tayser
November 12th, 2004, 08:37 AM
http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/PMs-rugby-rush-ends-in-charges/2004/11/12/1100227563317.html
PM's rugby rush ends in charges
November 12, 2004 - 3:23PM
http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2004/11/12/wbhelenclark_narrowweb__200x274.jpg
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Photo: Mark Baker
Five police and a chauffeur in a motorcade that broke the speed limit to rush New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark to a rugby match against Australia in July have been charged with dangerous driving.
The high speed motorcade through more than 200 km of the South Island countryside attracted 17 formal complaints to the police and caused a public outcry from people who said the prime minister should set an example.
A police statement said Clark's civilian driver and five police driving vehicles that escorted her had been charged with dangerous driving.
Two police who were passengers are accused of being parties to the offence.
Two of the drivers face additional charges of following too close behind another vehicle, and one was also charged with careless driving.
Police said that the case was based on the assertion that the motorcade took 96 minutes to travel 205.6 km from Waimate to Christchurch airport, to catch a flight to Wellington in time for a rugby test match between New Zealand and Australia.
This equates to 128.5 kph, well over New Zealand's open-road speed limit of 100 kph.
- DPA
:rofl:
PM's rugby rush ends in charges
November 12, 2004 - 3:23PM
http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2004/11/12/wbhelenclark_narrowweb__200x274.jpg
New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.
Photo: Mark Baker
Five police and a chauffeur in a motorcade that broke the speed limit to rush New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark to a rugby match against Australia in July have been charged with dangerous driving.
The high speed motorcade through more than 200 km of the South Island countryside attracted 17 formal complaints to the police and caused a public outcry from people who said the prime minister should set an example.
A police statement said Clark's civilian driver and five police driving vehicles that escorted her had been charged with dangerous driving.
Two police who were passengers are accused of being parties to the offence.
Two of the drivers face additional charges of following too close behind another vehicle, and one was also charged with careless driving.
Police said that the case was based on the assertion that the motorcade took 96 minutes to travel 205.6 km from Waimate to Christchurch airport, to catch a flight to Wellington in time for a rugby test match between New Zealand and Australia.
This equates to 128.5 kph, well over New Zealand's open-road speed limit of 100 kph.
- DPA
:rofl: