By MELISSA MOXON
HAMILTON - The Mayor of Hamilton, Russ Rimmington, has been disqualified from driving and fined $750 for a dangerous driving incident last year.
Rimmington's status as a justice of the peace is in the hands of Justice Minister Phil Goff because dangerous driving can carry a term of imprisonment. In such cases, the JP is usually asked to resign.
His deputy, Brian Impson, is also off the road after losing his licence for six months when he admitted a drink-driving charge in January.
Rimmington was convicted and sentenced in the Hamilton District Court yesterday, despite his contention that his overtaking manoeuvre on State Highway 1 at Taupiri on January 3 last year was not dangerous.
Two drivers who independently reported him to police told a different story at a trial last month.
Judge Philip Cooper said yesterday that he was more inclined to believe the two drivers and one passenger who said Rimmington was tailgating before he pulled out to overtake three cars in the face of oncoming traffic.
He then cut back into the traffic, forcing northbound and southbound cars to swerve to avoid a collision.
Police also received complaints from two other drivers, who did not give evidence in court.
Rimmington's wife, Edwina, was in the car at the time and she gave evidence that he did not swerve or do anything "untoward" as he drove the council-owned Ford Falcon, registration HCC 1, to Hamilton from Auckland.
Judge Cooper said he would give Rimmington credit for his previously unblemished record in 39 years of driving.
Rimmington was disqualified from driving for six months and fined $750, plus court costs of $130 and witness expenses of $189.
Rimmington said afterwards that he did not expect the disqualification to affect his mayoral duties, as his personal assistant already often drove him to functions.
He still felt he had done nothing wrong, but said he respected the right of others "to have their case tested in court."
A former president of the Justice of the Peace Association said it was not uncommon for JPs to be convicted of imprisonable crimes.
Most resigned when they were made aware of provisions in the Justice of the Peace Act covering such situations, although some had to be asked to go by the Minister of Justice.
The former president, who did not want to be named, said he could not recall a mayor losing JP status, but about five years ago an executive officer of a council in the Deep South lost his JP title after being convicted of drink- driving causing injury.
Mr Impson's application to become a JP was dropped when he was convicted of drink-driving.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from New Zealand
Armed police, bomb squad find 'item of concern' at Christchurch property
Neighbour says he was evacuated from his home after "device" was found.