Letter to the Editor, Thursday February 12, 2015

No exemptions?

In an article in the January 22 issue of the Age (Road rules apply on the beach as well), Northland road policing manager inspector Murray Hodson reminds those wanting to ride or drive on the beach that their vehicles are required to be licensed and roadworthy, that the same rules apply on the sands as for a highway or a suburban road, and that there are no exemptions in place for the beach.

He added that periodic police patrols of beaches include warrant of fitness and vehicle registration checks at access points, and that reports of bad driver behaviour are accorded an appropriate response.

Many Ahipara drivers who observe speed limits, warrant of fitness, driver's licence and registration requirements would have been pleased to note these assurances. There are probably times when they consider themselves a minority.

It is therefore quite disappointing to observe, as have I on two occasions since reading Inspector Hodson's edict, actions of patrolling police officers whoo do not fit at all well with the assurances he gave.

I found myself driving behind a police car as I left the shops with my Northland Age. The police vehicle's speed, and the absence of siren or flashing lights, told me it was a patrol rather than an emergency response.

The vehicle travelled along Takahe Street. An approaching quad bike driven by a teenaged boy, and carrying three juvenile passengers perched precariously around him, aroused no interest from the officer. The police vehicle turned left into Kaka Street, and proceeded to the beach access at its end. Activities on the beach included wheel-standing motorbikes and doughnutting quads, some of each type driven by juveniles.

The patrol vehicle turned around and departed, its driver apparently not feeling obliged to take any action.

On another day, while at the Ahipara shops, I saw a patrol car drive past a number of very young children riding mini-quads there. Again no obvious concern, no action.

One has to ask, if there is lack of enforcement on the streets, what hope is there for it on the beach?

I have received no response to a 'bad driver' report describing these incidents, submitted some days ago on the appropriate internet form.

Oh, and might I suggest that the 'Wheelie good fun' entry in the photo competition (February 3) issue of the Age) will do little to promote safe vehicle operation on our beaches? No helmets, inappropriate apparel. Registration, warrant of fitness on the quad pictured? I don't think so. I hope this entry doesn't win.

DISAPPOINTED

Ahipara