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Several Palmerston North bus and
taxi drivers are believed to be among more than 200 nationwide who will be
sidelined from Monday for crimes they committed decades ago. Professional drivers with serious
convictions have been sent don't-come-Monday letters -- they will be barred
from transporting passengers when the Land Transport Amendment Act comes into
force next week. The Manawatu Standard spoke to
staff at two companies in Palmerston North and both confirmed they have
drivers affected by the legislation. "There are some here that
will be affected by it -- to what extent we don't know yet," a staff
member at Palmerston North Coachlines Ltd said. "We'll find out after
Monday." Land Transport New Zealand sent
letters to 209 drivers last week to notify them that their right to carry
passengers will expire from January 16. A further 76 people who applied or
reapplied for passenger endorsements were also written to and given the bad
news. Of the 285 people affected, 47 are
allowed to appeal, but the new law automatically prohibits a person from
holding a passenger endorsement if he or she is convicted of crimes such as
murder, sexual offences and serious violent offences. Drivers convicted of sexual
offences -- including those who, as teenagers, had sex with underage girls --
have no right of appeal. A Dunedin driver is losing his
licence because 34 years ago, at the age of 16, he slept with his 15-year-old
girlfriend, two days short of her 16th birthday. Kaiapoi driver Beau Harrison will
be off the road because about 40 years ago, when he was 18, he slept with a
15-year-old co-worker on a shearing gang, apparently believing she was the
same age as he was. His company is standing by him
with an alternative job, as he is considered a valuable employee. The Bus and Coach Association is
planning to lobby to give drivers the right of appeal. Transport Minister Harry Duynhoven
said in a statement that individual cases have been brought to his attention
and he is seeking advice about what processes are available to address the
issues raised. However, he said changes were made
to the Land Transport Act 1998 to enhance public safety so that people who
travel, "often at night or alone, can have greater assurance that those
working in the passenger service pose no threat to their personal
security". The legislation was unanimously
supported in its final stages through Parliament in June last year, he noted.
However, Land Transport New Zealand media manager Andy Knackstedt highlighted
the fact politicians went against staff advice in making the legislation
retrospective. He said LTNZ has been given no
discretion by Parliament in applying the new law. Mr Knackstedt said he could not
release details about how many drivers are affected in Manawatu because that
would help identify the individuals involved. |
