A new automated system has launched in New Zealand that allows police to access NZ Transport Agency driver licence photos.
In cases where a driver fails to produce their driver licence, police can now immediately check the identity of the driver. Access to the photo will reduce opportunities for unlicensed, disqualified, or suspended drivers to pass themselves off as legitimate licence holders. Driver licence photos will also help the police to identify a person where necessary in other situations, such as when a person is disorderly or committing an offence.
“New Zealanders may be surprised to learn that previously when we ran a check against someone’s driver licence we couldn’t see the photo,” said Assistant Commissioner Road Policing, Sandra Venables.
Until 2017, the police required a person’s written consent or a warrant to access a driver licence photo. An amendment in 2017 to the Land Transport Act 1998 authorised police to access driver licence photos for a law enforcement purpose. Access under the law change was previously on a case by case basis.
