Senators passed laws increasing taxi sizes and tightening up protection for investors in a sleepy session yesterday. allows an increase in taxi sizes from 200 inches to 210 inches in length, and from 75 inches to 77 inches in width.

It is intended to help wheel chair accessibility and allow for easier cargo storage ? specifically golf bags ? and enable cheaper but better quality vehicles to be imported.

Opposition said bigger cars on narrow roads were a concern, particularly in Pembroke parish where he ministered.

He said: ?Some vehicles might find themselves in the predicament of emergency vehicles, in not being able to access some of those lanes or find themselves in tight, inaccessible positions.?

Independent reluctantly agreed the bill was necessary but said he felt bad every time restrictions on vehicle sizes were increased.

said the rationale for the change was that manufacturers were not building vehicles to fit Bermuda?s roads.

But he said: ?Somewhere along the line we have to say enough is enough.

?Because everyone wants bigger and better cars we have increased their choice. Maybe we should look at restricting their choice.?

The Senate also passed the which gives the Bermuda Monetary Authority more powers to protect the consumer.

Government said it was similar to legislation already covering banks and trusts. The BMA will have powers to inspect and investigate complaints and help safeguard people?s hard-earned money from unscrupulous firms, said Sen. Tannock.

The act brings in greater sanctions for delinquent providers said the senator.

However Sen. Tannock said investment was an industry with few boundaries. ?This bill regulates business in and from Bermuda.

?It won?t regulate business done from another jurisdiction even if it?s Bermuda registered.?

The bill won support from the Opposition whose leader Kim Swan agreed the BMA needed greater powers.

However, he questioned why nothing was being done to address problems caused by pyramid schemes. He said people were being lured into losing their money but promises for legislation when the problem was prevalent had not be followed up.

Sen. Hughes said the act dealt primarily with licensed and bona fide business organisations. He said: ?There is something in here to protect the little guy and the larger investor.?

But he said section 42 of the act dealt with fly-by-nights who turned up briefly to conduct business from a suit case.

He said: ?The penalties are severe for people who don?t obey the rules.?

Independent said the act was extremely important and helped the BMA act for ripped off investors who felt powerless to act on their own behalf while Sen. Oughton said the act would help keep Bermuda at the cutting edge.

During the motion to adjourn United Bermuda Party referred to prison overcrowding and said Government?s Alternatives to Incarceration initiative should have dealt with juveniles before tackling adults.

He said: ?If you build a home would you build the roof first or the foundation??