The Transport Minister will not close a legal loophole that
allows people to drive with open bottles of alcohol in their
vehicles.
Under existing guidelines people aged 20 or more can drink
while driving providing they do not exceed the legal limit.
However, drivers under 20 years must adhere to a zero alcohol
limit.
Recently a couple reported a man driving with an open bottle
of beer in Nelson were dumbfounded to be told by police he
wasn't breaking the law, causing outrage from a road safety
expert.
However, the legal loophole would not be closed and the
legislation was not under review, a spokesman for Transport
Minister Gerry Brownlee said today.
Government efforts regarding reducing car crashes where
alcohol is a factor are focused on ensuring drivers comply
with their legal limit, said a Ministry of Transport
spokeswoman.
Initiatives have included introducing a zero breath alcohol
concentration for drivers aged under 20 and repeat
drink-drivers.
"We would reiterate that the law allows the police to require
a driver, at any time, to undergo a breath test to see if
they are complying with the legal limit," she said.
Road safety campaigner Clive Matthew-Wilson, who also edits
car review website, dogandlemon.com, said he was shocked to
learn the practice of driving with open bottles was legal and
called for a law change.
"It's completely crazy. I just can't believe our lawmakers
are that stupid," he said.
"It's like saying you're allowed to drive carrying a handgun
as long as you're not shooting anyone.
"One tends to follow the other. If you're drinking while
driving, then it's highly likely that it's going to cause
serious road safety problems."
Ministry of Transport figures showed drinking and driving
killed 1463 people and injured 24,789 others in crashes on
New Zealand roads between 2000 and 2011.
Nigel Hampton QC said motorists may not be breaking the law
by drinking a beer while driving, but police could have "very
good cause" to pull them over.
"The cop would have every right to ask what they are doing
and get them to 'blow into this machine please'," he said.
- By Kurt Bayer of APNZ & Andrew Board of the Nelson
Weekly
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