KEY POINTS:
A case of mistaken identity has led to an Invercargill forklift being ticketed for speeding at 119km/h on the Kapiti Coast - despite having a top speed of 19km/h.
Police had identified the forklift belonging to Lindsay Carrying Co as the offending vehicle, despite it never having left Invercargill.
Assistant manager Shelley Kempton said she thought someone was "taking the p***" when she opened a letter from Paraparaumu police.
They had requested the company provide the identity of the driver of a Toyota vehicle travelling south at 119km/h on State Highway 1 at Waikanae at 4.51pm on January 7, she told the Southland Times.
Mrs Kempton scanned a file containing details of the company's fleet of two trucks, three vans and two forklifts in search of the offending numberplate.
"Then I realised...I nearly wet myself laughing."
The forklift was bought new by the company in 2006 and the furthest it had travelled was probably a block and a half, Mrs Kempton said.
Police were last night are still trying to find the driver of the offending vehicle.
- NZPA
