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Contrary to
expectations, the Land Transport Amendment Bill will not clear unsafe drivers
out of the taxi industry, ACT New Zealand Transport Spokesman Deborah
Coddington said today. “Transport Safety
Minister Harry Duynhoven believes people convicted of serious sexual or
violent offences will not be granted taxi licenses,” Miss Coddington said. “However, this depends
on the Land Transport Safety Authority’s director. Under the Bill as it
stands, anyone already driving taxis who has a conviction for sex offences
will not automatically have their licence cancelled. “When the licence comes
up for renewal, the LTSA’s director need only take into account anything that
might affect the person’s suitability to be a taxi driver. “But answers to my
Parliamentary Questions reveal that the LTSA doesn’t even maintain a record
of taxi drivers’ criminal convictions. “I don’t think that’s
good enough. Anyone convicted of any sex offence – serious or minor –
should automatically be disqualified from driving taxis. “It would be relatively
easy for the LTSA to maintain a database of drivers’ convictions, complaints
and other ‘black marks’. In my sex offender index, I list at least 21
taxi drivers convicted of abusing passengers – and that’s just the ones I can
legally name. “We need a thorough
clean-out of the taxi industry. This legislation won’t do that. “I will be seeking
support from all members of the Transport Select Committee – Labour,
National, New Zealand First, United and the Greens – to toughen up this law
so that predatory taxi drivers are eliminated from the industry. “It’s the least we can
do to preserve the status of those good, honest drivers who – like me – have
had a guts full of the sleazebags,” Miss Coddington said.
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