Imagine losing your driver's license due to a mistake made by the local council. That's precisely what happened to at least one person in Wellington, New Zealand, after a council blunder led to 172 wrongly issued speeding fines. This situation highlights a critical issue of accountability and the importance of following proper procedures.
Last week, reports revealed that the Wellington City Council admitted their error. They couldn't enforce a lower speed limit on Aotea Quay because they had incorrectly implemented the change.
Here's a breakdown: In 2023, the council introduced a temporary 50km/h limit on the busy Aotea Quay, a major road between Sky Stadium and State Highway 1, during the construction of a roundabout. The permanent speed limit was 70km/h. Once the roundabout was completed in April 2024, the council installed 50km/h signs and began consulting on making the lower speed limit permanent. They argued this change was necessary due to the new roundabout.
However, the council failed to properly register the speed limit change before the new Land Transport Rule: Setting of Speed Limits 2024 was signed. This rule essentially reverted many recently reduced speed limits back to their original, higher levels.
But here's where it gets controversial... Following the initial reports, emails obtained under the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act revealed the details of the error. In September 2024, the council's former chief of infrastructure, Siobhan Procter, informed the police about the speed limit change. A month later, Gordon Keay from the Police Infringement Bureau responded, stating the council had used the wrong law to alter the speed limit.
This meant the police had been enforcing an incorrect speed limit. "The 50km/h signposted limit in place on Aotea Quay is not legal," Keay wrote. Consequently, the police had to cancel and refund or withdraw 172 speeding infringements from the Ministry of Justice jurisdiction. At least one driver had their license revoked due to the demerit points accumulated from these incorrect fines.
"Police have been enforcing that limit in good faith, but have now ceased any speed enforcement on Aotea Quay until the problem has been rectified," Keay added. He recommended the immediate removal or covering of the illegal 50km/h signs and their replacement with 70km/h signs.
Inspector Peter McKennie, acting director of road policing, emphasized that officers rely on the accuracy of speed limits set by local authorities. When inconsistencies are found, the police alert the responsible authority to rectify the issue, and they review and cancel any incorrectly issued tickets. Currently, there are no speed limit signs posted along the arterial route.
The Wellington City Council referred to comments from the previous week's story, mentioning that the public was given a chance to comment on the speed change. However, this consultation was primarily for legal reasons and seemed unlikely to change the outcome. Without a lower speed limit, the roundabout would likely need to be rebuilt. The consultation is open until early December, with the council committee expected to make a decision early next year.
And this is the part most people miss... The impact of this mistake extends beyond just the fines. It raises questions about the council's adherence to legal processes and the consequences of such errors on the public. Do you think the council should face further repercussions for this mistake? What measures could be implemented to prevent similar incidents in the future? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
