New law threatens safety: Hyde

NEW road rules due to take effect on December 1 mean WA local governments will not be able to ensure community safety, says Vincent Mayor John Hyde.

Mr Hyde said new State and Federal laws meant children under 12 could not legally be stopped from using skate boards, bikes, roller blades or scooters on footpaths, except in special zones created by each council.

“Local councils weren’t properly consulted,” Mr Hyde said.

“Extra police resources are going to be wasted as police check whether a skateboarder is 12-years-old and therefore legal or 12 and a criminal.

“With only three weeks till the new laws come in, there has been hardly any public education on the changes.

“Local councils wanting to protect sensitive business strips or paths outside senior citizens centres will have to make new laws and ruin streetscapes with endless signs banning activities by under-12s.”