Bald tyre fines postponed

Tauranga parking wardens will not be fining motorists for bald tyres from tomorrow, Tauranga City Council announced this evening.

Wardens were to begin checking vehicles for bald tyres along with their normal duties and fining motorists $150 per dangerous tyre from April 1.

The scheme, announced last week to coincide with New Zealand Police's TWIRL campaign, was met with controversy from TCC councillors and the public.

Late last week Mayor Stuart Crosby announced he was unhappy with the prospect of instant fines, and would be meeting with councillors on April 15 to discuss a way forward.

He said he would push for drivers to be given a week's grace period to get new tyres.

This evening Tauranga City Council communications manager Frank Begley announced parking officers will not be ticketing people for dangerous tyres as per the original intention.

He says a decision with what is happening long term with the matter will be released soon.

The TWIRL campaign will still begin tomorrow, and will see police checking vehicles' tyres, windscreen, wipers, mirrors, indicators, rust and lights.

tyres, windscreen, wipers and mirrors, indicators, rust and lights - See more at: http://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/67651-150-unroadworthy-car-fine.html#sthash.xUuoEvW7.dpuf
The upcoming TWIRL - tyres, windscreen, wipers and mirrors, indicators, rust and lights – initiative is a new set of checks police will be doing around the country aimed at improving vehicle safety. - See more at: http://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/67651-150-unroadworthy-car-fine.html#sthash.xUuoEvW7.dpuf
The upcoming TWIRL - tyres, windscreen, wipers and mirrors, indicators, rust and lights – initiative is a new set of checks police will be doing around the country aimed at improving vehicle safety. - See more at: http://www.sunlive.co.nz/news/67651-150-unroadworthy-car-fine.html#sthash.xUuoEvW7.dpuf

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17 comments

Some Sense at Last

Posted on 31-03-2014 17:49 | By tabatha

I now hope that the so called workers in City Hall along with the CEO realise that we elected people to make decisions and if they had ideas of things to be done it should be through the proper channels. When the Mayor and EM's meet they should also remind workers of how to implement ideas that affect the people of Tauranga.


Public opinion!!!!

Posted on 31-03-2014 18:15 | By Sambo Returns

it has nothing to do with Mr Crosby and his happiness, it was an idea badly thought out, and open to many a law dispute, so sorry Mr Crosby no "kudos" for you.


Theodorus

Posted on 31-03-2014 22:03 | By Theodorus

I looks like common sense has prevailed !


No, Mr Mayor, we don't employ WOF compliance Police

Posted on 31-03-2014 22:28 | By Murray.Guy

"He said he would push for drivers to be given a week's grace period to get new tyres." A week, wow! Just tell our staff, our employees that they are parking management staff with an ambassador role (ideally). If really desperate to crawl under, and around every car, how about break the cycle of arrogance and intimidation - try leaving a nice note confining comments to pointing out a potential risk and thanking the driver for 'shopping Tauranga'. The rear of the note could be educational in regard car safety and compliance.


What was the issue?

Posted on 01-04-2014 08:20 | By jed

I don't get the problem with issuing fines for bald tyres with 1 week grace to get them fixed. I guess people don't care about the deaths caused by cars with bald tyres.


ABOUT TIME!

Posted on 01-04-2014 08:30 | By xfiles

About time I say!- The council should have realised from the get go that the public wouldn't like this.. Why do they even bother sometimes.. I seriously wonder why some of them get paid by us.. All they seem to do is make us angry!


@ Murray Guy

Posted on 01-04-2014 08:32 | By xfiles

Your opinion means nothing to me.. You seem to be critical of everything and seem to need to comment on everything!... Think someones a bit bitter they didn't get voted into the Tauranga City Council......


strange

Posted on 01-04-2014 08:33 | By Mavis

I would have thought that if a car has a current wof then the tyres should be ok.


Well, well, well!

Posted on 01-04-2014 10:05 | By nerak

What a surprise. Don't tell me TCC have for once taken note of ratepayer backlash? More listening to those who pay you coming up, TCC? We should be so lucky. Ratepayers, keep the pressure on!


@mavis

Posted on 01-04-2014 10:12 | By jed

Plenty of people swap tyres around to get the WOF, or the tyres are marginal and get passed but the next month they may be non-complian.


Endless possibilities

Posted on 01-04-2014 10:54 | By penguin

Other checks by wardens could include - is your car dirty; is it an acceptable colour; has it been polished lately; do you have a sunshield to prevent burning your hands; do you have those distracting dangling things hanging from the internal mirror; is there rubbish lying on the floor etc etc?


How can

Posted on 01-04-2014 11:54 | By wannabeme

they prove your tyre is in need of attention? at least if your rego has run out they can take a photo of your rego card that states date it ran out and your rego number. How can they take a photo to prove it was your car just by looking at a tyre. you would need to take the photo up close you couldnt take photo far away from tyre just to fit rego plate in to prove it was bald. People can get their tyre replaced with buying new or swapping with a friend. it then becomes invalid without evidence that yours was bald in the first place.


wof needed for mayor ceo

Posted on 01-04-2014 14:56 | By sonicchick

I think we should be looking at who makes these money making schemes up...think this person or persons are in dire need of a wof and definately a change of tyres! They could do with replacing their wiper blades on their glasses as they have a thick layer of crap on them. As for their tread depth...I think even the baldest tyre has more depth than the mayor and CEO together... I wonder how many parking meter employees will put their back "out" when bending down to check tyres...


Think about it..

Posted on 06-04-2014 13:11 | By GMR

Sometimes I think a lot of us get way to PC! You do not need a load of qualifications to look at a tyre, wiper blades, mirrors or indicators to know they meet the standard people! OK, checking if rust is structural maybe another matter but the simple fact is all of these things should be done by the driver of the vehicle. A WOF states that it was OK on the day (remembering most of the checks are visual and non-intrusive) and DOES NOT indicate it is OK for the next 6/12 months! Surely anything that helps to ensure all of us are playing to the same rules (and ensures safety on the road) is better for the mass?


Grow a backbone

Posted on 08-04-2014 14:44 | By triplediamond

Typical..... A few people moan about having to obey the rules and this council backs down. What a bunch of nanas. No wonder our roads are so dangerous with people behind the wheel having attitudes like this about road safety.


over the top

Posted on 10-04-2014 10:05 | By Ryu

This law is over top and not reasonable. the job should be left to the Vehicle testing stations, isn't this what we pay and get our car a WOF ? yes people will say "what about the people that ignore WOF's" then it will be up to police to enforce fines. this is similar to giving wardens around the city the right to arrest people , it just isn't their duty to do.


WOF CHANGES

Posted on 18-04-2014 17:24 | By wreckers@xtra.co.nz

Who out there that is ready this actually commented last year with the changes of the Land Transport guidelines... I did .... now I have a years WOF. I am going to get my car checked every 6 months so that I don't get caught out with a fine of $150 or more for something that is wrong with my car. I am a female driver who knows a little bit about my car - but we are not specialised in this field. Why don't you let the specialized people do their job to keep our cars and family safe on the roads. Your thoughts!


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