July 23, 2015
Driving licence leniency extended
A south Auckland driving instructor says Maori aren't being given special treatment when it comes to driving offences in the city.
Counties Manukau Police have amended their operational guidelines to say all drivers caught driving without a licence should be offered diversion if they complete a compliance programme, as long as they meet certain criteria.
Previous guidelines had signled out Maori, creating a public outcry.
Dave Ratu from Access Education and Driver Training says the people referred by police to his organisation for training have included, Maori, Pacific, Pakeha and Asians.
"Big ups to the cops. They could take the other approach and just give them a ticket but they are on this buzz as well of ensuring that we get licensed drivers on the road" he says.
Dave Ratu says there are a wide range of organisations in South Auckland offering driving training, with the latest being Papatuanuku Marae in Mangere.
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