KEY POINTS:
Greymouth police have seized a $300,000 front-end loader under boy-racer laws.
The Press newspaper reported today that the 22-tonne loader was being used in Kaiata, just outside Greymouth, last week when it was involved in a random stop by the police.
The operator was then accused of being a disqualified driver, triggering an automatic 28-day impoundment under rules designed to keep boy racers off the roads.
The vehicle's owner, Westroads, then asked the police to release the loader so another operator with a full licence could use it.
The police refused, saying the company, owned by the Westland District Council, had a responsibility to check regularly the status of employee driver's licences.
The newspaper said Westroads was considering challenging the decision in court.
- NZPA
