Increased traffic control by Ukraine's traffic police and sterner judgments by court judges has resulted in a surge of driver's licenses being confiscated this year.

Stronger patrolling is attributed to President Viktor Yushchenko's November decree that called for tighter traffic security and brought in more than 37,000 confiscated licenses since January, proclaimed Oleksandr Pechenenko, a State Automobile Inspection (DAI) spokesman.

"The main reason for launching the campaign was the growth in traffic violations last year that caused more than 62,000 traffic accidents, in which 9 500 people died and more than 77,000 were injured," Pechenenko added, citing a 20 percent increase from 2006.

Among the traffic violations that can cause driver's license confiscation, according to Ukraine's Law, are drunk driving, speeding, and breaking passing rules.

The strong enhancing campaign against traffic law violations was originally planned for one month to conclude on February 10, the DAI press service reported, but the law enforcement body decided to extend it.

"Driver's license removal and bringing violators to court will continue until legislative changes are made," Serhiy Kolomiyets, DAI's director, said at a February 15 press conference discussing the results of DAI's new work methods for improving traffic security.

Yushchenko introduced a bill on January 8 proposing even stricter measures to remove violations, the DAI press service reported. The bill's biggest reform is a new point system for traffic violations.

Each patrolling is equal to a certain number of points and when a driver reaches 30, he automatically loses his license for up to three years.

For instance, two mobile phone conversations while driving (7 points each) and two incidents of exceeding the speed limit by 50 kilometers per hour (10 points) will be enough to lose a driver's license.

The DAI will introduce the new rules to traffic offenders, and those driving with confiscated licenses will also have their vehicle confiscated, Kolomiyets acclaimed. A computer registration will be used to track such people, he added.

"DAI's campaign will keep going on, as it offers the needed effect," Pechenenko mentioned.