The Green Party says the Government's proposed new penalties to enforce a lowered blood alcohol limit for drivers are pathetic and derisory.
The Government intends reducing the limit from the current level of 80 milligrams per 100 millilitres of blood to 50 milligrams for drivers over 20.
In 2010, the Government introduced a zero blood alcohol limit for those aged under 20, but deferred a change for older drivers until more research was done.
Under the proposed law, drivers caught with a blood alcohol level of 51 to 80 milligrams will be fined $200 and given 50 demerit points. Testing over 80 milligrams will remain a criminal offence.
Green Party MP Kevin Hague says the penalty is simply inadequate to change people's behaviour and offenders should have to face the courts.
Mr Hague says the Government was forced to move because of strong support for a Labour member's bill to lower the drink driving limit but he says it is clear the Government would've preferred to do nothing at all.
ACT party leader John Banks says dropping the drink-driving limit doesn't address the major problem of repeat offenders.
"The sanctions are a slap on the back of the wrist with a wet bus ticket. We need to deal with recidivist drunken drivers ... they're the people that habitually drink far too much and drive far too often and they get away with it with convictions and sanctions that are quite weak."
In the last 22 months, 53 drivers with blood alcohol readings of between 51 and 80 milligrams were involved in serious or fatal crashes.
Judy Ashton's daughter Debbie was killed in 2006 when Jonathan Barclay, a repeat drink-driver, crossed the centre line and crashed into her vehicle. He was just over the limit of 80 milligrams when the crash happened.
Ms Ashton says the proposal says more welcomes the proposed lowered blood alcohol limit but says more reforms are needed to get offenders off the road.
The president of the Police Association told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report programme 85% of road police supported a lower limit and he expects to see fewer drunk drivers on the roads once the law is changed.
Greg O'Connor says the proposed changes will mean more work for officers but hopes that will be offset by less time spent dealing with road accidents.
'Long overdue'
The Drug Foundation says there was a significant reduction in the road toll in Australia when the limit was lowered in that country to 50 milligrams and predicts the move will save lives in New Zealand.
Executive director Ross Bell says the science has been clear on this and New Zealand has been out of step with many countries.
Alcohol Healthwatch says there's a mountain of research to support the lower limit and it has been long overdue.
Hospitality New Zealand says the new drink driving restrictions will mean more people will drink at home, where it says more harm is done.
Deputy chief executive Sara Tucker told Radio New Zealand's Morning Report hospitality venues in rural towns will be harmed the most by the change, because public transport and taxi services are limited, and wants the Government and councils to make transport options more economically viable.
The legislation will have its first reading in Parliament before the end of the year.
