There have been disturbing reports of some motorists taking the law into their own hands in response to concerns about crashes involving drivers from overseas, says Police Commissioner Mike Bush.
"In some cases, this has resulted in physical confrontations, verbal abuse, assaults and bullying of people visiting our country.
Police Commissioner Mike Bush is asking people to call police if they see someone breaking the law instead of taking the law into their own hands.
"While the grief and anger at the recent tragedies on our roads is understandable, there is absolutely no place for 'vigilante' behaviour. Some of these incidents have an ugly element that most New Zealanders would find repugnant."
While there might, in the most extreme cases, be grounds to remove a driver's keys if there is a critical or immediate danger and it can be done safely, Mike says, it's not a licence for people to take the law into their own hands at the first instance of poor driving.
"Police are the ones best placed to deal with poor and dangerous driving and anyone who witnesses driving behaviour that puts lives at risk should call 111 straight away.
"In the meantime, our staff are patrolling areas we know are popular with tourists from New Zealand and overseas and we are doing all we can to keep our roads safe. Leadership and a can-do attitude."
5 comments
dead or alive
Posted on 07-03-2015 10:57 | By hapukafin
I rather be alive than dead and to have some dangerous driver having to answer why they killed me in court
Joe public
Posted on 07-03-2015 13:02 | By s83cruiser
only takes that sort of action when the authorities aren't doing anything. While the powers that be are Umming and Arring Good people are dyeing which sees to be a fact that escapes the attention of those that should be more proactive on this front. More power to the "Vigilantes. If their actions save a kiwi life good on them and to hell with the nay Sayers sitting on their hands.
Lawless
Posted on 07-03-2015 15:28 | By Blasta
The attitudes by some taking the law into their own hands is unacceptable. If some self righteous, jumped up, 'do gooder' did this to me, it would more than likely end up with a less than desirable outcome. Maybe even legal action. The law is in place for a reason, the police at the end of a phone call, and with modern technology able to record live, there is no need to act foolishly and unlawfully.
Local MP doing nothing again.
Posted on 07-03-2015 18:15 | By dgk
Does anyone know what the Minister of Transport (aka Tauranga MP Simon Bridges) is doing about this problem. I can't see him doing anything at all.
Cops are too busy
Posted on 08-03-2015 00:28 | By The Caveman
collecting revenue for so called easy speeding fines. The real problems don't count.
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