Government Announces 225 Strong Highway Patrol
Government Announces 225 Strong Highway Patrol Group
A road safety package of $152 million road over four years will include $76.5 million to fund a 225 strong specialist Highway Patrol group to police New Zealand's state highways.
Minister of Police Hon. George Hawkins said the Highway Patrol will mean a highly visible Police presence on New Zealand roads.
"This Road Safety Package announces the Government's commitment to a visible approach to highway and traffic policing.
"A specialist Highway Patrol group will be a deterrent to speedsters and will also provide targetted law enforcement designed to ensure our roads are safer.
"New livery for Police vehicles is being designed and will be applied to new Police vehicles before this year's Christmas period. The vehicles will be clearly marked so that they can be easily seen," George Hawkins said.
This Road Safety Package includes plans
for:
A 225 Highway Patrol group within New
Zealand Police
More money for community driver
education initiatives
Greater emphasis on Maori
and Pacific Island driver education, as part of the
Government's "Closing the Gaps" initiative
More
compulsory breath testing – particularly in high risk rural
areas
Tougher enforcement of speed restrictions
and seat belt rules
Providing safety information
for those buying new cars
Improvements to the
monitoring of commercial vehicles.
The Highway Patrol
costs per year are: $10 million in 2000/01, $22 million in
2001/02, $22 million in 2002/03, $22.5 million in 2003/04,
and $23.5 million in outyears.
ENDS