Towage Fees for Illegally Parked Vehicles
James Kent made this Official Information request to Simeon Brown
The request was successful.
From: James Kent
Dear Simeon Brown,
When do you intend in instructing Audrey Sonerson to update the Towage Fees Notice for parking offences (only the Secretary for Transport is permitted to update the fees).
The towage fees fees have not been increased in over 20 years. They were last updated in 2004 by the then Secretary for Transport Robin Dunlop (Who is also surprised that they haven't been updated in so long).
As a result, the towage fees are so low that towing vehicles comes at a loss for local authorities, especially large ones such as Auckland Transport.
Local authorities have to budget for the loss of money in towing vehicles, and this essentially means rate payers are subsidizing the offending of other drivers.
Some local authorities have stopped towing vehicles altogether, as it is not feasible within their budget constraints.
Yours faithfully,
James Kent
From: James Kent
Dear Simeon Brown,
May I also add that the previous Government stalled the review of these sorts of fees because of the "Cost of living crisis".
This does not make sense at all; fines are a penalty for breaking the law and it is something the government doesn't budget for. You only get an infringement if you break the law...
Yours faithfully,
James Kent
From: Simeon Brown (MIN)
Simeon Brown
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[cid:image001.jpg@01DA43A9.6D8F41D0]
Office of Hon Simeon Brown MP
Minister of Transport, Minister of Local Government, Minister for Energy,
Minister for Auckland
Email: [Simeon Brown request email]
Website: www.Beehive.govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Authorised by Hon Simeon Brown MP, Parliament Buildings, Wellington
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From: Simeon Brown (MIN)
Simeon Brown
Dear James,
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, received on 02/04/2024, in which you requested the following information:
- When do you intend in instructing Audrey Sonerson to update the Towage Fees Notice for parking offences
Your request will be answered within the provisions of the Official Information Act.
Kind regards,
Evana
Office of Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Transport, Minister of Local Government, Minister for Energy, Minister for Auckland
-----Original Message-----
From: James Kent <[FOI #26271 email]>
Sent: Sunday, March 31, 2024 12:16 PM
To: Simeon Brown (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Towage Fees for Illegally Parked Vehicles
Dear Simeon Brown,
When do you intend in instructing Audrey Sonerson to update the Towage Fees Notice for parking offences (only the Secretary for Transport is permitted to update the fees).
The towage fees fees have not been increased in over 20 years. They were last updated in 2004 by the then Secretary for Transport Robin Dunlop (Who is also surprised that they haven't been updated in so long).
As a result, the towage fees are so low that towing vehicles comes at a loss for local authorities, especially large ones such as Auckland Transport.
Local authorities have to budget for the loss of money in towing vehicles, and this essentially means rate payers are subsidizing the offending of other drivers.
Some local authorities have stopped towing vehicles altogether, as it is not feasible within their budget constraints.
Yours faithfully,
James Kent
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From: James Kent
Dear Simeon Brown (MIN),
This is overdue now, by over a week.
Yours sincerely,
James Kent
From: Simeon Brown (MIN)
Simeon Brown
Dear James
Please find attached correspondence from the Minister of Transport.
Kind regards
Office of Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Transport, Minister of Local Government, Minister for Energy, Minister for Auckland
Email: [email address] Website: http://www.beehive/,govt.nz
Private Bag 18041, Parliament Buildings, Wellington 6160, New Zealand
Disclaimer: The information in this email (including attachments) is confidential and may be legally privileged. If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this email, please notify the author by replying to this email and destroy the message. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, disclosure, copying or distribution is prohibited and may be unlawful.
Please note information about meetings related to the Ministers' portfolios will be proactively released (this does not include personal or constituency matters). For each meeting in scope, the summary would list: date, time (start and finish), brief description, location, who the meeting was with, and the portfolio. If you attend a meeting with the Minister on behalf of an organisation, the name of the organisation will be released. If you are a senior staff member at an organisation, or meet with the Minister in your personal capacity, your name may also be released. The location of the meeting will be released, unless it is a private residence. The proactive release will be consistent with the provisions in the Official Information Act, including privacy considerations. Under the Privacy Act 1993 you have the right to ask for a copy of any personal information we hold about you, and to ask for it to be corrected if you think it is wrong. If you'd like to ask for a copy of your information, or to have it corrected, or are concerned about the release of your information in the meeting disclosure, please contact the sender. You can read more about the proactive release policy at https://www.dia.govt.nz/Proactive-Releas...
-----Original Message-----
From: Evana Archer <[email address]> On Behalf Of Simeon Brown (MIN)
Sent: Tuesday, April 2, 2024 12:15 PM
To: James Kent <[FOI #26271 email]>
Subject: OIA24-155 | RE: Official Information request - Towage Fees for Illegally Parked Vehicles
Dear James,
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) request, received on 02/04/2024, in which you requested the following information:
- When do you intend in instructing Audrey Sonerson to update the Towage Fees Notice for parking offences
Your request will be answered within the provisions of the Official Information Act.
Kind regards,
Evana
Office of Hon Simeon Brown
Minister of Transport, Minister of Local Government, Minister for Energy, Minister for Auckland
-----Original Message-----
From: James Kent <[FOI #26271 email]>
Sent: Sunday, March 31, 2024 12:16 PM
To: Simeon Brown (MIN) <[email address]>
Subject: Official Information request - Towage Fees for Illegally Parked Vehicles
Dear Simeon Brown,
When do you intend in instructing Audrey Sonerson to update the Towage Fees Notice for parking offences (only the Secretary for Transport is permitted to update the fees).
The towage fees fees have not been increased in over 20 years. They were last updated in 2004 by the then Secretary for Transport Robin Dunlop (Who is also surprised that they haven't been updated in so long).
As a result, the towage fees are so low that towing vehicles comes at a loss for local authorities, especially large ones such as Auckland Transport.
Local authorities have to budget for the loss of money in towing vehicles, and this essentially means rate payers are subsidizing the offending of other drivers.
Some local authorities have stopped towing vehicles altogether, as it is not feasible within their budget constraints.
Yours faithfully,
James Kent
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[FOI #26271 email]
Is [Simeon Brown request email] the wrong address for Official Information requests to Simeon Brown? If so, please contact us using this form:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://fyi....
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA page.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
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