Legal battle over cop's traffic fine | Canterbury News | Local News in Canterbury

The police union is paying for top legal advice to overturn a $150 ticket issued to an off-duty constable for running a yellow traffic light.

Rank and file police have told The Star they are angry that their union, the Police Association, is using their money to fight the infringement.

The policewoman, who is in her 30s, was caught in a police operation on traffic light runners at the intersection of Ferry Rd and Rutherford St, Woolston, in February last year.

Initially she was given a warning, but later she received a $150 infringement notice, which The Star understands she is refusing to pay.

A district court hearing to determine the matter on Wednesday was postponed at the request of the policewoman's lawyer, Pip Hall.

Police officers have told The Star they believe the fine should be paid, and are questioning why the Police Association would use funds from union levies for an incident that occurred when the policewoman was off-duty.

Police Association national president Greg O'Connor would not discuss the matter with The Star.

Canterbury region association representative Craig Prior would also not comment yesterday.

Mr Hall told The Star they were defending both the ticket itself, and the manner in which the ticket was given to his client.

Operations like the one in which the policewoman was ticketed, involve a "spotter" who radios the vehicle description to a police officer further down the road.

The second police officer then stops the car, takes the driver's details, and issues the ticket.

The constable is currently on leave without pay for family matters, which has delayed the matter being dealt with.