Popular Facebook pages helping drivers avoid the law

More than 10,000 people are supporting Facebook pages that warn motorists about drink-driving checkpoints and speed cameras in the Bay.

The pages - Tauranga Cop Stop, Tauranga/Mt/Pap Checkpoints and Bay of Plenty Cop Stops - have regular posts about breath tests, registration and warrant checks, traffic issues and hidden speed cameras for drivers to avoid.

Between the three pages, there were 10,213 likes and followers by yesterday afternoon.

Rob Vile, administrator of Tauranga/Mt/Pap Checkpoints, told the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend he did not see the harm in the page.

Mr Vile said he did not condone drink driving but "there are people who can't afford a warrant or can't afford regos.

"They have a job between the hours outside learner licence hours. There are many reasons why people want to join it."

Bay of Plenty road policing manager Inspector Kevin Taylor, responding to questions from Bay of Plenty Times Weekend, said Tauranga police were aware of the three Facebook pages.

Mr Taylor said with any social media platform people were free to say what they wanted - but within the law. "However, those who assist law breakers, and in this case potential drink-drivers, need to consider this - we all share the roads, are you happy to share those roads with impaired drivers?

"While we might consider the actions irresponsible, it is not unlawful per se.

"The issue is one of free speech and we believe everyone needs to consider the potential consequences of what they say."

Tauranga's Ken Evans, who lost his son in an accident, said people should not have the luxury of warnings about where police were working.

"The pages are a way to avoid justice," he said.

"The average New Zealander is not worried about speed cameras because the average New Zealander is not speeding. It's a small minority of people causing mayhem on the roads."

Mr Evans said the pages interfered with police doing their work to protect innocent citizens.

"The police would only see a tiny fraction of the misdemeanours on the road.

"The fact is the police are endeavouring to make our roads safer for all."

Mr Evans said a reckless driver killed his 18-year-old son in 1981.

"It's a thing we never lose, it's with us forever.

"You don't have the children getting married, have the grandchildren, a huge history of the family is lost."

AA spokesman Mike Noon said the pages were not helpful.

"The public has no tolerance for drink drivers. No one is sympathetic for someone caught drink driving today."