PM's motorcade escapade puts brakes on speeding tickets

Prime Minister Helen Clark's speeding motorcade incident appears to have put the brakes on the number of tickets issued to the drivers of crown limousines.

The number of tickets issues to crown car drivers has dropped dramatically in the shake-up that followed the prime minister's high profile brush in the back of a speeding crown limousine, The Press reported today.

The national manager of road policing, Dave Cliff, said just two speed-camera tickets were issued to the drivers of crown limousines last year, compared to eight in 2004 and 10 in 2003, the newspaper reported.

Helen Clark was driven from Waimate to Christchurch at speeds of up to 170km/h in July 2004 so she could catch a flight to Wellington for an All Blacks rugby test.

Crown limousines are available to ministers and other VIPs, including ministers' partners, judges and visiting dignitaries.

The biggest fine handed out during the three years was $170, in 2003, for a limousine travelling at 92km/h in a 70km/h speed zone. Last year the biggest infringement was for a vehicle travelling 62km/h in a 50km/h zone.

- NZPA