New Zealand cyclist arrested for not wearing a helmet.

[classic33]

Leaving daughter on her own

New Plymouth police have apologised to a couple after their 11-year-old daughter was left stranded on the Coastal Walkway when her father was arrested.

On Monday afternoon Ashley Hoeta was going for a bike ride with his daughter, when he was stopped by a police officer for not wearing a helmet.

Police are cracking down on cyclists who are not wearing helmets.

The officer told Hoeta he would give him a 14-day ticket, which meant if Hoeta could prove he had a helmet he would be let off.

The two exchanged words, Hoeta said.

"I was a bit peeved. There were two people who had just passed me with no helmets and he stopped me."

He asked the officer if he had anything better to do, Hoeta said.

"I said: 'If you were in India you could arrest 8 people on one bicycle'."

Hoeta told the officer to write the ticket and he would check on his daughter, who was wearing a helmet, and had stopped a few metres away.

That's when the problems started, Hoeta said. ...............

 

[Drago]

Chump breaks a chump law says some chump things, and is carted of by a chump. And...?

 

[compo]

So was he arrested for not wearing a helmet, or was he stopped for not wearing a helmet and actually arrested for being a mouthy fool.

I am of the opinion that if you are in the wrong and stopped then yes sir, no sir, sorry sir, it wont happen again sir is often the more sensible route. Of course if you are in the right then they are fair game, but is still a bit silly to become offensive to them.

 

[Venod]

What a total waste of resources & time.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

If you read the article, he is complaining about them leaving an 11 year old girl alone.

"But I'm complaining they left my daughter there, not that I got a ticket."

 

[sidevalve]

If you read the article, he is complaining about them leaving an 11 year old girl alone.

If he hadn't kicked off like an idiot then maybe he wouldn't have had to leave his daughter alone. Being a parent means taking responsibility.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

If he hadn't kicked off like an idiot then maybe he wouldn't have had to leave his daughter alone. Being a parent means taking responsibility.

Yes but the police should have also taken the 11 year old child into account as well. Of they arrest someone or take them down to the police station, do they abandon a minor at the site of the road? At a minimum they should have left an officer with her.

 

[glenn forger]

I'd like to see eight people on a bike. I mean, I'd be mildly curious, I'm not demanding to see it.

 

[adscrim]

I'd like to see eight people on a bike. I mean, I'd be mildly curious, I'm not demanding to see it.

Ta Da

 

[glenn forger]

I'm anti compulsion but there's no way I'd cycle in New Zealand without a helmet with all them orcs running around.

 

[AndyRM]

Ta Da

Stretching the definition of a bike a bit, no?

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Not in India & not on a cycle, but does it meet with your approval?

 

[glenn forger]

One does not simply ride without a helmet.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

One should have the choice to do what one likes on this matter, just before you start to spout off, I never go out without one, but it should be personal choice.

 

[sidevalve]

Yes but the police should have also taken the 11 year old child into account as well. Of they arrest someone or take them down to the police station, do they abandon a minor at the site of the road? At a minimum they should have left an officer with her.

Possibly - however it's another case of 'it's somebody else's duty to care for my children' well no it isn't it's YOURS. You know the law - you break the law - someone asks you [and it seems quite reasonably] to comply or at least prove a willingness to comply and you start mouthing off and the outcome is of course somebody else's fault. Secondly it was not a road it was a coastal path , possibly ridden by many children of that age daily. Third what exactly did he do to make certain of his daughter's safety himself ? He passed over his phone and said 'ring mother' - does he not know how to use the phone ?
Like many speeding motorists if you break the law and you get caught shut up and accept it - the responsibility WAS HIS - he was the so called adult, he was the parent and he behaved like a spoilt brat.