Clocked at high speeds

Sergeant Mike Owen on patrol. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times.

Two drivers face massive fines after being caught doing more than 170km/h - in the very week that police had promised to crack down on speed.

After seeing in the New Year, one 20-year-old Tauranga man was nabbed doing 176km/h on State Highway 29 near Tauranga at 4.15am yesterday.

"He was on a restricted licence and had two bald tyres at the back," said Sergeant Mike Owen of Te Puke police. "His passenger was heavily intoxicated and also aged 20."

A 21-year-old Bay of Plenty soldier was caught driving at 174km/h on State Highway 33 on Christmas Day. He told police he was "running late for lunch". He could face discharge from the Army.

The national manager of road policing, Superintendent Paula Rose, said officers would be out in force until Wednesday targeting drivers even 6km/h over the speed limit.

The 5km/h tolerance during holiday periods, lower than the usual 10km/h discretion, was introduced this year with mixed results.

There was a big reduction in the road toll during Queen's Birthday Weekend but none over Labour Weekend.