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The minister of
transport safety Harry Duynhoven says new legislation which will put
professional drivers out of work for decades-old, low-level sexual offences
needs to be revisited. The Land Transport
Amendment Act, which comes into effect on Monday, stops people who've
committed murder, serious violent and sexual offences from being licensed to
drive passengers. However while violent
offenders can appeal, those who have been found guilty of sexual offences
that were possibly punishable by seven years or more jail, cannot. More than two hundred
current licence holders will have their licences suspended indefinitely. Dave Smith from the Bus
and Coach Association,says it's unfair violent offenders can appeal, but
those who've committed sexual offences that were punishable by seven years or
more jail, cannot. They says it means some drivers are losing their jobs over
low level historical crimes, such as having sex with their girlfriends before
their girlfriend's 16th birthday. Duynhoven says this
appears to be an unintentional consequence of the legislation. |
