Driving on the wrong side of the road could be punished with a $150 or more fine if the act is deemed deliberate.
This message comes after Tauranga resident, who wishes to remain nameless, sent in this video footage of a person driving on the wrong side of the road on Dive Crescent, near Marsh Street.
The driver of this vehicle was caught on camera driving on the wrong side of the road and running a red light.
In the clip obtained by SunLive, the car is seen driving on the wrong side of the road, before cutting back to the correct lane and running a red light as it turned onto the Tauranga Harbour Bridge.
'I only videoed this as we were dumbfounded by what we were seeing,” they said.
'My partner was going to jump out and help but then they started driving.”
Western Bay of Plenty road policing manager Senior Sergeant Ian Campion says inherent, risky driving is punishable by either a fine for failing to keep left or failing to stay in their lane of $150.
'But it does depend on if it's a deliberate act or not,” adds Ian
'If it is a deliberate act or it's very risky, then the driver could face a charge of dangerous driving and be hit with a $4500 fine or three months in jail and a mandatory disqualification period of six months.
'My recommendation to people who observe this sort of behaviour is to see if they are able to identify the vehicle and/or driver, to gather all the evidence they can – as they have in this case – and report it to police.
'One of my team will follow up on any of these sort of complaints that relate to this sort of high risk driving.”
People can also call: *555 or 111.
12 comments
Risky?
Posted on 22-10-2014 16:10 | By maildrop
Driving toward oncoming traffic before cutting across and going through a red light could be deemed risky! Perhaps Sgt Campion is waiting for them to kill someone before acting on it?
That's a cop car....
Posted on 22-10-2014 16:27 | By Chris
I'm 99% sure that's a cop car. They're pretty much the only ones around in poverty spec with those small alloy wheels, and I'm pretty sure I can see the flush-mounted lights in the back windscreen. It's also within a couple of km of the police station.
I wish
Posted on 22-10-2014 16:34 | By SonnyJim
I wish people would tip their cameras sideways when making video clips . . . .
Unmarked cop car
Posted on 22-10-2014 17:04 | By WSTAKL
?
Driving
Posted on 22-10-2014 17:37 | By lil_miss
I see this at the Ohauiti roundabout throughout the Summer season very often tourist confused about the roundabouts need more NO turning signs so it is more clear for them and also the large welcome bay roundabout lanes need to be more clear ( indicating which ones go to the MT as i get cut off all the time and in the rain or gleary light it is hard to see the lane marks as well could do with more cats eyes on the lanes
Ratepayer
Posted on 23-10-2014 06:02 | By Ellajj
Re your comment "I wish people would tip their camera sideways...." . I would imagine this clip was taken on a mobile phone camera. To my knowledge, if you tip it sideways , you end up with a sideways video. Tough on the neck to watch!
Maildrop
Posted on 23-10-2014 06:06 | By Ellajj
If you read the article again, the comment by Senior Sargeant Ian Campion is about the laws, not this particular incident.
The Kiwi way
Posted on 23-10-2014 09:49 | By Theway
Get out of the way, I'm coming though!!
Hoon Behaviour
Posted on 24-10-2014 12:44 | By JeffLaw
We saw a young 'hoon' driver in a modified car do much the same thing yesterday at the Mount. Pity the police cannot be everywhere that they're needed!
Ellajj
Posted on 25-10-2014 19:23 | By maildrop
I read it again. Sgt Campion says, "..as they have in this case.."..."one of my team will follow up..". Clearly talking about this incident specifically. Please read carefully before trying to correct others.
Chris
Posted on 26-10-2014 21:54 | By JF
I'm fairly sure it isn't a police car, those wheels aren't common and it also has a bumper sticker on the drivers side of the rear windscreen which wouldn't be allowed on a cop car. The other common users of poverty spec commodores are car rental companies who usually have their business sticker on the rear window. The way the driver waited at the lights and then swerved back into the correct lane upon noticing the oncoming traffic suggests to me that they're a tourist used to driving on the right hand side.
Deliberate Risky Driving
Posted on 27-10-2014 19:13 | By swt3
I use the Maungatapu Roundabout every day. The deliberate orange & RED light runners that just have to keep going through, never cease to to amaze me. The cops could easily park there for an hour or two & collect enough revenue without wasting gas up the kaimai each day. The drivers around Tga just don't seem to care about their fellow road users. they blatantly run orange & reds at this roundabout & the 15th Ave/Fraser street lights. And often when theyy have an orange light, they can't go anywhere, but still have to sit & block the whole intersection. I am one of many who can't proceed with our GREEN light.
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