Land Transport Act taken into 21st century

The Land Transport Act Amendment Bill passed in Parliament last night, with only NZ First voting against the new legislation. Transport Minister Simon Bridges has said the amendment will introduce “more flexibility in small passenger services, mandatory alcohol interlock sentences, and tougher penalties for fleeing drivers” in a statement released yesterday. The bill makes small changes to numerous existing clauses in the Land Transport Act. These include some deregulation of passenger services, such as taxis and Ubers; mandatory alcohol interlocks for first-time high-alcohol and repeat drink-drivers; stronger legislation to prosecute evasion of public transport fares; increased penalties for drivers fleeing from police, and changes to the regulation of heavy vehicles. A supplementary paper was also added to the bill, which bans window-washers from all New Zealand roads. The legislation around passenger vehicles drew the most attention from both MPs and industry bodies, as the new bill looks to shake up the taxi sector by formally recognising ridesharing as part of the country’s transport system. Ride-sharing app service Uber welcomed the new bill. “This is the final stage in officially recognising your right to a safe, affordable and reliable ride across the city,” said general manager Richard Menzies. ACT MP David Seymour, a vocal advocate for ride-sharing technology, said yesterday that “red tape prevents consumers from enjoying the benefits of new technology, and suppresses further innovation.” “Regular New Zealanders who use Uber understand that outdated licensing and safety laws aren’t as effective as GPS tracking, two-way rating systems, and automatic driver-passenger identification.” However, Seymour argued the amendments took too long to pass into law, and “haven’t gone far enough.” The bill's mandatory alcohol interlocks have also drawn praise, with the Automobile Association (AA) calling it "one of the most signfiicant blows against drink driving in New Zealand's history." "Alcohol interlocks are the best weapon we have to keep drink drivers off the road but, until now, they’ve been sitting in the holster,” said AA motoring affairs general manager Mike Noon. "One third of the deaths on our roads right now involve alcohol, and we have to do more to stop them." Labour MP Sue Moroney expressed disappointment that the legislation would remove the requirement for passenger services to install security cameras and Braille signage inside the vehicle for blind and vision-impaired passengers, saying the party supported the bill “with major reservations” during the third reading in the House. The bill has met opposition from the taxi industry. Blue Bubble chief executive Bob Wilkinson was “disappointed and frankly shocked” at the amendment. “We welcome competition and innovation, but are very concerned with this legislation,” he said in a statement.