Cop who clocked Henry couldn't issue ticket, say police

All Blacks coach Graham Henry. Photo / Sarah Ivey

The police officer who clocked a prominent New Zealander, reportedly All Blacks coach Graham Henry, for speeding in Auckland last Friday could not legally issue him a ticket.

Police said the officer could warn speeding motorists but because he was not fully certified to use the police radar, he could not issue a valid speeding ticket.

Henry was reported to have been driving at 81km/h in a 50km/h zone on Tamaki Drive on Auckland's waterfront on Friday night. He was given a warning but not given a ticket. He was one of five motorists warned on Tamaki Drive about speeding over a 3-1/2 hour period on Friday night.

The incident came only hours after police advised motorists before the holiday weekend they would be get a ticket if they broke the speed rules by 4km/h - down from the usual tolerance of 10km/h.

In a statement today police did not name Henry but said it was incorrect to say a prominent New Zealander was let off a speeding fine because of who he was.

Auckland City district commander, Superintendent George Fraser, said the police officer was not yet fully certified to issue legal offence notices using radar speed detection equipment. He stopped five motorists on Tamaki Drive between 6pm and 9.30pm, warned them about speeding and checked their vehicles for warrant of fitness and registration status.

"None were issued with speeding tickets due to the fact that the police officer could not issue a legally valid infringement notice after having used speed detection equipment," Mr Fraser said in a statement.

Police spokeswoman Noreen Hegarty said it was not clear if the police officer would be disciplined although Mr Fraser said in his statement he was being spoken to about police policy covering the use of speed detection equipment.

Ms Hegarty said it was not clear if the officer should have been using the speed radar when he was not fully qualified and could not issue tickets.

"I need to get some clarification on the regulations around the use of the radars for detecting speeding infringement and who is entitled to use them and who is not."

Mrs Hegarty said reports from the police officer on Friday night did not stipulate the speed of the five motorists warned about speeding.

"There is no specific speed given in this report," she said.

Henry, who is with the All Blacks in Hong Kong preparing for Saturday's test against Australia, declined to comment.

- NZPA