Rapists, murderers will be denied passenger licences

Laws designed to make the transport system safer have been passed by Parliament.

From January 16 next year people with serious convictions will not be able to hold passenger licences and police will have stronger powers to deal with drink-drivers.

The main points of the Land Transport Amendment Bill are:

* It will be illegal for those with convictions for serious sexual or violent offences to hold passenger licences. The law change means convicted rapists and murderers will not be able to drive taxis.

* Police will be able to suspend driving licences at the roadside for 28 days for people exceeding the speed limit by 40km/h, or having a blood alcohol level above 130mg/100ml. At present roadside licence suspension applies to 50km/h over the speed limit or a blood alcohol level above 160mg/100ml. There is no change to the blood alcohol limit of 80mg/100ml.

* A "three strikes and you're out" law for drink-drivers who commit three offences within four years. On the third offence vehicles will be immediately impounded for 28 days and licences disqualified for more than a year. That means drivers will have to resit their practical driving test at the end of the disqualification period.

* Taxi drivers in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin will have to hold area knowledge certificates covering the whole metropolitan area in which they operate. At present they hold limited area knowledge certificates.

Transport Minister Pete Hodgson said that in the past people with convictions for serious offences had been able to apply to the courts for permission to hold a passenger licence after they had been refused one by land transport authorities.

The new law will specifically bar them, and will apply to previous offences as well as new ones.

Another change affects caregivers. There has been confusion about whether they need a passenger licence to drive the people they look after. They are now specifically exempted from having to hold one.

- NZPA