OUR VIEW: No WOF creates risk for others

The unexpected move by Tauranga City Council to give motorists an extra month's grace before being hit with $200 parking fines for expired warrants of fitness or registration will likely be met with widespread acclaim.
However, further examination reveals some worrying potential repercussions from the council's move. At a council meeting this week, the city's elected representatives agreed to extend the leniency period to two months before those with unwarranted or unregistered vehicles would receive a ticket from council parking wardens.
Previously, the council allowed a month's leeway for forgetfulness, provided motorists avoided paying a fine by making their vehicles roadworthy within 14 days of receiving the ticket.
The council's proposal goes out for public consultation early next year and is expected to take effect from July 1.
While vehicle registrations may not be seen as much of an issue, the extra leniency surrounding warrants of fitness will surely incite controversy.
News reports about "death trap" vehicles being found on our roads are sadly becoming commonplace and the prospect of receiving a ticket from parking wardens remains one of the main incentives for motorists to ensure their vehicle remains warranted.
There's no doubt a significant portion of the motorists on our roads are taking the risk - a Bay of Plenty Times survey last week found 19 cars with expired registrations parked in Tauranga's downtown. It remains a matter of speculation as to how many cars with expired warrants of fitness are also on our roads.
All it will take is for someone to die in a crash caused by an unwarranted vehicle and this issue will be thrown firmly back into the spotlight.
Arguments from the likes of Cr Bill Grainger that there are "plenty" of people who forget to pay their registration or get their warrant of fitness completed in time and that a four-week grace period is "a little too short" just don't stack up.
It's almost as ludicrous as the support provided to this initiative on the basis that parking wardens ticketing cars was a factor in why some people did not come into the city centre to shop. Revitalising the CBD is an important issue but one which pales in comparison against road safety.
There is also sympathy for those who can't afford to pay their registration or warrant of fitness - but if people are finding it hard to meet their costs, perhaps they should consider whether they should be owning a vehicle at all.
A vehicle is no different from any other consumer item which requires regular maintenance and servicing, and not being able to meet the costs of that maintenance is no excuse for putting other road users at risk.