'Car pool' stunt misfires

Police say the 'heavily modified' car had no warrant or registration. Photo / Otago Daily Times

A group of young Oamaru larrikins have brought a whole new meaning to the term "car pool".

Police officers on patrol in central Oamaru on Sunday afternoon saw water splashing out of a "very rough" looking vehicle as it drove south over a speed bump on Thames St.

The officers stopped the vehicle and discovered tarpaulins over the back seat and front passenger seat - filled with warm water - in which the passengers, aged from their late teens to early 20s, were sitting.

"I think they were just having a bit of fun. They didn't think there were any majors with it," Sergeant Tony Woodbridge said.

The roof of the Mitsubishi saloon had been cut off and the car had been modified "quite majorly". The seat-belts had been cut out and it had not been warranted or registered for some years.

The driver was prosecuted for various breaches of traffic law and the vehicle was ordered off the road.

The police officers then followed it at low speed to the owner's home.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES