The Star: October 31, 2019

• By Louis Day
MOTORISTS HAVE been fined
more than a quarter-million
dollars this year for driving and
parking in special vehicle lanes.
From the start of this year
to the end of last week the city
council has raked in $378,530
from 5147 special vehicle lane
infringement fines.
The fines include driving or
parking in bus or cycle lanes.
The $378,530 collected so far
this year is an increase from the
$263,120 collected from 2821
fines last year.
Motorists can be fined $150
for driving more than 50m along
a bus lane, those who park in a
bus lane between 7am and 9am
or 3pm and 6pm can receive a
$60 fine and be billed for any
towing costs.
The city council has enforced
parking and driving in special
vehicle lanes since 2009.
However, between 2012 and
2017 it only issued infringements
for parking in special vehicle
lanes after the cameras which
monitor them were damaged in
the 2011 earthquakes.
City council transport operations
manager Steffan Thomas
said the city council special
vehicle lanes were enforced to
discourage motorists from using
them during peak times.
“This improves bus travel
times and ensures our public
transport service remains safe
and efficient. Cycle lanes provide
a safer environment for cyclists,
rather than competing for road
space with other vehicles,” he
said.
Mr Thomas said the city
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Special lanes attract fines
PUNISHMENT: Fines for driving and parking in special
vehicle lanes have totalled $378,530 this year.
BY THE NUMBERS
Parked in special vehicle lane
(Year – number of fines – revenue)
2009 – 183 – $8,820
2010 – 1297 – $63,360
2011 – 683 – $34,540
2012 – 908 – $48,280
2013 – 911 – $46,930
2014 – 623 – $34,030
2015 – 781 – $40,860
2016 – 863 – $44,060
2017 – 724 – $36,040
2018 – 951 – $54,020
2019 – 1592 – $70,280
Driving in a special lane
2009 – 737 – $78,450
2010 – 2395 – $240,150
2011 – 223 – $14,700
2012 – 0 – $0
2013 – 0 – $0
2014 – 0 – $0
2015 – 0 – $0
2016 – 0 – $0
2017 – 0 – $0
2018 – 1870 – $209,100
2019 – 3555 – $308,250
council monitored vehicle lanes
through CCTV, mobile camera
and mobile patrols.
He said the money collected
from the fines was directed into
the parking compliance unit’s
budget.
A PROPERTY manager stole
a rental payment of more than
$100,000 to pay off his debt and
told his Christchurch client he
would pay him back over five
years.
The 69-year-old Auckland
real estate agent, who has
interim name suppression, told
the director of the company
involved he wanted the $109,180
treated as a loan, which he
would pay back over five years at
a five per cent interest rate, Stuff
reported yesterday.
Police prosecutor Steve Burdes
said the agent had received a
$109,180 top-up rental payment,
which should have been paid
to the director of a company
that owned the Christchurch
property.
The victim refused and
requested the money be paid
immediately, and terminated all
business with the man.
The agent then paid him the
money that remained in his
possession – $11,000 – but there
have been no further payments
since the offending in November
2017.
Thursday October 31 2019 The Star
NEWS 9
Real estate agent
convicted after
stealing $109k
He emailed the victim to say
he had used the money to pay
his own personal debts.
A charge of theft by failing
to account for the money
was laid and the man pleaded
guilty in the district court
yesterday.
Judge Tom Gilbert remanded
him in custody for sentencing on
January 28, with an assessment
of his suitability for home or
community detention.
He was granted bail, and
referred the case for a possible
restorative justice meeting with
the victim.
Police were seeking
reparations of $98,180 for
the money which remains
unpaid.
Defence counsel Jessica
Bibby asked for interim name
suppression for the man on the
grounds of extreme hardship to
an ex-partner.
She provided documentation
to Judge Gilbert, who said the
present application “did not
come close” to grounds for
suppression, but he would allow
it to be argued at sentencing.