Tyre fine, your thoughts

A Tauranga City Councillor parking wardens will soon have the power to instantly fine city motorists $150 for bald tyres as part of a road safety campaign.

TCC transportation manager Martin Parkes says parking wardens will be working alongside the New Zealand Transport Agency and New Zealand Police to raise driver awareness of their responsibly to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy.

Wardens have received training from a national expert and will not be using a tyre tread depth gauge to determine whether a tyre is legal or not.

TCC will receive 50 per cent of revenue collected through fines. The remaining half will go to central government.

The TWIRL campaign will also see police checking vehicles for rust, defected windscreen wipers, or cracked lights and mirrors.

SunLive asked people in the community what they thought about the initiative.

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15 comments

no thanks

Posted on 30-03-2014 07:59 | By hapukafin

i rather have the old system where you get professionals doing this job.if it was judged that owners are to take responsibility why did they bother to do that and now for the amature meter person to be judge.


Ratepayers beware

Posted on 30-03-2014 09:30 | By Raewyn

What next? I thought Tga city council were supposed to be cutting costs not employing more staff and what did it cost to train the Wardens? Instant fine is ridiculous,most people would not drive on bald tyres anyway! Another way to charge us more rates!


Oh Dear....

Posted on 30-03-2014 09:36 | By URKidding

So a fully trained Mechanic at a Testing Station has to use a Tyre Gauge, but Traffic Wardens can tell with just their eyeometers. Tui Add goes here………..


Money grabbing

Posted on 30-03-2014 16:54 | By Phil Smith

Road safety has absolutely nothing to do with the efficient and effective operation of a local authority. This is purely and simply a money grabbing exercise and an abuse of the council's powers. What about having these specially trained Gestapo wardens checking for suspension faults, exhaust leaks, WOF, registrations, Road User Charges, and while they're out and about why not make them impound unregistered dogs, fine owners of unfenced swimming pools, littering, stray or unregistered dogs, dope growing, lewd behaviour. Let them carry firearms and wear jackboots. If the council is so short of cash then put a toll on the harbour bridges, or make the underworked and overpaid bureaucrats take a pay cut.


Revenue gathering.

Posted on 30-03-2014 16:55 | By dgk

Remembering that TWIRL is not about fining people, but of pointing out any issues.


mako

Posted on 30-03-2014 17:14 | By mako6999

Great idea, but what does TWIRL stand for, I love acronyms BTW.


Another revenue scam

Posted on 30-03-2014 17:49 | By s83cruiser

If the PARKING WARDENS are going to check tyres as well and it's not about gathering more revenue why can't the leave the motorist a friendly reminder on the window screen just advising the motorist that they have tyres that require their attention. Why is it always necessary to FINE everyone for minor infringements. It's all about punishing the wallet and gathering revenue. What ever happened to doing a good deed. this city is becoming full of officious little people who are full of their own importance running round with revenue gathering infringement notices with fines attached. Very unfriendly city for sure. Makes me wonder why I live here and why anyone would want to move here. Dictatorship is a word that comes to mind.


Why instant fines?

Posted on 30-03-2014 19:09 | By Chris

VTNZ doesnt issue an instant fine if I roll in with worn tyres, so why should TCC? Why not a notice advising that tyres need replacing ASAP, like the VTNZ would do?


Theodorus

Posted on 30-03-2014 20:27 | By Theodorus

Leave this job to the police please!And give people time to get things up to standard as with the warrant of fitness process!Otherwise it is just an inhuman money grabbing racket rip off!


Radical idea, leave a nice note!

Posted on 31-03-2014 00:05 | By Murray.Guy

Tell TCC staff to focus on their relationship with the folk who pay their wages rather than the NZTA and Police. It's the community that needs help, that is feeling disenfranchised, not the Police! If there is a degree of credibility to the rational for this initiative you would be leaving a nice note, NOT a fine! .... 'TCC transportation manager Martin Parkes says parking wardens will be working alongside the New Zealand Transport Agency and New Zealand Police to raise driver awareness of their responsibly to ensure their vehicles are roadworthy.'


Tyre Fines

Posted on 31-03-2014 16:45 | By raylaur

Surely the instant fine of $150 will just increase the hardship of soneone unable to afford to replace the tyre - and they will probably just increase the number of unpaid fines. Why not a warning notice that the owner has say 7 days to to provide proof that the problem has been rectified otherwise the car must not be driven and also pointing out their responsibility should they have an accident


Listening!!!

Posted on 02-04-2014 15:53 | By pakeha2

Hello....TCC is anyone actually reading and seeing what people who pay your wages think about this latest move??? this is what happens when interlopers are employed!


Moving

Posted on 03-04-2014 13:19 | By BJRice

It's things like this that make us not trust this council and look at other cities to live. Mistakes will be made if you aren't going to equip the meter readers with the approved equipment. Result of this? Less people will want to visit central city areas (i can't see contesting these fines an easy process) so local businesses will suffer. Find another way to fund your debt recovery, and one that isnt going to impact on the community


bring it on

Posted on 03-04-2014 13:38 | By spikeredmires

First of all for the people to say we should get 7 days to rectify bald Tyres, I don't think so, it take some time for a Tyre to reach a bald an illegal Tyre. People should as a matter of course be aware of lights that may not have worked for a while, windscreen wipers that have never moved water for a long time and so on. The people that say it is wrong because everyone should be responsible for themselves, well in the real world that would be great but unfortunately there are people who have no regard for the law, hence we have all been tarnished with the same brush and laws.If you are an honest citizen and behave in a responsible manner;then why would you worry about being fined for a bald tyre. The wardens are trained they have the skills.


if you don't have bald tyres, you won't be affected.

Posted on 08-04-2014 04:19 | By southmark

Find something else to whinge about and be glad that overall vehicle safety will be improved. Otherwise, make good on your empty promises and leave Tauranga


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