Red tape forces police Segways off road

Two Segways worth more than $20,000 are "languishing in a police station gathering dust" after officials ruled they can't be used as a crimefighting tool.
The two Segways were lent to the Taupo police more than a year ago by the Safer Community Trust but aren't being seen on the streets of Taupo because of what Mayor Rick Cooper describes as "bureaucratic thuggery".
When the Segways were donated to the police it was believed they could  be  used when roads were closed for events, as well as patrolling the footpaths around the town.
Although  they were used at some events - such as last year's  Great Lake Cycle Challenge and  Santa parade - the  Police National Headquarters has now said they cannot be used at all.
Road policing communications manager Lesley Wallis said they were not being used because they were not  legal on the road.
Area commander Inspector Steve Bullock conceded it was frustrating not being able to use the Segways but said police had to follow the law.
He said part of the issue with using the Segways was that there was no classification for Segways and they  fell into the motorvehicles category - which meant they had to meet requirements such as being registered to be allowed on the road.
"Clearly they're never going to have these things."
Mr Bullock said either legislation needed to change or there needed to be an exception for them.
When the Taupo police first accepted the Segways, Mr Bullock said he believed there were several  opportunities to use them at events and other times when the roads were closed. However he said he had since been directed that he could not  use them on those occasions.
Mr Bullock said police wanted to see the Segways used on a regular basis.
He had seen them in action and believed they would be a useful tool for the Taupo police both at events and patrolling the town.
"We are working with the Taupo District Council and the New Zealand Transport Agency in the hope we can come up with a solution so that we can use them legally."
Mr Cooper said he also hoped for some progress on the issue soon.
"I'm getting at the end of my tether."
He said the latest was that the Segways were not allowed to be used in the town's Christmas parade on Saturday - saying if ever there was a place to use them that was it.
Mr Cooper said the Segways were in use around the world and gave police greater visibility.
He said he would fight "hammer and tong" for them to be put to use by police.
"I'm not going to stand by and watch $20,000 worth of Segways sitting in the back of the police station languishing in dust."
Safer Community Trust chairman Ted Swanney said both the trust and the Taupo Moana Rotary Club which donated the Segways  were concerned that they were not being used. The trust owns the Segways after they were gifted by Rotary.
They are on a permanent loan to the police.
The  Transport Agency's Bay of Plenty regional director, Harry Wilson, said it was  looking at ways to allow the police to use the Segways without breaking the law.
Mr Wilson said one of the options being considered  was classifying the Segways' use  as a trial but said it was a complex legal issue.
"If there was a simple way to sort it out we would have done it some time ago."