Deadly beach cruiser danger highlighted

FATALITY: Emergency services at the scene of an incident in which a man died at Harrison's Cut on Thursday night.PHOTO/SUPPLIED

Drivers joyriding illegally along Tauranga's beaches are a recipe for disaster and could face fines of up to $750.

Papamoa police Sergeant Phil Gillbanks was responding to the death on Thursday evening of a 24-year-old Northland man after a vehicle he was driving rolled on the beach near Harrison's Cut.

Mr Gillbanks said the driver, who had been living in New Zealand for about six years, was well outside the legal area permitted for cars to retrieve or launch boats, and was driving faster than the beach's 30km/h speed limit.

"It is a recipe for disaster in more ways than one."

He said police had even received reports of vehicles weaving in and out of beachgoers, particularly at Papamoa East. "It is occurring a lot."

Mr Gillbanks urged people who saw cars and four-wheel-drives on the beach to use their phones to take photos, including the number plate, and forward them to the police. "We will follow it up." Signs made it clear vehicles were not allowed on the beach except within 100m either side of the access points at Harrison's Cut, Papamoa Domain and Taylors Reserve.

And it was only to launch or retrieve a boat, including a Kontiki fishing line.

Mr Gillbanks said a large number of people came up to him on Thursday to comment about how many drivers were flouting the law by cruising on the beach.

The last ticket he issued was to a motorist who trundled past the scene of a recent near drowning at Papamoa. Police would not accept the excuse that motorists had not seen the signs. "The beach is not be used for a general cruise or a play."

Mr Gillbanks said Thursday's crash was an unfortunate accident that could have been avoided easily. He put it down to speed and driver behaviour.

It occurred just on the outgoing tide when there was not a lot of beach and vehicles were travelling pretty close to people on soft sand, he said. Four passengers in Thursday's incident were overseas tourists.

Mayor Stuart Crosby said the problem was mainly with visitors to Tauranga and it was rare for a local person to drive illegally on the beach.