Lamborghini driver first fined for no special circumstances

South Australia launches special driver’s license for drivers of “ultra-high-power vehicles” on December 1

An Australian man has been fined for driving a Lamborghini Huracan STO without the state’s new “Ultra Performance Vehicle” license, which local lawmakers just launched on December 1.

South Australian authorities will begin issuing special licenses for high-performance vehicle drivers in 2023 after a 15-year-old pedestrian was hit and killed by the driver of a Lamborghini Huracan. Any vehicle weighing less than 4,500 kilograms (9,920 pounds) and having a power-to-weight ratio exceeding 276 kilowatts or 370 horsepower per ton (2,200 pounds) will require a new “U” license.

READ: South Australia launches new supercar license with tougher penalties for dangerous drivers

It didn’t take long for police to arrest the first man without a proper license. The Huracan STO, which was without power, was pulled over at 7:30 a.m. on December 1, just 7.5 hours before the bill went into effect. The man was issued a ticket notice for driving on an expired license for such a vehicle. It’s unclear how much the driver was fined, but the maximum fine for a first offense is $2,500.

Interestingly, the police first noticed the Huracan STO after seeing it had no rear license plate. If the 36-year-old driver had posted his license plate, he might never have been pulled over.

Obtaining a “U” license for an “Ultra High Power Vehicle” is simple. All drivers need to do is complete the $40 online course, which takes about 45 minutes, and then take the test. South Australia Police said the course teaches individuals how to safely operate a UHPV and the risks associated with driving the vehicle, including important vehicle features such as electronic stability control, autonomous emergency braking and other automated intervention systems.

The introduction of this special license is not the only new rule enforced by South Australian authorities. UHPV drivers who disable their car’s ABS, automatic emergency braking, electronic stability control or traction control systems can be fined up to AU$5,000 (approximately US$3,200).