A man who got into a verbal altercation with an off-duty police officer has been convicted and fined.

Verbal altercation lands reckless driver hefty fine

Polycarb Tarai appeared in the Criminal Court on Thursday last week charged with reckless driving and obscene language in a public place.

The court heard Tarai was observed by an off-duty police officer on November 19, driving in a careless and dangerous manner.

He was carrying a pillion passenger in front of him, on his motorcycle.

The officer approached Tarai when he stopped and advised him his driving was dangerous.

Tarai then swore at the officer.

When police arrived at the scene, they heard swearing. 

The police prosecutor said Tarai admitted carrying a pillion passenger on the front of his motorcycle but claimed he could not remember swearing.

Justice of the Peace John Whitta convicted and fined Tarai $250 for reckless driving, plus $50 court costs.

Tarai was convicted and fined $50, plus $50 court costs for obscene language in a public place.  

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Drink driver loses licence after hitting coconut tree

A drink driver who rode a motorcycle on to gravel and hit a coconut tree has been fined and disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Matamaru Tupou appeared in the Criminal Court on Thursday charged with careless driving and excess blood alcohol.

The court heard on December 18 Tupou consumed a number of stubbies at a birthday party before falling asleep.

He awoke on December 19 and continued drinking from about 7am before getting on his motorcycle and going to a friend’s place where he continued drinking.

He then got back on the motorcycle and drove on to a gravel area and crashed into a coconut tree, sustaining minor injuries.

Police said he admitted the facts.

JP Whitta convicted and fined Tupou $500, plus $50 court costs for excess blood alcohol.

Tupou was convicted and fined $50, plus $50 court costs for careless driving, and ordered to pay $150 towards the blood alcohol test.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months.    

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‘You have a high level of dangerous driving’  

A man facing a dangerous driving charge has been told he will reappear in court due to the nature of his offences.

“I have a mind to send this to three JPs, you have a high level of dangerous driving,” Justice of the Peace John Whitta told Shawn Uriaere at the Criminal Court on Thursday last week.

The court heard Uriaere drove in a dangerous manner on the Back Road in Arorangi on December 24.

The police prosecutor said Uriaere was doing wheelies and stunts.

When questioned by police he refused to give an explanation.

Police asked for a fine to be imposed, but JP Whitta said he would adjourn to matter to February 16, for three JPs to consider the matter before sentencing.