Objective of the Rule

Extent of consultation

Section 1     Application

• 1.1     Title
• 1.2     Date when Rule comes into force

Section 2     Amendments relating to vehicle identification numbers (VINs)

• 2.1     Assigning, affixing and attaching a VIN
• 2.2     Inspection and certification of vehicles
• 2.3     Additional powers of the Director

Section 3     Amendments to definitions

• 3.1     Substitution of definition
• 3.2     Amendment to existing definition

 

Objective of the Rule

Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance Amendment 2007 amends Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002, which sets out the legal framework for the inspection and certification standards of motor vehicles, covering both the entry of motor vehicles into the land transport system and their operation in the system.

The objectives of this amendment to Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 are:

• to transfer from the Traffic Regulations 1976, and update, the offences provisions in relation to vehicle identification numbers (VINs);
• to clarify who may affix a multiple copy of a VIN;
• to amend definitions.

 

Extent of consultation

For the purposes of consultation, a number of relatively minor amendments proposed to Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002 and 10 other Land Transport Rules were combined into a single draft Rule, Land Transport Rule: Omnibus Amendment 2006 (the Omnibus Amendment Rule). The main purpose of the changes proposed by the Omnibus Amendment Rule was to clarify provisions and correct some errors in Rules.

On 28 June 2006, Land Transport New Zealand sent a letter containing the Rule amendment proposals to about 2200 groups and individuals who had registered an interest in the Rules to be amended, and sought submissions on the proposed changes. The draft Omnibus Amendment Rule was made available through the Land Transport NZ Help Desk and was available together with Questions and Answers on the Land Transport NZ website. The availability of the draft was publicised in metropolitan and selected daily newspapers, Te Karere National News and the New Zealand Gazette. Land Transport NZ received 50 submissions on the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule, of which two commented on the proposed requirements relating to this Rule.

Following consultation, the provisions in the draft Omnibus Amendment Rule were split into 11 separate amendment Rules, including this Rule. The submissions that were received were taken into account in drafting this amendment Rule before it was submitted to the Minister for Transport Safety for signing.

 

Section 1     Application

1.1     Title

1.1(1)   This Rule is Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance Amendment 2007.

1.1(2)    This Rule amends Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Standards Compliance 2002.

 

1.2     Date when Rule comes into force

This Rule comes into force 28 days after the date of its notification in the Gazette.

 

Section 2     Amendments relating to vehicle identification numbers (VINs)

2.1     Assigning, affixing and attaching a VIN

Subclause 4.4(2) is amended by omitting “a vehicle inspector, inspecting organisation” and substituting “a vehicle inspector or inspecting organisation appointed under 2.2(1)(o)”.

 

2.2    Inspection and certification of vehicles

Subclause 6.3(1B) is amended by omitting “a vehicle inspector, inspecting organisation” and substituting “a vehicle inspector or inspecting organisation appointed under 2.2(1)(o)”.

 

2.3     Additional powers of the Director

2.3(1) The heading to section 11 is amended by adding “and responsibilities of other persons”.

2.3(2) The following heading and clause is added after clause 11.7:

“11.8 Responsibilities relating to vehicle identification numbers, chassis numbers and engine numbers

“11.8(1) Unless 11.8(2) applies, a person must not remove, erase, alter, deface, obscure, destroy or obliterate a VIN, chassis number or engine number.

“11.8(2) A person appointed under 2.2(1)(n) may remove an affixed VIN on a vehicle if the vehicle has more than one VIN attached.

“11.8(3) A person must not affix to any vehicle a VIN number that has not been assigned to that vehicle.

“11.8(4) A person must not sell or offer for sale:

“(a) a motor vehicle required to have a VIN that has been registered in New Zealand on or after 1 April 1994 that does not have a VIN or on which the VIN has been removed, erased, altered, defaced, obscured, destroyed or obliterated; or

“(b) a motor vehicle formerly affixed with a chassis number, or motor vehicle engine formerly affixed with an engine number, that does not have an engine or chassis number or on which the number has been removed, erased, altered, defaced, obscured, destroyed or obliterated.”

 

Section 3     Amendments to definitions

3.1     Substitution of definition

Part 2 is amended by revoking the definition of Authority and substituting the following definition:

“Authority means Land Transport New Zealand established by section 66 of the Land Transport Management Act 2003.”

 

3.2     Amendment to existing definition

Part 2 is amended by omitting “Safety” from the definition of Director.