Historical date of sitting for a licence?

[awa355]

If my memory serves me right ( and occasionaly it does ) today, 20th July, would mark 45 years since I sat, and passed my motorcycle licence.
For some reason that date has always stuck in my mind. The Traffic Officers name was Johnson, and the licence was issued by the Putaruru Borough Council.

I'm curious to find out who would hold the records of historicaly issued licences. Had thought the police might but its probably more likely to be the archives of local councils.

Has anyone ever researched historical traffic related matters? eg licences, traffic offences? I dont know how far back the police records would go, or even if records still exist.

[R650R]

Has anyone ever researched historical traffic related matters? eg licences, traffic offences? I dont know how far back the police records would go, or even if records still exist.

I don't know quite what you'd hope to find but they don't throw away anything, its all on record somewhere.

When I applied for an ancestry visa to go to UK the British high commission here wouldn't accept my grandfathers name on death certificate as suitable ID to link to my family as you don't need any ID to enter details onto DC.
We had his original birth certificate but that didn't link to his different later name used by mums family.
Lucky granddad was a mischeivious bugger and got himself into all sorts of trouble after jumping ship from the merchant navy when he stopped in NZ as young fella. Nana had thrown him out after a police raid on the house when she found out he had lied about his real name, not to mention all the bar fights and jewellery store jobs he did...
Anyway so wrote a letter to Police national HQ outlining the saga and they were only too happy to help.
Received a letter detailing that my granddad known to family as Name1 was well known to police due to inquires from date x to date x and that they were a 100% satisified that Name1 plus Names 2,3,4 are all one and the same person as listed on birth and death certificates.
Was signed off by someone pretty high up the food chain too like deputy assistant commissioner etc...
Nice when all the govt beauracracy works in your favour and about two weeks alter was off to UK

[caseye]

If my memory serves me right ( and occasionaly it does ) today, 20th July, would mark 45 years since I sat, and passed my motorcycle licence.
For some reason that date has always stuck in my mind. The Traffic Officers name was Johnson, and the licence was issued by the Putaruru Borough Council.

I'm curious to find out who would hold the records of historicaly issued licences. Had thought the police might but its probably more likely to be the archives of local councils.

Has anyone ever researched historical traffic related matters? eg licences, traffic offences? I dont know how far back the police records would go, or even if records still exist.

That copper was a bit of a lad, got a bit of a scare from local truckies who had politely warned him on several occasions about following logging trucks so closely that he could not be seen.
My first provisional licence was issued 35 years ago, also in Put A Ru RU, by MOT Traffic Officer, Whitaker a local MOT man who always got his man/girl, even if it meant waiting a few years.He was one of the nicest guysI've ever meet and he was always fair even to the local layabouts.
His dropkick sidekick was a total arse, Thimblebee.
Local archives most likely still in or at courthouse or library.
Good luck.

[Oakie]

My first provisional licence was issued 35 years ago,

Woo hoo ... I win! 36 years since I got my Provisional in April 1978 ... and my first ticket on month later 'Operating a Noisy Vehicle' ... Kawasaki G5 with no baffles. The cop was parked and said he heard me coming 200 metres away

[Mo NZ]

42 YRS. July 72.
Hastings City Council ?, you bought stickers and they put them in your licence book.

[Oakie]

42 YRS. July 72.
Hastings City Council ?, you bought stickers and they put them in your licence book.

That sounds familiar.

[Mo NZ]

Had thought the police might but its probably more likely to be the archives of local councils.

Has anyone ever researched historical traffic related matters? eg licences, traffic offences? I don't know how far back the police records would go, or even if records still exist.

Police records would go back as far as 1976 or so when the Wanganui Computer was commissioned. I would guess the Borough Council records may be held in microflesh . BTW congrats.

[awa355]

That copper was a bit of a lad, got a bit of a scare from local truckies who had politely warned him on several occasions about following logging trucks so closely that he could not be seen.
My first provisional licence was issued 35 years ago, also in Put A Ru RU, by MOT Traffic Officer, Whitaker a local MOT man who always got his man/girl, even if it meant waiting a few years.He was one of the nicest guysI've ever meet and he was always fair even to the local layabouts.
His dropkick sidekick was a total arse, Thimblebee.
Local archives most likely still in or at courthouse or library.
Good luck.

Johnson was an idiot. His wife took the patrol car up town one Sunday for shopping. Dinged another car. Colin Whitaker was the best cop Putaruru ever had. I got all my wheels and roller classes and bus licences from Colin. Re girls, he scored with my married sister among others.

Thimblebee, was chasing a motorcyclist and pillion when the rider crashed. When I got there with the ambulance he was telling the police how he gave the rider and pillion a ' wee ' nudge. Thought it was a big joke.

Re the licence, I will e mail the Sth Waikato District council and find out if they did keep the licence records.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I don't know quite what you'd hope to find but they don't throw away anything, its all on record somewhere.

When I applied for an ancestry visa to go to UK the British high commission here wouldn't accept my grandfathers name on death certificate as suitable ID to link to my family as you don't need any ID to enter details onto DC.
We had his original birth certificate but that didn't link to his different later name used by mums family.
Lucky granddad was a mischeivious bugger and got himself into all sorts of trouble after jumping ship from the merchant navy when he stopped in NZ as young fella. Nana had thrown him out after a police raid on the house when she found out he had lied about his real name, not to mention all the bar fights and jewellery store jobs he did...
Anyway so wrote a letter to Police national HQ outlining the saga and they were only too happy to help.
Received a letter detailing that my granddad known to family as Name1 was well known to police due to inquires from date x to date x and that they were a 100% satisified that Name1 plus Names 2,3,4 are all one and the same person as listed on birth and death certificates.
Was signed off by someone pretty high up the food chain too like deputy assistant commissioner etc...
Nice when all the govt beauracracy works in your favour and about two weeks alter was off to UK

Grandad sounds like a lot of fun.

[awa355]

I found this as part of my family research. I'm not sure whether this is a recording of applications or offences.



I do know that in 1926 my grandfather sent 7s6p to the postmaster in New Plymouth and recieved his driving licence in the mail.

[buggerit]

In the early 70s with the advent of farm bikes the Kawakawa police decided that they would gather up the local farmers on a Sat morning and get them licenced.
I went along with my father and watched him and his mates rip round the house paddock of alocal cockie, in turns, doing wheelies etc(and crashing)as the local cop lent over a ute bonnet and filled out everyones licences.

[Hobbyhorse]

June 1957 .... Mt Roskill Borough Council, and yes, yearly stickers in the licence book.

[unstuck]

June 1957 ....

1957.....Do they have computers that you can use in the old folks home? Got your funeral music sorted?

[R650R]

Grandad sounds like a lot of fun.

Was a good bugger alright