Honeymooning tourist charged with dangerous driving

A Chinese tourist who narrowly avoided a head-on collision when he drove 100m on the wrong side of the road near Queenstown has been fined and disqualified from driving.

A honeymooning Chinese tourist, who narrowly avoided a head-on collision when he drove 100m on the wrong side of the road near Queenstown last Monday, has been fined and disqualified from driving.

Zexin Qiu, 29, of Suzhou, appeared before Judge Kevin Phillips in the Dunedin District Court yesterday and admitted driving in a dangerous manner on Arthurs Point Rd on November 10.

He was fined $500, court costs $130 and disqualified from driving for six months.

Because he and his wife were flying home on Sunday, Qiu had to pay his fine and court costs immediately.

Police prosecutor Stewart Sluis said the defendant turned right from the Shotover Resort to McChesney Rd, intending to travel to Queenstown. He apparently forgot about keeping left as he drove about 100m on the wrong side of the road, forcing other drivers to take evasive action, one vehicle having to stop to avoid a head-on collision.

He crossed the kerb on the wrong side of the road before moving back to his correct side and continuing into Queenstown, where he was stopped by police.

Duty lawyer Jim Large said Qiu may have been confused when he drove out of Shotover Lodge.

Judge Phillips said Qiu obviously should not have been in charge of the vehicle. But he gave the defendant credit for taking responsibility for driving dangerously, pleading guilty immediately and for having no previous convictions.