• Full Story

Police crack down on cellphone drivers

Email
Print

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 8:40a.m.

Drivers caught using a cellphone will get 20 demerit points against their licences and an $80 fine

Drivers caught using a cellphone will get 20 demerit points against their licences and an $80 fine

Police are planning a nationwide crackdown on people using cellphones while driving.

The law banning the use of handheld phones while driving has been strongly enforced in Auckland and from November, the second anniversary of the law's introduction, the rest of the country is set to be targeted.

Results published by the New Zealand Herald show more than 14,000 tickets were issued to offending drivers in the first 21 months of the ban, gleaning $1,130,480 in infringement income. However, $441,200 of this remains unpaid.

The number of tickets issued has dropped this year, with Auckland drivers sticking to the law.

"This decline is largely due to a 9 percent decrease in offences detected in the Auckland District, which has consistently had the highest level of enforcement in the country," police ministerial reports say.

National road policing manager Superintendent Paula Rose disclosed plans for the countrywide crackdown when she was asked why her officers were so tough in Auckland.

Drivers caught using a cellphone will get 20 demerit points against their licences and an $80 fine.

Police themselves remain exempt from the rule, much to the frustration of commuters who have seen officers on the phone while driving.

NZN

Become a fan of 3 News on Facebook and on Twitter.

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

27 Sep 2011 07:26a.m.

Waco wrote:

Can anyone name me one traffic law that the police obey.and when was the last time (other that a camera fine )was a speeding cop given a ticket by another cop.

26 Sep 2011 11:34p.m.

rana wrote:

Yes driving using your mobile is dangerous. Since the law was introduced its become even more dangerous. Driving, texting or talking AND looking out for the policeman. Just saying.

26 Sep 2011 06:00p.m.

Bob wrote:

This is a good law, however the Police should be governed by it as well. i am a professional driver and i have to obey it, so why not the police? i can garuntee i have more driving experiance than half the coppers out there and if it is dangerous for me to use the phone and drive then surely it is dangerous for them too???

26 Sep 2011 05:51p.m.

RolanTheRat wrote:

Why are the police allowed to talk on cell phones when they have a radio in there car.Or are the cell phones police issue. can someone clear this point up please.

26 Sep 2011 04:21p.m.

CM wrote:

I am a foreigner planning to visit NZ on a self-drive tour. Is hands-free usage of mobile phones while driving allowed? Would appreciate anyone's comments on this

26 Sep 2011 10:37a.m.

jan wrote:

again the police are exempt from a law we the public get done on. i must get myself one of those police uniforms, its like a super hero outfit. when you put one of those one you get super powers. I would like to see marvel comics do a cartoon book and film on that. think of all the merchandising money you could make.

26 Sep 2011 09:19a.m.

Max wrote:

Talking about causing crashes, the bloody Police need to look at their own driving practices, just this weekend we were travelling to Taupo and while just out of Turangi a Police car came flying, and I mean flying passed us driving in the opposite lane heading straight towards on coming traffic and then swerving back into our lane cutting everyone off and just about causing an accident. We were doing 100kmh and he flew passed us like we were stationary....... about 20 kms up the road he was stopped beside a small slip on the road which was on a straight piece of road and highly visable to motorists and wasnt causing that much of a hazard at all. I am an ex cop and understand all about emergency driving but the speed and reckless manner in which that idiot was driving was very dangerous and unjustified!!! If anyone else drove like that they would be arrested on the spot and charged with dangerous driving!!! And all the BS about the Police being more skilled at driving than everyone else because of the training they undertake, what rubbish what 1 week at Police college? Some are good drivers but most are very average and no better than the rest in public.

26 Sep 2011 08:55a.m.

Chris wrote:

You can get a blue tooth handsfree for your phone for less than the $80 fine