Police to use covert cameras on Muriwai Beach

Thursday, 27 July 2017

'Four-wheel-drivers are doing donuts, going up into sand dunes they're not allowed in and driving in an unsafe manner, they're making it a misery for others on the beach,' Sergeant David Orr said.

Increasing complaints about dangerous driving on a deadly Auckland beach have prompted police to install hidden cameras.

Police will also step-up patrols on west coast Muriwai Beach in an effort to stamp-out dangerous and unauthorised driving.

Four people died after their vehicle rolled at Muriwai Beach on September 13, 2015.

Although the beach is a legal road, drivers need a permit to drive along the 50 kilometre long black sand beach.

In recent years there have been several vehicle fatalities on the beach including the deaths of four men when their four-wheel drive rolled in 2015.

**READ MORE:

The crumpled wreck of a, quadruple fatality, four-wheel drive crash on Muriwai Beach in 2015.

* Four men die on Muriwai Beach

* Drivers flouting law on Muriwai Beach for years

A legal road, Muriwai Beach has all sorts of vehicle-related incidents including this 2013 ute fire.

* Tough-to-change Muriwai Beach driving habits**

In 2007 one person was killed after a four-wheel drive flipped on the beach and in 2004 three people died - there have also been several injuries and countless near-misses.

Unregistered vehicles including quad bikes, trail bikes are not allowed on Muriwai Beach.

On the Helensville & Parakai Community Facebook page, Kumeu police Sergeant David Orr said there would be 'zero tolerance' for unsafe drivers 'putting themselves and other beach users at risk of injury or death'.

'Covert cameras will be installed with the intention to capture all driving incidents'.

The Auckland Council owned cameras will help police corroborate complaints piling-up from members of the public about unsafe beach drivers, Orr said.

'We have a lot of families and horse riders using Muriwai Beach.

'We've had complaints four-wheel-drivers are flying-up onto the sand doing donuts, going up into sand dunes they're not allowed in and driving in an unsafe manner, they're making it a misery for others on the beach'.

Orr encourages the public to take photos or video of dodgy driving, recording the vehicle registration number and capturing the face of the person driving.

'We will follow complaints up'.

'Being able to drive on Muriwai Beach is a privilege that has been long enjoyed by beach users, police encourage safe use of registered vehicles'.

Orr doesn't want to see beach access reviewed.

Muriwai Beach driving rules

Unregistered vehicles including quad bikes and trail bikes are not allowed on the beach.

No vehicles are allowed onto sand dunes or in the adjacent forest, or the Air Force bombing range.

All vehicles driving Muriwai Beach must be permitted. Apply here.

Normal road rules apply, check here for full rules and guidelines.