Land Transport Amendment Bill introduced

Transport Minister Simon Bridges has introduced the Land Transport Amendment Bill to Parliament today which will modernise regulation of small passenger services, update rules for heavy vehicles and improve road safety.

“The Land Transport Amendment Bill will overhaul key areas of transport law to modernise the sector and make travelling more efficient and safer,” Mr Bridges says.

“Changes to the small passenger service rules will simplify requirements to accommodate new business models. The amendments will reduce compliance costs allowing taxis, private hire vehicles and shuttles the flexibility to be innovative while maintaining the safety of passenger, drivers and vehicles.”

The Bill will make technical amendments that relate to heavy vehicles. The amendments follow recent changes to improve heavy vehicle productivity, updating penalties for operators who exceed vehicle height, length and weight limits.

It also aims to improve safety by simplifying the law relating to alcohol interlocks, and creating more effective deterrents to drivers fleeing from police.

“Alcohol interlocks are a highly effective tool for reducing drink-driving. The amendments contained in the Bill are expected to result in greater use of alcohol interlocks by high-risk offenders and recidivist drink-drivers.

“It also proposes to increase the penalties for drivers who fail to stop for the police to up to 2 years’ disqualification from driving, and strengthens the power of courts to confiscate the vehicles of repeat offenders.”

Enforcement officers will also be given new powers to address fare evasion on public transport.

“Reducing fare evasion makes sure public transport operators receive all the revenue they are entitled to, and that all passengers pay their fair share,” Mr Bridges says.

The Bill also contains a range of minor technical amendments.