Subscribe to RSSGovt Says Driving Is Privilege
If you lose your licence because you have broken the law, be prepared to take the bus. That’s the message from the government today in announcing that taxpayer funded, interest free loans will no longer be available to drunk or dangerous drivers.
Acting Minister for Social Development Judith Collins said today that driving is a privilege not a right.
“The current policy on this is very clear. Anyone who loses their licence due to a driving offence should not expect to be given taxpayer money to apply for a temporary one,” Ms Collins said.
Previously, some disqualified drivers who had applied to the courts for a temporary licence have received a loan from Work and Income to meet costs.
“There may be exceptional circumstances where this assistance will be granted, but approval will now have to be given by the Head of Work and Income,” Ms Collins said.
Meantime, Ms Collins has asked Work and Income officials to check if the agency is helping pay impoundment fees for vehicles that have been confiscated.
3 Comments
Excellent. Finally a law-and-order policy from National with which I have no quibbles. I guess it had to happen eventually.
Meh, sounds like there were a couple dozen of loans in the low hundreds. Ass-backwards, yes. But also something not really that important.
It’s not so much the loans that concern me, but the question of how long has the government been paying for people to partly subvert consequences for dangerous driving behaviours like driving while impaired?
It amazes me how many people do not comprehend that a car is a lethal weapon, and accordingly must be shown respect