South Island a speed trap?

Driving oneself is one option for experiencing New Zealand’s scenic diversity. However, I want to describe an encounter my wife and I had with police on the South Island so that future drivers can at least be forewarned.

In February ’06, we had enjoyed a week on the North Island and were just beginning the driving portion of our South Island tour. Shortly after picking up our rental car at Greymouth, we were pulled over and stopped by an officer in an unmarked car for going 113 kilometers per hour (70 mph) in a 100-kph (62-mph) area. The highway south of Greymouth was good, straight and flat and traffic was very light.

Upon seeing my American driver’s license, the officer quickly slapped me with a ticket including a fine. The officer even smugly stated that I had probably been driving the car only a few minutes, which was true.

During the officer’s lecture, she said that driving customs on the South Island were quite different than on the North and that the 100-kph limit would be strictly enforced on the South.

We continued with our trip, and we got back on budget after the unexpected expense by canceling a couple of previously booked tourist activities. However, the incident did make my driving more difficult and, I think, less safe. The car had no cruise control, yet I felt I had to strictly adhere to the 100-kph limit. By doing so, I was regularly tailgated closely and then passed by local drivers accustomed to a swifter pace. This was often on roads where passing was difficult.

We have taken self-drive tours in about 20 countries over the years, and the only other such encounter we had occurred about seven years ago for a parking violation in a former Soviet Union country. We did not expect this treatment in New Zealand.

By contrast, most New Zealanders we met were friendly and made us feel very welcome.

The final chapter occurred after we returned to the U.S. We had not paid the NZ$80 (near US$51) fine while in New Zealand because we were unsure how to pay and receive confirmation of payment. We soon received a notice, addressed to me as “defendant,” which included the threat of turning our matter over to the New Zealand Justice Ministry. We then paid the fine as instructed, with the canceled check serving as proof of payment. To cover any exchange fees, we sent them a check for US$80.

FRED KERR
Pratt, KS