Fire engine joy-riders accused of damaging car

Mischael Palmer with his V8 fire engine in Northeast Valley on Saturday. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery.

An angry Dunedin woman says she wants her dented car roof repaired by one of the loud party goers who arrived in her quiet street in a former fire truck.

But the truck's owner says ''worse things happen at sea'' and today intends to start getting the now green stickered truck compliant, so the party can get on the road again.

Brenna Anderson, 19, of Andersons Bay, said she was in her bedroom about 11pm on Friday and was ''confused'' by loud voices and a fire truck near her car parked in Gresham St.

''There was so much noise,'' Miss Anderson said.

After seeing a man run across the bonnet of her Toyota Corolla and slide across its roof, she confronted the people in the fire truck.

Brenna Anderson wants the person responsible to pay to have the dented roof of her car fixed. Photo / Stephen Jaquiery

Everyone denied denting the roof, Miss Anderson said.

Men and women were drinking alcohol in the truck, she said.

''Drunk people think they can do what they want with no consequences. It's just not fair on people like us, that have done nothing wrong and have to suffer,'' she said.

The truck left the street with its lights off but she noted the registration number and called 111.

She hoped somebody would face charges for denting the car and be made to pay the repair bill.

''I'm really mad about it.''

Truck owner Mischael Palmer, 22 said police and Fire Service personnel stopped the truck at the Exchange about 9.30pm on Friday and it was green stickered for having operating lights and sirens and decals including the Fire Service coat of arms.

The truck had been given a certificate of fitness (Cof) earlier on Friday, he said, and its road user charges and registration were current.

''I'm a responsible motorist,'' Mr Palmer said.

''I'm fuming about this, because it's costing me an arm and a leg.''

On Friday, a friend with a heavy traffic licence drove the truck with five passengers, including Mr Palmer.

''We may have been meowing at people over the loud hailer - it's quite bloody loud - and obviously it draws some attention,'' Mr Palmer said.

Mr Palmer said the passengers in the truck also made comments such as ''How are ya'' and ''Hey, baby'' and sang the Willie Nelson hit On the Road Again. over the loud hailer.

Emergency services removed the loud hailer from the truck on Friday night.

''Some clown took it upon themselves to stop the party. It is just nonsense,'' he said.

Mr Palmer said he bought the 1981 V8 International truck from the Fire Service in Temuka on Thursday for $10,500.

The Fire Service should have decommissioned the fire truck before selling it, he said.

''If the Fire Service disposes of these vehicles it shouldn't have lights and sirens.''

He would get another Cof this week and the truck would be driven around Dunedin this weekend, he said.

When asked if someone travelling in the truck dented Miss Anderson's car on Friday, Mr Palmer said he was not at fault.

''I can't take any responsibility for the passengers, but on my behalf and the driver's, we're all good, and I'll tell you what you can tell her: worse things happen at sea.''

Senior Sergeant Darryl Lennane, of Dunedin, said police inquiries were continuing.

Dunedin City Station Senior Station Officer Mark Leonard said disposing of fire engines was a ''normal practice'' and many farmers bought trucks from the Fire Service.

A vehicle may be ''green stickered'' if it is deemed not to comply with road regulations or rules.

Depending on the defect(s), the vehicle may be allowed to be driven to a specified place for repair, or for a given time under limitations.