Nickie Muir: Billboards not worth wasting time, cash on

Brian May and his truck. PHOTO / Michael Cunningham

A bit of a storm in a teacup?

Like most storms, it seems expensive and messy.

Brian May, a local businessman, parked a truck with some signs on it.

The council took exception and used the confusing legal gumbo of local signage bylaws to confiscate his truck.

Mr May represented himself because he felt having to use lawyers was just another bullying tactic used by the council.

A form of financial punishment for the crime of criticism, if you like.

We're lucky he did, because he won. If he'd engaged the services of a law firm, as the local council did, we'd be paying all his legal fees as well theirs.

It's difficult to believe this case even made it to court or that at one point it was suggested the matter be heard in the High Court.

Seriously? For some signs?

Mr May's billboard insistence that a culture of bullying is the modus operandi of some district council staff did go beyond the normal realms of advertising.

His sense that council representatives had harassed his business over a period of years made him angry.

Normal people ignore silly signs.

It's only when there is some truth to what's said that provocative statements gain a reaction.

Competent leadership, entirely absorbed with the smooth running of a community, would be unlikely to even notice them.

There just wouldn't be the time.

And these were just a few signs in a town littered with signage infringements.

The former National MP had a licence plate that read, "Working for You", which I felt was not true. I'd defend his right to express his opinion, though. The court itself told Mr May that there were legal issues he might like to direct his attention to about freedom of expression under the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.

"Yup," said Brian.

In the end, the judge found the council had seized the vehicle on grounds which did not permit it to do so.

The truck is still in the council's possession.

I'm having difficulty defining the terms "seized" and "nicked". But then I'm not a lawyer. If I were, in this town I'd never be unemployed again.

Note to councillors; if there's anything left over after paying for staff rides on the legal merry-go-round, the footpaths in Morningside need fixing.

Just saying. But not on a sign. Obviously.