TRANSPORT BILL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 57, 1 September 1939, Page 5

TRANSPORT BILL

LICENSING BICYCLES

INTOXICATED DRIVERS

The tightening up of the law re. l'ating to offences by intoxicated motorists is a feature of the Transport Law Amendment Bill which Avas introduced by Governor-General's message and read for the first time in the House on Tuesday. Provisions were also made for a greater unification of traffic control and for bringing all taxis and town carriers under the transporting licensing svstem fom June 1 next. ->The Bill provides that for the first offence of intoxicated driving, the motorist shall have his license cancelled for- at least one year and. for any subsequent offence, for at least three years. In the latter case the permission of the Court .will be necessary before a motorist may again obtain a license, but fn greater idistances the Court will be given discretionary power in dealing with special cases. The Court will not be permitted to suppress the names of persons -convicted of driving while in a ktate of intoxication. It-is to be an offence to take any intoxicant while in a public passenger vehicle or to offer an intoxicant to a driver or

another passenger. Power is to be given to approved traffic inspectors to arrest intoxicated drivers. As from June 1 t 1940, all motor drivers licenses are to be issued through the Post Office and the fee of os for each license is to be pro* portioned as follows: 6d commission to the post office; 2s 3d to the Consolidated Fund for traffic control pur poses. Power is given for the Commissioner of Transport to review licenses of accident-prone drivers, subject to right of appeal to a Magistrate. Autho Ity is given the Minister of Transport to give locaf bodies powers throughout the main centres for the purpose of traffic control and also for any bprough council to arrange for the Transport Department to enforce the traffic laws in its area. The Bill authorises a regulation providing for the registration of bicj'cles at fees of Is for registration and 6d for any transfer of ownership. It is not proposed that licens ing be carried out annually. All taxis and town carriers are to be brought under the transport licensing system. The same procedure is to be adopted with all trucks over two tons laden weight in competition with the railways for 30 miles or more. This position would not, however, apply to trucks owned and operated by farmers, market gardeners, local bodies and the Crown.