Brake pulled on dodgy taxi drivers

By RUTH BERRY

Auckland taxi drivers will be required to hold "area knowledge certificates" for the entire city and those convicted of serious sexual or violent offences will no longer be granted cab licences.

Tougher enforcement measures for repeat drink-drivers and those driving at excessive speed are also included in the Land Transport Amendment Bill tabled in Parliament yesterday.

Existing law requires taxi drivers to hold area knowledge certificates only for the area from which their Approved Taxi Organisation operates.

In Auckland this might mean a driver holds a certificate for the North Shore only.

The bill will require taxi drivers in cities to hold a certificate for the entire metropolitan area they operate in.

The Ministry of Transport said the change was a result of passenger feedback and calls from within the industry for improved driver standards.

The Land Transport Safety Authority will audit taxi companies to ensure drivers comply with the requirement and will acquire a new power to revoke the certificates if the drivers' knowledge is insufficient.

Tighter monitoring of the English language skills of drivers are also included in the bill.

The LTSA director will be able to require that a driver be tested if they are found to have difficulty communicating effectively.

Failure to comply could lead to the revoking of licences.

The bill also moves to prevent those with with murder and serious violent and sexual offences being granted passenger licences.

It will not be able to be applied retrospectively to those already holding licences.

The bill does not change the existing speed and blood alcohol limits, but imposes tougher sanctions for repeat offenders.

In a "three strikes and you're out" regime those convicted of a third drink-driving offence face immediate 28-day vehicle impoundment and extended disqualification of licences.

Roadside suspension of licences, now only linked to alcohol levels, will occur when the second offence is committed.

Immediate licence suspension will now be imposed on those who break the speed limit by 40km/h - down from 50km/h.

The bill also reintroduces fines - of $150 - for people who don't pay taxi drivers.