Eastern Waikato Police say a member of the public who reported bad driving behaviour on a highway between Tauranga and Waihi yesterday probably had no idea of the outcome of their call but it highlights the importance of seeing something and doing something about it.
Area Response Manager for Hauraki-Piako, Senior Sergeant Rex Knight, said a call was received from a member of the public about 12.40pm after the driver of a northbound Mercedes on SH2 nearly ran a woman off the road north of Katikati.
"Waihi units responded to the call and stopped the car near the intersection with Waihi Beach Rd. The 33-year-old male driver initially gave false details to the officers but, thanks to modern technology as part of the Police's mobility roll-out, his actual identity was established as that of a suspended driver.
"The car he was driving was not his and we're working to locate the rightful owner for that and we believe a large television and an i-Pad recovered in the car may have been stolen."
Because the driver was driving while suspended the car was impounded for 28 Days and he was due to appear in the Hamilton District Court today on nine active charges.
Mr Knight said yesterdays stop as a result of a driver complaint was a very good example of why people who notice something amiss should do something about it and ring 111.
"Generally, people's instincts are pretty accurate and if something doesn't feel right it probably isn't. In this case an anti-social driver ended up being a person banned from driving with an extensive criminal history in possession of a vehicle and property that are not his.
"The number of driving complaints from the public across the Waikato has risen dramatically this summer showing the public's tolerance for bad driving is diminishing. Here we see the old saying that while not all people who drive are criminals but all criminals drive in practice and your call can be the one thing that makes all the difference."
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