Ron Mark MP

Spokesperson for Police
14 JANUARY 2015

Does the Police Commissioner Recall ‘the Speed Limit is not 100ish

The Police Commissioner has regretfully missed the point in a media statement issued today trying to explain the failed ‘Reach the Beach’ summer road safety campaign.

“I like the Commissioner but there is so much spin coming out of the Police Minister and now his office that they could rival Fisher & Paykel,” says New Zealand First’s Police Spokesperson Ron Mark.

“I know it will not wash with Kiwis who had the absolute bejesus scared out of them if they went 1 km/h over the speed limit. That’s important with planning for the Easter Holiday campaign probably now underway.

“Everyone seems to be forgetting the finger wagging of National road policing manager Superintendent Carey Griffiths. Just before Christmas he told One News that officers had the discretion to pull anyone over even if slightly above the limit.

“How does what the Police Commissioner is saying today square with whatSuperintendent Carey Griffiths said last month. Take ‘The limit on the open road is 100k/h. It's not 105 or 110, or 100ish, but 100 and we want people to drive to that, not some special number they think police are applying for the holiday weekend’.

“There’s no ambiguity or mixed messages in words totally supported by the Police Minister at the time. The limit was the limit and woe betide you if you ignored it.

“I am now stunned to learn Police Officers have issued 14 tickets to people doing up to 4 km/h over the posted limit.

“If the Commissioner can put that number into a media release then maybe he will answer the comprehensive Official Information Act request New Zealand First lodged on 7 January.

“Is the Commissioner saying only 14 people did 101-104 km/h in all of New Zealand during the campaign, or is he actually confirming that there was a tolerance policy in place? Something at odds with the fear of God Superintendent Griffiths put into drivers.

“Frankly I don’t fancy the chances of these tickets sticking since Minister Woodhouse told Radio Live’s Duncan Garner that static and mobile cameras were set with a 4 km/h tolerance. Our OIA anticipated this so we’re asking for confirmation at a range of speeds.

“Our OIA also asks the Police where tickets were issued because we want to know if the 14 Police-issued tickets were at blackspots or on passing lanes or places like Wellington’s Tinakori Road.

“If there are in fact only 14 tickets within the 4 km/h tolerance then what’s the problem with Police cancelling them as a gesture of goodwill?” Mr Mark asked.

ENDS

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