before EVR.

"The Director's August Report shows that EVR has already collected more than $267,000 in fines from persons attending Magistrates Courts."

Vehicle owners now realise they cannot beat the system and are going to TCD to ensure their vehicles are tagged, said Dr. Brown, who added: "Perhaps they have heard of the driver who was slapped with a $5,000 fine thanks to EVR. Had that driver complied with the rules, the total fee owed would have been just $1,000.

"EVR has also racked up citations totaling $20,000 on a single vehicle holder. In another case, traffic officers impounded a vehicle after its owner hit $63,000 in citations.

"Although those situations are extreme one thing is clear – when everybody pays, everybody saves."

Dr. Brown also paid tribute to summer student Jason Outerbridge who developed a questionnaire to ensure truck permit holders were not abusing their privileges.

He said Mr. Outerbridge's work, which included several hundred interviews, had led to 31 Light Truck Permits being revoked in the last month.

The study followed a moratorium on commercial vehicle permits. Now drivers of intermediate and heavy trucks will be investigated.

Dr. Brown said the moratorium will remain in effect at least until the second quarter of 2009.

TCD also plan to introduce tagging on bikes but no timeline was given at yesterday's press conference.