Review Of “L” Plate Requirement

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31162, 12 September 1966, Page 10

Review Of “L” Plate Requirement

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, September 11. The Minister of Transport (Mr McAlpine) has agreed to give further consideration to the recent requirement that motorists granted probationary licences after disqualification for offences, should display “L” plates on their vehicles.

Mr McAlpine has given this assurance to the Constitutional Society.

The president of the society (Sir Matthew Oram) said it was “invidious to compel learner drivers to display the same sign as those who had been convicted of motoring offences.” It has also been pointed out to the Minister that many vehicles were driven by more than one person and an adhesive “L” stick could not be easily removed and replaced This would mean other road users could infer that the driver of a vehicle showing “L” plates was either a learner or a convicted offender: whereas the driver might actually be a person with a long and blameless experience

as a motorist, said Sir Matthew Oram. “We are glad to learn from

the Minister that the Transport Department expects shortly to receive supplies of a polished p.v.c. ‘L’ sticker which can readily be placed on and removed from the rear window,” Sir Matthew Oram said.