Privacy laws keep winners from prize

Gillian Archer would love to track down the winners of a recent licence plate promotion. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Privacy concerns from police are the only thing standing between six Northland motorists and a free lap round the supermarket.

The well-intentioned Safe Speed Driver programme used volunteers to record the licence plates of those making a particular effort to drive to the conditions during May and June.

Six winners were drawn over six weeks. The problem is, nobody has come forward to claim their $150 supermarket voucher despite widespread publication of the lucky licence plates.

Safe Speed Driver was a joint initiative between RoadSafe Northland, Whangarei Police, Whangarei District Council and Northland Regional Council.

But in a bizarre twist, RoadSafe Northland co-ordinator Gillian Archer said privacy laws meant police could not use their databases to track down the winners. "We've publicised them in a whole raft of ways ... It may be older drivers who don't use Facebook but are the ones who attend print media. We've tried to cover all the bases. People may have had other reasons why they don't want to come forward - that's not for us to say."

The plates being sought are: TS5313, CFS154, GFM335, YA4583, HMU961 and GCR178. Winning drivers were required to bring the nominated vehicle to Northland Regional Council offices at 36 Water St, Whangarei. Unclaimed prizes expire on July 31.

A spokeswoman for the New Zealand Transport Agency said the organisations involved would be entitled to apply for the names and addresses of the vehicles' registered owners, but would have to make an application for each individual plate number, at a cost of $15 each.

The applications would then be considered under the Official Information Act. This requires NZTA to weigh up the public interest in releasing the information against the privacy rights of the individual.

Ms Archer said despite the current predicament, the programme had been well received in the community and was being recreated elsewhere in the country. It happened concurrently with a police crackdown on speeding.

"With the winter months upon us, there are fewer daylight hours, more rain and fog. It is a good time for people to be really thinking about speed and slowing down and driving to the conditions," she said.

-Visit northlandroadsafety.co.nz for more information.