A senior Auckland police officer has paid a $120 speeding fine after an investigation which cost taxpayers more than $8000.
Superintendent Ted Cox, who oversees all of Auckland's specialist police squads, was caught driving at 120km/h on the Southern Motorway in January by a patrol accompanied by a TV One news team.
He was fined $120 and lost 20 demerit points but appealed on the grounds that he was on police business and covertly following a car of interest.
This was despite the fact he was on annual leave at the time and was driving an unmarked police car, accompanied by a woman passenger.
An external investigator was hired at a cost of more than $8000 before Mr Cox decided to pay the fine and accept the loss of demerit points.
