Ask Phoebe: Dealer plates should not be abused

I have seen a number of vehicles recently with yellow dealer plates on them. The first was on Dominion Rd at 6.45am, another at Mission Bay on a Saturday morning, and yet another at the supermarket on a Sunday evening. None of these vehicles had a warrant of fitness or registration. What actually are the rules governing the use of dealer plates? Lee Cleverly, Auckland.

Like you, I doubt that they can be used for getting to work early, taking the family to the beach or getting the week's groceries.

In fact, the rules governing their use are very simple. You can use dealer (or trade) plates only for the purpose for which the NZ Transport Agency issues them. If you're a car wrecker, for example, you can use trade plates on a vehicle to get it from the place you picked it up to the place where it's going to be destroyed.

If the plates are used for any other purpose, you can be fined for using an unregistered and unlicensed vehicle.

Trade plate users include motor vehicle dealers, Government departments, motor vehicle ferrymen (who move cars from the wharf to the car yard etc) and proprietors of transport museums.

All legitimate trade plates have black lettering on a yellow background, and the number begins or ends with X. There is more information on applying for trade plates and their use at www.nzta.govt.nz/vehicle/registration-licensing.

Heading south on Blockhouse Bay Rd just before the roundabout at Tiverton/Wolverton, there is a sign that advises to go straight ahead to the airport. I'm new to the area but it seems to me that it would be much quicker to go left on to Tiverton Rd and follow the road round to Maioro St and thence to the motorway extension. Should the council be changing the signs? Lorne Maltman, Green Bay.

Yes, and it will. Your route is of course the quicker option. However, the council suggests that the current sign isn't actually wrong; if you heed it you will get to the airport; it'll just take longer.

The Auckland Road Maintenance Alliance, which is responsible for operational matters on the city's roads, hopes to be able to include this sign in its renewal programme this year, plus one other in similar vein.

When the new traffic lights at the intersection of Ian McKinnon Drive and Piwakawaka St (formerly known as Devon St) become operational, will the speed limit of 70km/h on Ian McKinnon be lowered to 50km/h or even 60km/h? It would seem dangerous to do otherwise. Bill Davidson, Mt Eden.

The traffic signals are being installed to try to reduce the high number of crashes here, involving cars turning right from Ian McKinnon into Piwakawaka and not giving way to oncoming traffic.

Citybound traffic on Ian McKinnon will not be affected by the traffic signals.

There's also a walking and cycling project scheduled for the 2010-2011 financial year in this area, which should hold things up nicely for the Rugby World Cup. But as part of the walking/cycling plan, consideration will be given to reducing the speed limit to 60km/h.

Piwakawaka is the Maori name for fantail. Just thought you'd like to know.