XN000022-1976-05-12 — Page 18

17

WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1976

DETENTION OF VEHICLES FOR INSPECTION

******

STAFF SHORTAGE AND LIMITED FACILITIES ARE THE MAJOR CAUSES FOR DELAY IN INSPECTING VEHICLES DETAINED UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC

(CONSTRUCTION AND USE) REGULATIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. JAMES ROBSON TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HE WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM THE HON. JOHN BREMRIDGE ON WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE THAT 51 VEHICLES WERE BEING DETAINED FOR INSPECTION AT THE VEHICLE POUND ON MAY 5 AND THAT THEY HAD BEEN THERE FOR PERIODS OF UP TO 16 DAYS.

ADMITTING THAT THERE WAS A DELAY. MR. ROBSON SAID MANY OF THE 51 VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN FATAL OR SERIOUS INJURY ACCIDENTS OR WERE SUSPECTED OF BEING DEFECTIVE.

AT PRESENT, THE THREE MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTORS SECONDED FOR DUTY WITH THE POLICE WERE INSUFFICIENT IN NUMBER TO DEAL WITH THE

INCREASING VOLUME OF VEHICLE INSPECTIONS REQUIRED.

+THREE ADDITIONAL MOTOR VEHICLE INSPECTOR POSTS WERE APPROVED IN DECEMBER 1973 BUT THESE HAVE YET TO BE FILLED. THERE IS ALSO A LIMITATION ON THE NUMBER OF VEHICLES WHICH CAN BE INSPECTED AT EXISTING FACILITIES IN POLICE POUNDS,+ HE ADDED.

REFERRING TO MR. BREMRIDGE'S SECOND QUESTION ON THE POSSIBILITY OF REDUCING THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED PERIOD OF DETENTION TO 18 HOURS, MR. ROBSON SAID HE COULD HOLD OUT NO PROMISE UNTIL THE POLICE HAD

ITS FULL COMPLEMENT OF VEHICLE INSPECTORS AND IMPROVED VEHICLE INSPECTION FACILITIES.

AMENDMENTS TO ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE

******

DRAFT LEGISLATION PROPOSING TO AMEND THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE TO FOLLOW THE UNITED KINGDOM PROCEDURE OF DISPENSING WITH THE MANDATORY ISSUE OF NOTICES OF INTENDED PROSECUTION AFTER A ROAD ACCIDENT IS BEING PREPARED. THE ACTING ATTORNEY GENERAL, THE HON. GARTH THORNTON, DISCLOSED TODAY.

IT IS EXPECTED TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL WITHIN A FEW WEEKS, HE SAID IN REPLY TO THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+ IF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT IS APPROVED, IT IS HOPED THAT THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED THIS SESSION,+ MR. THORNTON ADDED,

/18

•