diff --git a/bindings/python/mapnik_label_collision_detector.cpp b/bindings/python/mapnik_label_collision_detector.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b7a38d8b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/bindings/python/mapnik_label_collision_detector.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+/*****************************************************************************
+ * 
+ * This file is part of Mapnik (c++ mapping toolkit)
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2011 MapQuest
+ *
+ * This library is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License as published by the Free Software Foundation; either
+ * version 2.1 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This library is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the GNU
+ * Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public
+ * License along with this library; if not, write to the Free Software
+ * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin St, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
+ *
+ *****************************************************************************/
+
+#include <boost/python.hpp>
+#include <boost/python/module.hpp>
+#include <boost/python/def.hpp>
+
+#include <mapnik/label_collision_detector.hpp>
+#include <mapnik/map.hpp>
+
+#include <list>
+
+using mapnik::label_collision_detector4;
+using mapnik::box2d;
+using mapnik::Map;
+
+namespace
+{
+
+boost::shared_ptr<label_collision_detector4> 
+create_label_collision_detector_from_extent(box2d<double> const &extent)
+{
+   return boost::shared_ptr<label_collision_detector4>(
+      new label_collision_detector4(extent));
+}
+
+boost::shared_ptr<label_collision_detector4> 
+create_label_collision_detector_from_map(Map const &m)
+{
+   double buffer = m.buffer_size();
+   box2d<double> extent(-buffer, -buffer, m.width() + buffer, m.height() + buffer);
+   return boost::shared_ptr<label_collision_detector4>(
+      new label_collision_detector4(extent));
+}
+
+boost::python::list
+make_label_boxes(boost::shared_ptr<label_collision_detector4> det) 
+{
+   boost::python::list boxes;
+
+   for (label_collision_detector4::query_iterator jtr = det->begin();
+        jtr != det->end(); ++jtr)
+   {
+      boxes.append<box2d<double> >(jtr->box);
+   }
+
+   return boxes;
+}
+
+}
+
+void export_label_collision_detector() 
+{
+   using namespace boost::python;
+   
+   // for overload resolution
+   void (label_collision_detector4::*insert_box)(box2d<double> const &) = &label_collision_detector4::insert;
+
+   class_<label_collision_detector4, boost::shared_ptr<label_collision_detector4>, boost::noncopyable>
+      ("LabelCollisionDetector", 
+       "Object to detect collisions between labels, used in the rendering process.",
+       no_init)
+
+      .def("__init__", make_constructor(create_label_collision_detector_from_extent),
+           "Creates an empty collision detection object with a given extent. Note "
+           "that the constructor from Map objects is a sensible default and usually "
+           "what you want to do.\n"
+           "\n"
+           "Example:\n"
+           ">>> m = Map(size_x, size_y)\n"
+           ">>> buf_sz = m.buffer_size\n"
+           ">>> extent = mapnik.Box2d(-buf_sz, -buf_sz, m.width + buf_sz, m.height + buf_sz)\n"
+           ">>> detector = mapnik.LabelCollisionDetector(extent)")
+
+      .def("__init__", make_constructor(create_label_collision_detector_from_map),
+           "Creates an empty collision detection object matching the given Map object. "
+           "The created detector will have the same size, including the buffer, as the "
+           "map object. This is usually what you want to do.\n"
+           "\n"
+           "Example:\n"
+           ">>> m = Map(size_x, size_y)\n"
+           ">>> detector = mapnik.LabelCollisionDetector(m)")
+
+      .def("extent", &label_collision_detector4::extent, return_value_policy<copy_const_reference>(),
+           "Returns the total extent (bounding box) of all labels inside the detector.\n"
+           "\n"
+           "Example:\n"
+           ">>> detector.extent()\n"
+           "Box2d(573.252589209,494.789179821,584.261023823,496.83610261)")
+
+      .def("boxes", &make_label_boxes, 
+           "Returns a list of all the label boxes inside the detector.")
+
+      .def("insert", insert_box,
+           "Insert a 2d box into the collision detector. This can be used to ensure that "
+           "some space is left clear on the map for later overdrawing, for example by "
+           "non-Mapnik processes.\n"
+           "\n"
+           "Example:\n"
+           ">>> m = Map(size_x, size_y)\n"
+           ">>> detector = mapnik.LabelCollisionDetector(m)"
+           ">>> detector.insert(mapnik.Box2d(196, 254, 291, 389))")
+      ;
+}