Drivers’ licence photo suggestion rejected

Press, 12 June 1987, Page 25

Drivers’ licence photo suggestion rejected

PA Wellington A National Member of Parliament suggestion to include photographs on drivers’ licences as a means of identification has been rejected by the Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble. Dr Lockwood Smith, (Nat., Kaipara) said photographs should be included on licences to improve identification of drivers. He told Parliament during the committee stages of the Transport (Law Reform) Bill, that although the» question of photographs did not concern the provisions of the legislation it had been brought up in evidence heard by the select committee considering them. “The frontline traffic officers said, basically, our licence system was totally inadequate to identify who is behind the wheel,” he said. The introduction of the new “all of life” plastic card drivers’ licences, despite all the particulars, hardly improved the problem of identifying drivers stopped for traffic offences, Dr Smith said. Mr Prebble said he was not persuaded about the need to have photographs on licences and his view followed those of succes-sive-Ministers of TransP °‘#hat was that the cost

of putting the system together and the advantages that flow through it do not justify the very large expense.” He said one reason was that people did not look the same at 15 as at 50, and it could be difficult to identify someone. There was also the problem of people finding it hard to, identify from a photograph someone from a different racial group. Mr Prebble said the Government was helping traffic officers to identity drivers more accurately

through the Wanganui computer centre and the new drivers’ register. . “The present drivers’ register is totally inaccurate — partly, I think because it was put together by local bodies — and we are in the process of issuing everyone in New Zealand with a new licence where the details will be checked, and they will be correct.” / He said more details, such as those set out in the bill, would be required about the eyecolour, date and place of birth.