MPs and traffic
June 12th, 2008 at 6:32 am by David FarrarThe NZ Herald has a story alleging Far North MP John Carter swore at a traffic cop when the officer alleged (incorrectly) his car was unregistered.
It’s not a big story, and John has said his behaviour was inappropriate, which he regrets.
Both MPs (and candidates) have to be angels when it comes to on road behaviour. I recall a few years ago an MP telling me regretfully that the thing he misses most about, is that he can’t give an idiot the fingers if they cut in front of them dangerously!
Related posts:
- Crime vs Traffic Enforcement
- Police and Traffic and Guns
- Labour announces policy for traffic delays
- Just sack him all the way
June 12th, 2008 at 6:54 am
In my advise to candidates over the years has been you need a driver as the election draws near. A candidate does not need to have problems with regards to their driving. If the car they are in has a fender bender the candidate can easily leave the scene and keep to schedule while the driver sorts it out. If a driver has to provide an Evidential Breath Sample it is not the candidate that is seen entering the booze bus, even if the reading is below the legal limit you can imagine the flack that the candidate would take. A driver minder is one of the most important person to a candidate as the campaign gets into full swing they take away some of the stress that does build as the campaign reaches it end.
Vote:There are a number of incidents where either a minder should have been there to keep the candidate “safe” or a minder has saved the politicians skin by being the one who has the problem.
June 12th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Yes but does the Herald really use a picture of the MP in question or have they used an American?
sorry I thought we were going to have a day expressing righteous indignation at storm in a teacup non-stories…
Who’s on for a fiver that suddenly the Labourites find their moral backbones again on this one?
Vote:June 12th, 2008 at 9:01 am
Actually I just had a think about this one. He should be ashamed of himself. When you look at the general loss of respect the police have had to suffer of late, and the kind of pressures they are under daily. An MP treating a cop like this, is clearly bad leadership. He should hang his head in shame. How is he any different from any arrogant 18-year old little tosse sho gives the finger to the police on a Saturday night?
Vote:It’s a Mallard equivalent disdain for the law, based on an overblown sense of self-importance.
Not a good look at all.
June 12th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Nothing to see here, move on.
Vote:June 12th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
The herald report is too short on detail to defend either party, however if the officer made the unregistered accusation without checking then a retort of that nature is understandable and the driver has apologised. Of course the officer may not have been able to read or was attempting to wind the driver up, whatever neither side looks good. I do not recall the Police apologising for their intimidating appraoch to the journo over the suspected child smacking incident so perhaps apologies are now not PC in NZ.
Vote:June 12th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
John’s only human and the “Hone” incident (the call to John Banks’ radio show pretending to be a Maori) showed his political judgment isn’t so much suspect as tried and been found wanting.
Anyone faced with an officious little runt claiming (in their usual puffed-up “explain yourself to me and grovel” manner) they’d broken the law when in fact they hadn’t is at risk of losing their rag.
Unlike WoFs, registration is simply a tax. Perhaps if the Police weren’t so obviously happy to be used as tax collectors because it allows them to throw their weight around with otherwise law-abiding citizens, they’d get the kind of respect Lee C, and others, think they deserve.
Vote: