Editorial: Fines aren't all bad

Fines play an important role in road safety. Photo/File

You often hear people say traffic tickets are just a form of revenue gathering.

This view, of course, ignores the many preventable deaths that occur on our roads each year.

Fines play an important role in improving road safety because they deter people from breaking the rules. I do, however, have some sympathy with the view that fines can become a vicious circle for those already scraping to get by.

Yesterday, the Rotorua Daily Post reported that Rotorua motorists owe more than $12.5 million in unpaid traffic fines.

New figures show more than 15,000 Rotorua drivers have piled up unpaid traffic offence fines at Rotorua District Court.

Of that number, 6721 are yet to front up on vehicle registration and roadworthiness offences, including driving an unregistered vehicle, or having faulty lights.

The good news for those struggling with the cost associated with keeping their vehicle on the road is that as of July this year, about 1.2 million cars made since 2000 that were once subject to six-monthly warrant of fitness (WoF) inspections will now be checked annually.

This should not have an impact on road safety if motorists take heed of advice given by the Motor Trade Association today that drivers should check their cars' roadworthiness regularly.

Even with the changes, New Zealand will still have the most frequent WoF inspection regime in the world. Most other countries only inspect vehicles every two years, or only when they are sold.

Hopefully, the $50 or so about 900,000 Kiwis will now save each year will be spent on new tyres and car repairs and this, in turn, will cut down on the number of unpaid fines.