Council eyes light-vehicle ban for problem roads
Looks to target antisocial drivers, boost police powers
An increase in late-night antisocial driving has prompted Waipā District Council to propose a light motor vehicle prohibition under its Public Places Bylaw.
This will give police more powers to take action in problem areas.
Rural residents, property owners and businesses on roads where prohibition is proposed are being invited to have their say.
The proposal would ban light motor vehicles (less than 3500kg) such as cars, utes and vans, from operating on specific rural roads and in industrial areas between 9pm and 4am, seven days a week, while protecting vehicle access for residents and visitors.
The roads identified after research into occurrence and consultation with police are: Cambridge-Maungatautari wards
■ Gudex Rd
■ Appleby Rd
■ Wells Place – from Waikato Expressway to Moemoea Place
Te Awamutu-Kihikihi wards
■ Bond Rd industrial area
■ Harrison Drive industrial area
■ Bank Rd (Lake Ngā Roto)
■ Puahue Rd-Parklands RdChamberlain Rd loop
■ Arapuni and Bulmers Landings area
Pirongia-Ōhaupō wards
■ Hamilton Airport area
■ Rukuhia area
Waipā District Council transportation manager Bryan Hudson said if the prohibition/was adopted,/police would have/greater ability/to issue fines/and/warning notices.
“At the moment, unless antisocial drivers are caught in the act or can be identified in videos or photographs, police have advised us they can do very little. We must do something to support them, and this is a good start,” Hudson says.
“We know the roads proposed for prohibition are not the only roads where antisocial driving is an issue, but they are the most practical and efficient in terms of enforcement.
“We encourage residents affected by this antisocial driving behaviour to keep reporting instances to the police at the time it is happening.
This will help us to continue to work with our communities in these areas.”
Residents, property owners and businesses in the areas have until November 10, to have a say.
If approved, the prohibitions are likely to be in place in early 2024.