Driving penalties to get tougher

[McDuck]

MOunt it up like a tank cam.

[Big Dave]

Dear Harry,

'"My job is to try to save lives out there on the road - if people don't like it, tough."

If people don't like it they will vote you out, actchally. And I suspect they will.

[Delphinus]

What if I use my radar detector purely for "Statistical purposes". Merely keeping an eye on the number of vans and mufti cars on the road..

[MD]

Get a room you guys. Three pages of hydro dams vs coal vs nuclear vs...fading the curtains..

Back on topic.
I disagree with the 250% increase to the lowest speeding fine from 10 demerits to 25! That's unfair on those slow pricks who annoy me doing 100 to 109kph. Lets make runners out the the 'almost a saint mob ' as well as the "definitely not a saint mob'
Actually, now that I think about it..it might work in my favour. It might increase the average speeds on highways. The slow (100- 109kph) mob will see no difference now doing 117 instead of 107 on the motorways ,so they may as well drive faster. Clever Harry D. and you will get a lower tax return. Ha ha.

And 75 demerits in 3 years for a detector! Harsh.

[Cache Wraith]

If these new "Road Safety Rules" make a few Aucklander's stop running red lights and rein even a few idiots in, then I'm all for it. I'm sick of reading in this forum about all the bikers being killed. It means we will have to be on our toes as well, or else we will cop demerits and fines but in my - humble- opinion bikers should be applauding these measures. The ongoing deaths and maiming of bikers is drastic, unfortunately that calls for drastic action.

[candor]

So what underhand scheme have they got up their sleeve that they're not interested in speed cameras any more ?

.... intersection cams.... What has media said? This is what is in the Govts media release from Annette & Harry -

EMBARGOED UNTIL 11.30AM FRIDAY 21 December 2007 Media Statement

Tougher penalties focus of road safety package

What changes will be made in respect of people caught speeding by police?

The penalties will be as follows:

 up to 20km/h over the limit will attract a fine of $50 and 25 demerit points;
 21-30km/h over the limit will attract a fine of $100 and 50 demerit points;
 over 30km/h over the limit will attract a fine of $150 and 75 demerit points.

What about speed camera offences?

Speed camera detected offences will remain the same.

[Ixion]

does anyone ahve an authorative source for this bit from the Harold

Drivers also risk having their cars impounded for exceeding speed limits by more than 50 per cent, meaning 75km/h in urban areas, compared with 90km/h now.

Now, my problem with this is
(a) there is absolutely no law at present that allows for impundment for 90kph in a 50 zone (or, indeed any speed in any zone). You can have your driver's licecne suspended for 90 in a 50 but not vehicle impounded
(b) NO other media source mentions this bit, nor does the official media release from Reichsfuhrer King.

So has granny been hitting the cooking sherry again , or does she know something noone else does. And if it's true does that mean that the walking speed in a 100 goes back up to 150 ? (Albeit with 75 demerits at 140)

[Spyke]

What? The right of New Zealanders to break the law?

well considering that if you get caught doing 1 km over the posted speed limit you can incur 25 demerit points. that doesn't seem fair i cant see how we can be that perfect unless we all drive at 45 kmph but then what if your speedo is out by more than that? are they going to pay for our speedos to be recalibrated because we're obviously to stupid to have our own common sense.

[Swoop]

And how many people have completed DARPA's self driving vehicle challenge. Considering the challenge has a 2 million dollar odd reward USD that is, and is about the worlds biggest robotic geek award?

I thought it was the "Land a rover on the moon" geek award. Also at many millions of reward!

But depending on the strength of the emitter I would tend not to put it next to my head.......... mmmmmm helmet feels a little warm today

But you would have a lovely, semi-cooked, meal for when you finish your ride...

[Paul in NZ]

I don't think Joe Average will think much of this and I doubt it will stop young master don't give a fuck boy racer as they can just buy disposable cars and drive like loons anyway. The habitual drunks will keep going until they die...

But it's interesting where this is all going....

Petrol gets more expensive, emissions regs get tighter, policing gets tougher. Makes me wonder. In the 60's and 70's it was hard to find a dedicated dirt bike and you could ride heaps of places, beaches, riverbeds, swaps etc and now the makers sell shit loads of dedicated dirt only bikes and there are heaps of well organised events. Maybe thats the direction of sports biking? Track only devices with no road legal stuff trailered to track days behind a smart car for a days fun? Could be worse...

[Toaster]

Not if you lined your helmet with foil!

... or an Armadillo-helmet.

[spudchucka]

If people don't like it they will vote you out

Labour know they are screwed next election so they'll put through whatever unpopular legislation they want to and then try and buy back the voter at election time with bribes.

[P38]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4327621a10.html

Driving penalties to get tougher
NZPA | Tuesday, 18 December 2007

The Government is set to toughen up penalties for driving offences.

Prime Minister Helen Clark told journalists yesterday Cabinet had made decisions on "a number" of road safety improvement initiatives.

Transport Safety Minister Harry Duynhoven would announce changes in the run-up to Christmas, she said.

"Its actually legislative changes that are going to be imposed to make it clear that unsafe driving behaviour is going to face more stiff penalties," Miss Clark said.

In July Mr Duynhoven told Parliament's transport committee he would give serious consideration to a New Zealand First Party call for tougher penalties for recidivist drink drivers.

The party wanted first time offenders to get a written warning, have their car clamped on their property on a second offence and lose it altogether if they offended again.

Mr Duynhoven told the committee a range of policy was being considered including young and novice drivers and the graduated licensing system, changing penalties for speeding, intersection and seatbelt offences, drunk driving and motorcycle safety.

Why is it that a speeding motorist 40kms over the posted limit will loose their licence immediately for 28 days and cop a hefty fine.

Yet a Drunk Driver gets to keep their licence untill a Judge says otherwise, which in most cases can be months later. They may not even loose it then, possibly even recieving as lesser fine than the speeder.

However the speeding mortorist, while loosing their licence immediately, is not arrested.

The drunk will be arrested and released within hours but will get to keep their licence, even though this may only be temporary.

Which is worse?

Who Kills more?

Just seems plain Wrong to me.

[Cr1MiNaL]

Are detectors already illegal, I couldnt find the legislation that said so? and what about the "new" speeding demerits are they enforcable already? On that note I'm never ditching my radar, just gonna incorporate it stealthily midst Schnappy's farings.

[Jantar]

...You try build a Hydro station, I will come visit you in court in ten years time as you battle for resource consent.

Only 10 years to the environment court date?

It took us 8 years for a reconsent, not even a new one.