Shirley Ken: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Shirley Ken: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:623;Page:18466] 
10.  
Hon KEN SHIRLEY (ACT) 
 to the  
Minister of Police 
: How many traffic offence and infringement notices were issued in 2004 compared with 2000 and what was the total value of the fines imposed? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS (Minister of Police) 
: 
 I am advised that in 2000 the police issued 559935 traffic offence notices incurring fines of $31.9 million. In 2004 the number issued was 1072539 incurring $59.9 million worth of fines. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question specifically asked the value of the notices issued. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I thought I heard the monetary sums mentioned in each instance. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: I thought he gave the numbers but not the value. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Well I heard— 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: I had trouble hearing. Could I ask that he repeat it please. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The member had trouble hearing? I heard it. However since it is members’ day I will ask the Minister to repeat the answer. 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I am advised that in 2000 the police issued 559935 traffic offence notices incurring fines of $31.9 million. In 2004 there were 1072539 notices issued incurring $59.9 million in fines. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Why has the Minister steadfastly refused to reveal the value of revenue represented by these traffic infringement notices in response to successive questions in this House yet today magically he has the numbers? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: Today I have provided the answers on exactly what it is. The member might be so helpful as to advise which previous questions he is referring to. 
Hon Mark Gosche 
: What information has he received in relation to results achieved as a result of the police enforcement action and other road safety measures? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I am advised that the road toll in 2002 was the lowest in 40 years and that last year’s was the second-lowest. Drivers’ speeds have reduced by 4 kilometres per hour on the open road; and every kilometre reduced saves lives. Hospitalisations have reduced by 18 percent since 1999 and all this has been achieved in the face of an increased population and of increased vehicles on our roads. This is good news. 
Hon Ken Shirley 
: Given the level of revenue the Government is gouging from New Zealand motorists does the Minister consider that the level of activity applied to traffic enforcement is appropriate relevant to serious crime particularly bashings rapes and murders? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: I believe there is sufficient money to save lives on our roads. I just point out to the member that on 3 January this year the  
New Zealand Herald  
stated that most people support the use of police cameras—concealed or otherwise—to nab speeding drivers. A  
Herald- 
DigiPoll surveyed 1000 people aged 18 or over and found that 72.7 percent thought it was fair to use cameras to crack down on speed. In other words most people want our roads safer. 
Hon Tony Ryall 
: Does the Minister believe that New Zealand women want the police and this Government to put more and more resources into traffic enforcement or more and more resources into dealing with serious violent crime? 
Hon GEORGE HAWKINS 
: They want both.