A Tauranga commercial fisherman has been convicted and fined $3000 for deliberately driving his vehicle at a fishery officer who had signalled for him to pull over.
Bruce William Clifford Roberts, a 50-year-old commercial fisherman, was driving his 4x4 from Port Ohope in March this year when a fishery officer, who was standing about 100m away from Roberts' car, indicated to him to pull over.
File photo.
When Roberts was about 30-40 metres away from the fishery officer, he turned his steering wheel and headed straight towards the officer, says a statement from the Ministry of Primary Industries.
The officer observed that Roberts was deliberately driving towards him and had increased his speed.
The officer yelled 'stop, fisheries” several times. If he hadn't moved he would have been hit by Roberts' vehicle, says the statement.
In a formal interview, Roberts gave no explanation for his actions.
Ministry for Primary Industries district compliance manager for Poverty Bay, Tom Teneti, says fishery officers do an important job and it's very disappointing when they are targeted in this way.
'Our people are performing an important role upholding the law and ensuring the public is aware of the rules. To be threatened and put in danger for doing so is unacceptable”.
Roberts was convicted for behaving in a threatening manner towards a fishery officer and fined $3000 plus $130 courts costs when he appeared in the Whakatane District Court on August 3.
He also had to pay a $1500 redemption fee for the return of the forfeit vehicle used in the offence.
The sentencing judge took into account Roberts' early guilty plea and other mitigating factors including a restorative justice conference at which Roberts apologised to the fishery officer involved.
7 comments
Wepons
Posted on 08-08-2016 14:37 | By Gigilo
Should be crushed or destroyed, period.
Value of fine ?
Posted on 08-08-2016 16:20 | By mutley
So how did the value of the fine compare to whatever it was he wanted to conceal from the Fisheries Officer ? I wouldn't mind betting that $3k was a pretty light penalty for the car full of illegal product, that he no doubt sold.
basic communication
Posted on 08-08-2016 16:22 | By flashmedallion
maybe if the officer had yelled "stop driver" instead of "stop fisheries" this tragedy could have been avoided
Flashmedallion
Posted on 08-08-2016 17:22 | By Kenworthlogger
Seriously mate??? Ill give you a clue.. The word stop gives it away. The driver was not going to listen to the word stop. Next youll say the officer was asking to be run over cause he thought the officer was shouting run me over....
rubbish
Posted on 08-08-2016 20:00 | By 2nabomber
the value of the fine reflects the attitude of the govt body maf,heads in the sand,nothing but revenue gathering and ticket clipping m8.his paper work was legit,they had nothing on him besides the apparent "swerve',but 3k as opposed to $1500 worth of fish and both parties time being watsed through the courts to me is a joke.
2Nabomber
Posted on 09-08-2016 08:39 | By My Bit
So why didn't he just stop problem solved
Hmmmm
Posted on 09-08-2016 10:51 | By How about this view!
Really upsetting to see professional [Commercial] operators behaving in this way. If there is no respect being shown towards the protection and longevity of this individuals source of income for himself and his family, he shouldn't be allowed to continue in the industry! Ban him from commercial fishing and show the other commercial operators that their livelihoods depend on monitoring and playing by the rules.
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