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Road fines 'boost fund for police'

JUSTICE MINISTRY documents reveal that the cash-strapped department is relying on funds from more police-issued speeding tickets, prompting renewed claims that speed cameras are being used as a "cash cow".
The Government's insistence that speeding fines are about road safety - not making money - is under fire from the Opposition, which says unwitting motorists are paying for budget shortfalls.
National Party MP Tony Ryall said the speeding ticket and speed camera schemes were being abused to fund a government department that had cried poor.
He produced two documents showing that the Justice Ministry was banking on more police tickets this year to add $3.5 million to its budget, after the Government declined its requests for more money.
One document suggests Finance Minister Michael Cullen told the ministry to seek more money from court fines and police tickets to bolster its coffers.
The Government and police deny any wrongdoing, saying the number of police-issued tickets has, in fact, decreased this year.
Mr Ryall, who obtained the documents under the Official Information Act, said they proved the ministry had planned to use police-issued tickets to bolster its budget.
"This is the proof that police speeding tickets are a cash cow being used to prop up government departments," he said.