Waiving of wait for extraordinary driver's licence

The mandatory 21-day wait before disqualified drivers can apply for an extraordinary licence may be waived for people suffering extreme hardship.

Police Minister Graham Edwards said he was seriously considering allowing the exemption for drivers who lost their licence as a result of non-alcohol related offences.

"The present three-week wait before a person can apply to the courts for an extraordinary licence can often result in unwarranted hardship," Mr Edwards said.

"This applies particularly to people whose jobs depend on their ability to drive or who may have serious family commitments."

Mr Edwards said he had ordered a review of the Road Traffic Act so that people in these situations, whose licences had been suspended because of an accumulation of relatively minor offences, could make application for an extraordinary licence immediately.