Armless speedster shocks New Zealand police

Armless speedster shocks New Zealand police

WELLINGTON (AFP) - A New Zealand police officer could not believe his eyes when he found the motorist he stopped for speeding at 121 kilometres per hour (75 mph) had no arms.

The 32-year-old disabled driver was using one foot to steer and the other to operate the pedals when he was stopped in the Bay of Plenty on the west coast of the North Island.

He told the shocked police officer he was born with no arms and he had never held a driver's licence.

Acting Senior Sergeant Deidre Lackfor said she had spoken to several officers with lengthy careers and none had heard of anything remotely like it.

She said she had nothing against people with disabilities driving but "obviously driving at a speed like that, arms or not, you're just waiting for an accident".

The 32-year-old was fined 170 New Zealand dollars (103 US) and barred from driving.