Speed police get out the ticket books

The number of speeding tickets issued by traffic police has nearly trebled since 2000, and almost 400,000 were handed out last year.

The jump in tickets issued by officers has occurred despite speed cameras snapping fewer drivers and camera revenue being at a five-year low.

Police are facing accusations that front-line officers are occupied with issuing traffic fines instead of attending to crime.

Figures released by the Government showed police officers issued 395,912 tickets last year, compared with 137,427 in 2000.

The number of speed camera tickets peaked in 2003 when about 494,600 were issued, but dropped to 464,000 last year - totalling about $40.8 million in fines.

From East Cape to southern Hawkes Bay, almost three times as many tickets were issued through speed cameras as by officers.

Auckland, North Shore and Waitakere were among the areas with the highest number of camera tickets last year, said Road policing manager Inspector John Kelly.

Mr Kelly said the rise in officer-issued tickets could be the result of the tolerance of 10km/h over the speed limit, introduced in 2000. Speed cameras could be adjusted automatically but it could have taken officers longer to adjust.

- NZPA