The fixed speed camera on State Highway One near Kauri clocked more than 24,000 speeding vehicles in the first half of this year, totalling fines of $2.6 million. Photo / John Stone
The fixed speed camera on State Highway One near Kauri clocked more than 24,000 speeding vehicles in the first half of this year, totalling fines of $2.6 million. Photo / John Stone
A fixed speed camera in Northland has given out more tickets than any other fixed camera in the country in the first half of the year, raking in $2.6 million in fines.
The camera, on State Highway 1 near Kauri - between Saleyards and Snake Hill Rds - snapped 24,328speed offences and brought in $2,603,420 in fines between January and June this year.
That's an average of 4054 speeding drivers clocked and $433,903.33 in fines collected every month, or 134 fines worth $14,383 issued every day.
The information was revealed in road policing driver offence data for January 2009 to June 2018 released this month.
The next highest was $1.8 million from a fixed camera on Rata St in Auckland's New Lynn and $1.7m from a camera north of Auckland's Waterview Tunnel for the southbound lanes.
"Don't get complacent with your driving and pay attention to all signs on the road."
He said the signs are put up for a reason and people can't really complain.
"If the sign's there that says slow down, you've got to slow down."
The Kerikeri man was helping his sister move from Whangārei to Kerikeri one weekend in April. He said he got two tickets on the Saturday and one on Sunday.
A couple of weeks later the first one arrived in the mail, a few days later another one, and a few days after that the final one.
"The third one, it was just unbelievable."
Northland road policing Senior Sergeant Ian Row with a list of last year's Northland road fatalities. Photo / File
He said he didn't know the camera was there, and got three tickets totalling $280 for speeds in the mid to low 90s.
Hau, who was driving a 4x4 and towing a trailer at time, said he has learned his lesson.
"I've been through there a few times since and I'm careful now."
Northland road policing Senior Sergeant Ian Row said he was not surprised by the figures for the Kauri speed camera.
He said before the speed camera was installed and changes were made to the road layout, the area was a "high risk crash zone".
Between 2008 and 2012 there were 40 crashes of which 24 per cent involved excess speed, which compared with a national average for the type of state highway of 13 per cent.
"Our hope is with the speed camera and the changes to the intersection at Apotu Rd and Saleyards Rd we will continue to see a downward trend of crashes in that area."
He said anecdotally, there have been less crashes in that area since the speed camera was installed at the end of the last year.
"This is why those measures were put in place. It's achieving exactly what we thought it would, less harm to the community."
His response to those who might say the speed camera was just revenue collecting was clear: "we don't want your money, obey the speed limit".
