Agency issues infringement fines

The NZTA has started to issue infringement notices to tackle the non-compliance of vehicle inspectors and inspection organisations.

The notices, which carry a fine of $370, are being sent out by the agency’s safer vehicles team.

Between May and mid-August, it issued four notices. In these instances, vehicle inspections were not being carried at the authorised inspection organisation.

After an investigation, it was concluded that warrants of fitness (WOFs) were issued to a few vehicles that had serious defects.

In addition to being fined, enforcement action taken by the agency against vehicle inspectors and inspection organisations will be recorded on an infringement report, which is also where any traffic infringements issued by police are recorded.

There are three types of infringement notices that can be issued. These are:

• Carried out an incompetent vehicle inspection.

• Issued evidence of inspection to defective vehicle.

• Carried out vehicle inspection when not qualified.

Nicole Botherway, senior manager of safer vehicles, has been impressed by the commitment to safety that most inspecting organisations and vehicle inspectors are showing, which reflects the important work they do every day. 

She adds: “When we find unlawful behaviour in the industry, we’re taking action to protect the integrity of the inspecting system, and the safety of New Zealand drivers, passengers and road users. 

“You might have read that a former vehicle inspector was recently sentenced for dishonestly accessing the motor-vehicle register [MVR] and issuing fraudulent warrants. 

“We’re also introducing infringement notices as another way to address non-compliance in a fair way.”

It was in July that Dylan Mark Walker was sentenced to six months’ community detention and 40 hours’ community work for dishonestly accessing the MVR and issuing fake WOFs. This followed an investigation and prosecution by the NZTA’s safer-vehicles team. 

The sentence was imposed on the Aucklander after he pleaded guilty at North Shore District Court to one representative charge of dishonestly accessing the MVR. 

Between September 24, 2021, and February 8, 2022, Walker fraudulently entered new WOFs for 183 vehicles onto the MVR. He recorded that each one had been inspected and given a warrant despite none being presented to his employer’s premises for inspection. 

“To arrive at the sentence, Judge Fitzgibbon accepted there was widespread offending and the possibility of community harm as the cars were potentially not safe and the drivers weren’t aware of this, which could have resulted in a serious crash,” says the NZTA.

“The judge also considered there was a breach of trust with his employer and the drivers, and premeditation. From a starting point of 20 months’ imprisonment, the judge discounted the defendant’s sentence to account for his guilty plea and remorse. 

“At the time of the initial investigation, we first suspended and then revoked the vehicle-inspector appointment held by Walker and revoked all WOFs fraudulently issued by him. All affected owners were informed and required to obtain new WOFs.”