New Demerit + Fine System & Radar Dectectors Banned

[BZG Wagon]

The new legislation coming into effect in 2008:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10483863&pnum=2

* 100 Demerits = Loss of License
* Three-tier demerit scheme of 25, 50 or 75 points
* Radar detectors banned.
* Car Impounded for doing more than 50% over the speed limit (i.e. 75kph in a 50kph area)
* Running a red light = 75 Demerits
* Learner License = 12 Month minimum term for under 20's
* Restricted Driver carrying passengers = $100, car impounded on the second occasion.
* Having a radar detector = $50 & 25 Demerits (1st year of legislation), $150 & 75 Demerits (3rd year of legislation).

Running a red light and getting caught doing 55kph in a 50kph area could cause you to loose your license under this new legislation.

Despite being having never had a ticket or a demerit against my license I find it a little unnerving that I can have a maximum of 3 minor infringements in a year, before losing my license on the 4th. My 60 year old mother does a lot of driving for work and under this new legislation, there is a serious threat of her loosing her license (she's occasionally gets tickets for doing 55 to 65 in 50kph areas).

Welcome to the Nanny-State. Your thoughts on the new legislation?

[flat_0ut]

I think its stupid, I can't see how taking away more peoples licences will deter people any more than fines will, theres just going to be alot more people driving with suspended licences out there. Losing your car for 75k in a 50k is over the top.(not that I condone speeding)

[Wildcard]

One question, can someone confirm for me, with evidence that these ridiculous rules are not in place untill 2008?

[ezy10s]

Taking away licences isnt to deter people- its to get them off the road as they havent being deterred by the fine previous.

we all know the rules and so by choosing not to abide by them we have basically enterred into a game of chance and at the end of the day- you play the game sooner or later youre gonna lose.

there is no point trying to defend ones actions which have been in direct violation of the laws in place as driving is not a right- it is a priviledge.

[Ae92typeX]

Although it could be slightly less, I like the red light one. sick of the red light running c**ts at every set of lights every day going to work.

in fact reading the whole article Im not in much dissagreement.

[BZG Wagon]

Taking away licences isnt to deter people- its to get them off the road as they havent being deterred by the fine previous.

we all know the rules and so by choosing not to abide by them we have basically enterred into a game of chance and at the end of the day- you play the game sooner or later youre gonna lose.

there is no point trying to defend ones actions which have been in direct violation of the laws in place as driving is not a right- it is a priviledge.

While I agree with you, rules are rules and its your responsibility to abide by them, I do however believe that to err is human and to be severely penalised for minor infractions which carry minimal risk to public safety is a step too far. Nobody's perfect and the punishment outweighs the crime for those that make minor errors of judgment.

As for radar detectors (although I dont have one), I believe that if someone has the right to fire radio waves and infra-red light at me, the I should have the right to listen to those frequencies and know when this is happening to me.

In summary, overall I agree with the majority of the legislation but I think its extends too far by targeting and severely penalising a group of mostly law-abiding drivers who on occasion partake in minor offenses.

[Paulio]

$&#$% P.C bullshit is wot it is. i'm under the same laws as some 17yr honda fagg trying to impress some 15yr girls or some 70yr old c**t who cant drive to save his decrepid old life.

i don't like to be cocky on the road (anymore) and thats my limit.

just imagine where this shit is going to lead to if they are let to make more and more laws.

[Boosted_162]

Its $&#$% rediculous. I think its getting to the point where they make laws to show whose in power, not cos they actually care

I use a radar detector constantly. If they become illegal, ill just find a way of concealing it. Its not like a jammer, which distorts the wave, all it does is INFORMS the driver! And i know its not bomb proof, so i dont risk anything on it, its just a guide... The radar ban isnt getting the right audience imo.

[IH8TEC]

unless they wanna increase the number of demerits we have, some of those are rediculous,

75 demerits for running one red light, what if it was say an error in judgement that happens not very often, your 75% of the way to losing your liscence, and well crap, if you had a radar detector (assume thats aimed at young folk) your screwed and just lost your liscence.

i beleive there needs to be more thought into this and not just angry old men making stupid rational changes

learner liscence is good though, and should extend to being on restricted longer also. need to focus more on driver training rather than a million stupid laws to punish people

[ezy10s]

tru,- to err is human- however: society is changing and in order to minimise the associated risks with driving drivers have to be more vigilant- gone are the days of "she'll be right". There are just too many people on the roads now for that kind of attitude, common sense has not shown to be the best way to reduce these risks and inherent dangers which is why these laws are being tightened more and more.
One day who knows it may be a zero tolerance to laws such as these- hopefully not in my lifetime else ill be bussing for the rest of my life.

As for radar detectors- im surprised these have been allowed for as long as they have- there is only one reason people have these which is so they can break the law

[IH8TEC]

i have one in my car, it's bearly even switched on nowadays lol, but when it is, it's on the open road, when ya just cruising, sometimes when ya cruising, you go over the speed limit slightly, and just a bit of insurance.

i think i read somewhere ages ago that drivers with them were proven to be more alert and aware of whats going on around them, to other traffic etc when using one, but i guess thats another debate.

end of the day, we can't do jack to change it.

[IH8TEC]

one other note, are they gonna keep the speeding ones the same? besides losing your liscence over 25kmh. because if they are, using a radar detector will net you more demerits than slightly speeding,

go government

[Paulio]

As for radar detectors- im surprised these have been allowed for as long as they have- there is only one reason people have these which is so they can break the law

i like to use them in the likes of auckland suburbs when I don't know the limit (50,60,70 or 80??) and don't want camera fines so can have warning to slow down. eg, i got a camera fine in the old ladies car cause I didn't know the speed limit but trying to keep up with trafic.

[rxtoy]

there's quite a bit more info in the yahoo article here:

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/071221/3/3dob.html

including things like 25 points for not wearing a seatbelt, 25 points for running a give way sign (wtf, how do you run a non enforced stop????), the ability to impound cars from learners who breach their conditions, and probably the biggest one for most of us, increasing demerit points for a noisy car???? sweet, another law subjective to your average friendly policemans ears. just what i wanted.

cheers
Matt

[Leon]

Couldn't care less, none of this applies to my driving anyway. Don't have a radar detector, do all my speeding on closed roads and have done for years.

Not red/green colour blind, so don't see how I would manage to "accidentally" run a red light. Ramming people who do so deliberately would be very tempting if I had some old POS falcon with bullbars though.

[Paulio]

end of the day, we can't do jack to change it.

theres more people than police and politics, sure you can, look at aussie.

[escortman]

25 points for running a give way sign (wtf, how do you run a non enforced stop????)

yeh how the fuk does that work, i spose if u get ticketed present a road code and ask them where it says u hav to come to a complete stop in ther for give way that will fuk them up hahahaha

[Paulio]

25 points for running a give way sign (wtf, how do you run a non enforced stop????)

yeh how the fuk does that work, i spose if u get ticketed present a road code and ask them where it says u hav to come to a complete stop in ther for give way that will fuk them up hahahaha

they'll probably eventually get rid of give way ntersections and make them all stop signed intersections.

[flat_0ut]

25 points for running a give way sign (wtf, how do you run a non enforced stop????)

yeh how the fuk does that work, i spose if u get ticketed present a road code and ask them where it says u hav to come to a complete stop in ther for give way that will fuk them up hahahaha

they'll probably eventually get rid of give way ntersections and make them all stop signed intersections.

I wouldn't be suprised

[Ae92typeX]

25 points for running a give way sign (wtf, how do you run a non enforced stop????)

yeh how the fuk does that work, i spose if u get ticketed present a road code and ask them where it says u hav to come to a complete stop in ther for give way that will fuk them up hahahaha

Not written the best, but I suspect they mean not giving way...another common issue in day to day traffic.

aside from having ones detector eventually banned, why worry, unless you regularly run lights, dont give way, speed and dont wear your belt etc?
Remember, all these things are law breking at present. 'If' you do occassionally break them it does not mean you are instantly caught, but if you are, its law, so dont go cry about it.
To be honnest I dont accept the excuse I was just driving along and didnt notice my speed creep up. you are meant to look at your speedo regularly.
to quote "The emphasis is on changing behaviour, which is why we are increasing demerits and decreasing fines.", I agree with this. If I had any power over who is and is not allowed on the road I would be a bigger c**t than the police or various governments have been to date. Theres plently of idiots who shouldnt be granted a pair of shoes let alone a vehicle.