I observed a dog van, with siren and lights working at full noise pass my home in excess of 120km/h.
I can still estimate speed having experience in law enforcement and shortly after it was followed by two response cars.
They had no lights or sirens working, however were in excess of 80km/h.
In my day the safety of the public were paramount.
Now, from experience I never exceeded a speed that I was safe with in a built-up area.
I was told and truly believed that I would be guilty as any member of the public if I drove at a dangerous speed, which this was.
After all, the event they were responding to has occurred and by driving at the lesser speed of say 65-70km/h in the 50km/h area would be sufficient to expedite their duties safely.
Is this lack of training a rule change to accommodate the use of excessive speed or what?
I am of the opinion that police need to be able to complete duties as necessary, however when in the public eye need to be wary of who/what they do at all times.
Who knows the child on the push bike or stroller could have been at the wrong place at the wrong time today.
Like all of us, slow down and live!
Kevin O'Brien, Clive
No reward for reps
I am writing to you as a last resort. My son represented the HB Rugby rep team this year and I've got to say, what a complete disappointment the organisers were this year. The rep teams this year each played three games, and at each game the opposing team chooses the player of the day. Usually they would be presented with a ribbon or reward for such, but this year, nothing.
Even at their final prizegiving they received no ribbons, certificates or anything to say that they had represented HB in this tournament.
Now for a country that's just hosted the sport to the world don't you think that is pathetic? The fees for representing HB this year were double that of previous years. Each child had to pay $30, which included a T-shirt with the child's team printed on it and a bus fare for each child to attend one away game, plus it cost an extra $20 for the team photo. Apparently the rep teams last year only paid $25, which included all of the above. Our club fees this year were $25 for a whole season of rugby, which included a T-shirt and certificates.
The sadness of this story is, that I have contacted Unison Junior Rugby, who in turn said I was contacting the wrong people and put me on to HB Rugby Union, who replied quite rudely and put me back on to Unison Junior rugby. Way to go HB Rugby!
Noleen Tamaiva, Napier
