RENTAL CAR CONTROL

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19884, 10 March 1939, Page 11

RENTAL CAR CONTROL

LICENSING PROVISION DOMINION REGULATION (P nr Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Rental vehicles ave brought within the' scope of the Transport Licensing Act by a warrant published in the Gazette last night. The Minister of Transport the Hon. R. Semple, in an interview last evening, said that as a result of the large number of serious accidents involving rental cars (drive yourself hire cars) the Road Safety Council had recommended at a recent meeting that they be brought under the provisions of the Act in order that they might be more effectively controlled. This recommendation had been adopted and the necessary regulations issued. The actual requirements would become effective on March 24, Mr. Semple said that the proposals were fully discussed with the Rental Car Proprietors’ Association and had the full support and endorsement of that organisation. "The effect will be that, after March 24, no person may operate a rental car business without a license to do so obtained from a licensing authority through the Transport Department," said the Minister. “This applies to all firms who hire out vehicles without a driver to the public for consideration. “Forms of application are available from the department and its branches and are being forwarded immediately to all firms recorded as running this type of business. “The regulations are chiefly of an administrative nature, but an important provision is that no person under the age of 21 years may hire a rental vehicle, though this does not prevent the actual hirer of a vehicle permitting a minor to drive it, provided the minor holds a driver’s license. The standard form of hiring agreement is in the regulations and the inspection system for vehicles is included on the six-monthly basis.” The gazette also contains amendments to the registration plate regulations and third party insurance regulations, these being chiefly consequential on the control of rental vehicles. It is provided in an amendment to the registration plate regulations that any person applying for plates for rental vehicles must present the deputy registrar an appropriate license under the Transport Licensing Act.