|
|
|
||
|
|
|||
|
The Criminal Bar
Association has joined a wave of criticism of new legislation banning people
with old convictions for sex offences from holding a commercial drivers
licence. The law comes into
effect on Monday and has outraged some bus and taxi drivers who say they are
losing their livelihoods over things they did 30 years ago. The
vice-President of the Criminal Bar Association Mark Anthony Edgar believes
the reasoning behind the legislation is sound, saying that people using
public transport need to know they can trust their drivers. However, Edgar says he
does not think Parliament intended that people be penalised for convictions
that are now so old and irrelevant they do not pose an immediate danger to
anyone. He says the law has changed sufficiently over the years that people
are being penalised for things that today may not result in a conviction. Edgar says if
opposition to the law is strong the association would be prepared to look at
it to see if it can be amended.
|
