Ministers booked 21 times for speeding

By KEVIN TAYLOR


Cabinet minister John Tamihere has topped a list of speeding ministers with six tickets - the biggest costing $300 - issued since the last general election.

In total 21 speeding tickets have been issued to 13 ministers - including the Minister of Transport - since the last election. Six self-drive cars were also damaged in the same period.

Last night Mr Tamihere said: "It's a fair cop.

"It's a race I didn't want to win," he said, adding he was again proving to be the naughtiest in the Cabinet.

Mr Tamihere said he was not behind the wheel each time but did not want to say who was because ultimately he was responsible.

"The car's in my name, end of story."

Mr Tamihere said police were hard at work in Auckland: "They're working my area very well."

He had been caught by the same police officer three times.

He had not modified his behaviour as a consequence of being fined, as was obvious by the number of speeding tickets he was getting.

"So, I'm going to have to do that."

The total cost of all his tickets was $780 and the biggest single fine was $300 given in July for travelling at 85km/h.

Minister for Transport Safety Harry Duynhoven admitted he was behind the wheel when stung for travelling 61km/h in a 50km/h zone.

That ticket in December 2003 cost him $80 and had long been paid up, he said.

"Ministers are like every other person. They are fallible as well."

The Minister of Transport has also not been immune from speeding tickets. Pete Hodgson's car was stopped for speeding in Mossburn in January and in Dunedin in March.

A spokesman for Mr Hodgson said yesterday he was not in the car either time. He refused to say who was behind the wheel.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen's car was also pinged twice, both times in Napier. Once the vehicle was doing 14km/h more than the 50km/h limit and once it was doing 15km/h over.

Dr Cullen was on his way back from the United States last night and a spokeswoman could not offer any information on the tickets.

Social Development Minister Steve Maharey's self-drive car was booked twice for speeding.

Ministers are responsible for paying the fines themselves.