future.

The House of Assembly on Friday passed the Motor Car Amendment (No. 4) Act 1997 which will increase the penalty for driving an unlicensed car.

Transport Minister Wayne Furbert estimated that about ten percent of Bermuda's vehicles were unlicensed.

At the moment the fine for driving an unlicensed car is $100.

And Mr. Furbert said the amendment will close a loophole in the current act.

Currently cars parked in a public place cannot be booked for being unlicensed.

With the amendment, he said, Police and Traffic Wardens will be able to book parked cars.

Shadow Transport Minister Dennis Lister agreed the amendment will make it "more economical'' to license a car instead of "playing the odds'' of getting caught and paying a $100 fine.

But he reminded Mr. Furbert that some families had no choice but to drive an unlicensed car as a result of the heavy economic pressures they faced.

Government backbencher Maxwell Burgess recommended that the Transport Control Department consider sending out notices to remind people that their cars needed relicensing.

And he suggested that insurance companies require people to have their cars licensed before their insurance could be activated.

Fines for unlicensed motorcycles and axiliary cycles will also be raised.