Long waits in traffic court to pay minor fines could finally be abolished with new laws planned for early in the new year.

Home Affairs and Public Safety Permanent Secretary Robert Horton said plans would be announced in January or February with legislation likely soon after.

The idea was first announced by the Progressive Labour Party government in October 1999 Throne Speech but has failed to hit the statute books.

The 1999 announcement said legislation would allow for the automatic payment of fines for speeding offences up to 62 kph to ease the burden on the courts. That speed was chosen after consultation with the Ministry of Transport.

Mr. Horton was not able to give details about the new legislation but he said it was not controversial.

?I would expect it to move through the legislative process fairly quickly,? he said.

?The legislation has not been forgotten. Something will happen early in the new year.?

The use of fixed speed cameras to catch speeders had also been promised in the 1999 Throne Speech, after earlier trials, but Mr. Horton could not give a date when that would happen.

He said: ?It?s a matter that is still being pursued.?

However, understands lawyers had expressed concern about who would be summoned if the drivers of vehicles being clocked speeding were not the owners.