Speeding police clocked up 64% more speed-camera infringement notices last year compared with the average of the previous five years, it has been revealed.
Figures released to the Otago Daily Times under the Official Information Act show police around New Zealand were issued with 941 speed-camera notices in 2010.
Of those offences, police paid 480 fines, 460 were waived, and one ticket was dismissed by an Auckland court.
Wellington police officers led the way in 2010, paying for 60 speed-camera offences, followed by Counties Manukau (58) and Waitemata (50).
Police officers in the Southern district paid for 38 offences - higher than other South Island districts; Tasman had 26 and Canterbury 29.
Between 2005 and 2009, police recorded 2874 speed-camera offences, with 1251 fines paid, and 1623 waived.
Road policing national manager Superintendent Paula Rose said the number of speed-camera notices issued to police had risen 64% compared with the average over the previous five-year period.
"This bears some relationship to the almost 100% increase in the number of speed-camera notices issued nationwide in 2010."
In 2010, members of the public were billed for 628,000 infringements, nearly twice as many as the previous year.
Supt Rose said the increases could be attributed to a lower speed tolerance over holiday periods and more effective deployment of digital speed cameras to deal with road safety risks.
Speed was the single most important determinant of road safety, she said. Over the past decade, there had been a drop in mean speeds and also the percentage of drivers exceeding the speed limit and this had resulted in fewer fatal and serious-injury crashes.
"Police are committed to maintaining and improving that trend."
There were provisions under the Land Transport (Road User) Rule (2004) for the drivers of emergency vehicles and enforcement officers to carry out urgent duties. Defence for police included when "engaged on urgent duty and compliance with the speed limit would be likely to prevent the execution of the officer's duty".
That defence was not likely to extend to any dangerous or reckless driving, she said.
"Police officers are required to provide an explanation for any speed offences detected and are held accountable for any breaches of speed-related legislation for which there is no justification or legal defence."
