Bare-faced cheek

The vagaries of cycling laws in New Zealand were laid bare in December after police arrested a naked, drunk cyclist. For police in Timaru, a major port city on the south-east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, it was too much. In the name of decency they would not just stand by and be taunted and teased right in the middle of the high street. Apparently a police sergeant said that the man had not been charged with indecent exposure. Instead, the ever vigilant police decided the main issue was his lack of
May 20, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
The vagaries of cycling laws in New Zealand were laid bare in December after police arrested a naked, drunk cyclist. For police in Timaru, a major port city on the south-east coast of New Zealand’s South Island, it was too much. In the name of decency they would not just stand by and be taunted and teased right in the middle of the high street. Apparently a police sergeant said that the man had not been charged with indecent exposure. Instead, the ever vigilant police decided the main issue was his lack of a helmet and subsequently fined him accordingly. Failing to arrest him for naked cycling was no cover-up by the police. And even though there was a whiff of drinking and driving, or cycling as the case was, police were powerless to arrest him – cycling while under the influence is not illegal in New Zealand. The precedent for going au naturel had been set back in 2010 when another nude New Zealand cyclist, Nick Lowe, won his appeal to the High Court against his conviction for offensive behaviour. His original conviction was based on his nudity causing offense to a woman motorist who complained.

Related Content

  • Horn effect
    February 18, 2013
    An elderly American driver, frustrated at the presence of two cyclists on the road, drove his vehicle behind the pair while continuously sounding his horn. The cyclists rode at the edge of the roadway leaving plenty of room for the man to overtake but instead he crawled along behind the pair for five minutes. Other motorists were forced to overtake and a large queue of vehicles formed behind the man’s SUV. The cyclists had fitted video cameras to their helmets and recorded their encounter, which was then ha
    Read More
  • A history lesson in private public partnerships
    February 15, 2012
    Michel Démarre gives some historical insights into public-private partnerships conceived to implement urban infrastructure projects, a concept that surprisingly dates back to as early as the 13th century!
    Read More
  • US$75,632 pint of beer illustrates UK drink-drive conviction cost
    February 28, 2013
    A US$75,632 (£50,000) pint of beer was being unveiled in London, England today as part of the Government’s latest THINK! campaign highlighting the impact of a drink-drive conviction. The Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) has calculated the personal financial cost of drink-driving for the first time, pricing it between $30,253 (£20,000) and $75,632. The calculation reflects the fines, legal costs, rise in insurance premiums and possible job losses faced by those who are convicted. The pricy pint, housed
    Read More
  • Pointless system sets record high for new low?
    January 6, 2014
    A man in the English city of Liverpool is still allowed behind the wheel despite having accumulated 45 licence penalty points on his licence. This worrying fact was uncovered by the UK’s Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) following a freedom of information request to the Driver Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). The points were all for failing to disclose the identity of the driver or exceeding statutory speed limit on a public road, between October 2012 and June 2013. This worryingly high number beats the
    Read More

Highlighted Content