Police chief gets $120 fine for speeding - from stuff.co.nz

**riffer** · 22nd June 2004, 08:35

A top policeman has been ticketed by one of his own staff after being clocked driving almost 20km/h over the speed limit in an unmarked police car.

Central region district commander Superintendent Mark Lammas was caught travelling at 118km/h in a 100km/h speed zone on State Highway 3 between Wanganui and Palmerston North about 9.30pm last Thursday.

He was stopped about a kilometre from Turakina, on the Palmerston North side of the township. He had been in Wanganui on police business and was travelling alone.

He was automatically breath-tested by the constable who pulled him over, but passed.

He was then given a $120 ticket, which he has since paid.

It is his first infringement notice and he will incur 20 demerit points.

Mr Lammas said yesterday that his boss, Police Commissioner Rob Robinson, was "displeased" about the incident, but he felt his job was still safe. However, he expected the matter to be brought up at his yearly review with Mr Robinson. "I guess it's a black mark in the book, but hopefully there are plenty of positives there too."

He had apologised to the ticketing constable for putting him in the awkward position of having to ticket his own boss.

He said the officer, though uncomfortable about his chore, did what he had to do.

Mr Lammas has been outspoken against speeding.

When police were accused of revenue-collection after Taihape sergeant Steve Gibson issued 100 speeding tickets within an eight-hour period, Mr Lammas jumped to his defence.

"Bravo, I say. It's bringing the death rate down, the injury rate down and the crash rate down. I make no apologies in assisting that to occur," he was quoted as saying.

He said yesterday he still stood by those comments and would continue to target speeding motorists.

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At least he took it on the chin and paid up.

**Antallica** · 22nd June 2004, 08:56

HAHAHA What a dick.

**vifferman** · 22nd June 2004, 09:01

That's pretty heavy, huh, $120 AND 20 demerits for 18 km/h over. That's barely cruising speed....

**Quasievil** · 22nd June 2004, 09:27

Do you think he would have got a ticket at 111km/h like the rest of us would have :spudwhat:

**Mongoose** · 22nd June 2004, 09:28

Maybe it was over looked when I said the same thing happened down this way with an Insp., there was no fuss made of it and the dude payed up at the nearest bank that accepts payment.In that situation maybe shut up and pay up is best?

**750Y** · 22nd June 2004, 09:38

idiots like this make it harder for the rest of the cops.
as if it isn't bad enough that they are seen as being 'overzealous revenue collectors' now they get to add 'hypocrite' to the list.

**vifferman** · 22nd June 2004, 10:03

Originally Posted by 750Y

idiots like this make it harder for the rest of the cops.
as if it isn't bad enough that they are seen as being 'overzealous revenue collectors' now they get to add 'hypocrite' to the list.

I don't really agree. I think he handled this appropriately, and while it doesn't look that good for the police, it just shows you that it's the sort of 'mistake' that anyone can make. It's not like other 'crimes' such as theft, murder, whatever that are injurious to others. No - wait; my bad.

I forgot:

"SPEED KILLS".

He's one of those KILLERS the media have been warning us about.

**k14** · 22nd June 2004, 10:05

Originally Posted by firestormer

"SPEED KILLS".

He's one of those KILLERS the media have been warning us about.

Yeah exactly, he is "willing" to kill you and I aswell. Apparantly everyone is willing to kill everyone. If that is the case shouldn't a death from the result of a car crash when the driver was speeding be classed as premeditated murder??

Wonder what the real speed he was going? This just decreases the credibility of the NZ Police more as far as I am concerned. Aren't they the ones supposed to be setting the example??

**Motoracer** · 22nd June 2004, 10:32

I say it's a publicity stunt to keep the mouths shut.

**aff-man** · 22nd June 2004, 10:43

MR might have a point. By doing this they basically are saying look we arn't revenue collecting because we ticket our own as well. Bullshit. He was probably doing more than 118 but got it lessened to make it look like he was speeding but not that much.

**Mongoose** · 22nd June 2004, 10:51

Originally Posted by aff-man

MR might have a point. By doing this they basically are saying look we arn't revenue collecting because we ticket our own as well. Bullshit. He was probably doing more than 118 but got it lessened to make it look like he was speeding but not that much.

You pricks make some awful quantum leaps of assumption!!!

I heard he was only doing 112kph but both of them thought it would look better if the speed was a bit higher, to show that we all can forget what speed we are doing and make mistakes

**Motoracer** · 22nd June 2004, 10:56

Originally Posted by Mongoose

You pricks make some awful quantum leaps of assumption!!!

I heard he was only doing 112kph but both of them thought it would look better if the speed was a bit higher, to show that we all can forget what speed we are doing and make mistakes

Is this from an inside source? Do we have another Mr

?

If what you say is true then it WAS all for show.

**Hoon** · 22nd June 2004, 10:59

I say good on them. Most of the NZ public would've expected some sort of differential treatment and the boss cop getting let off with a warning so it's good to see that the police are applying the "one rule for all" mentality.
I doubt you would see such integrity displayed by overseas Police. Good on the constable that ticketed him....my faith in the NZ Police just went up a notch.

**Jackrat** · 22nd June 2004, 11:53

Originally Posted by Mongoose

You pricks make some awful quantum leaps of assumption!!!

I heard he was only doing 112kph but both of them thought it would look better if the speed was a bit higher, to show that we all can forget what speed we are doing and make mistakes

Couldn't have said it better.
Hell the guy got a speeding ticket, let's hang him

**aff-man** · 22nd June 2004, 15:38

hey i'm not saying that it did occur my grammer is probably not correct. What i was getting at is that would this sorta thing be used as some sort of angle or something. He paid up so good on him and good on the guy that caught him, with level-headedness like that i'd rather be pulled over by him than some other members of the force.