appearance under a new law.

Instead they would have the chance to pay a fixed fine on producing a driving licence.

Fines would range from $100 for speeding up to 50kph, and $150 for up to 54kph.

Those caught driving over 54kph would face court as under current legislation.

The new system is being put forward to cut back on congestion at Magistrates' Court.

It would be incorporated in the Traffic Offences Procedure Amendment Act 1992.

A bill outlining the legislation was tabled in the House of Assembly on Friday.

As well as removing speeding up to 54kph from the list of reckonable offences, it also prescribes new maximum fines for certain speed limits.

These are $500 for up to and including 50 kph, and $500 for above 50kph, but up to and including 54kph.

It is believed the legislation should be put into effect in around two or three months.

Transport Minister the Hon. Ralph Marshall yesterday told The Royal Gazette of the reasons behind the proposed legislation.

There were about 5,000 minor traffic offences a year which occupied court time, he said.

About 70 percent of those caught speeding were travelling under 55kph.

"We are really trying to save court time and speed up the system,'' explained Mr. Marshall.

"What we are proposing is a system of automatic fines which will be imposed on certain motorists.'' Mr. Marshall said a licence would have to be produced to confirm identification.

If a motorist could not produce it on-the-spot, he would have seven days to do so.

Failure would result in a court summons in the normal way.

Also tabled before Parliament was the Road Traffic Amendment Bill 1992, which seeks to change the drink-drive criteria for motor vehicles and boats.

It would cut the threshold alcohol blood-level figure for impaired driving from 100 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood to 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

The new figures would apply to both driving a motor vehicle and piloting a boat.