Mon, 02 Nov 2009 7:59a.m.
Motorists are generally complying with a new ban on hand-held cellphone use while driving, with just a handful of fines handed out yesterday. The ban on making or receiving calls from a cellphone, texting and e-mailing was one of a raft of new road rules under the Land Transport (Road User) Amendment Rule 2009 which took effect from yesterday.
Those caught breaking the cellphone law face $80 fines and 20 demerit points.
Drivers can still use hands-free devices and two-way radio under the ban. There is an exemption for 111 calls.
Police patrols in central Auckland had handed out only four $80 fines to motorists caught using their mobile telephones while behind the wheel.
"They were driving while talking on the phone and, when they were asked if they were aware of the ban,they said they knew about it," Sergeant Ashley Gore told The New Zealand Herald. Police said officers were initially focusing on educating drivers rather than punishing them.
National road policing manager Superintendent Paula Rose said although officers have been instructed to use discretion as motorists adjusted to the ban, that should not be taken to mean a free-ride period for dangerous practices.
She said last night that police were reporting high compliance with the ban, and she had not come across any violations while on patrol around the Wellington region for its first six hours, from midnight on Saturday.
Other legislative changes introduced yesterday included the requirement for riders of motorbikes and scooters made after 1980 to have their lights on during the day.
Also, drivers could use special vehicle lanes only when less than 50m from where they will turn off or park and police could now conduct roadside drug impairment tests.
Pedestrians "obviously waiting" at a pedestrian crossing have right of way over vehicles, a change from the current requirement to give way to pedestrians on a crossing.
Vehicles towing another vehicle with a tow rope, rather than a rigid towing system, will be limited to a maximum speed of 50kmh.
NZPA
