A recent example comes from a mechanic, from one of Canterbury’s agricultural machinery dealers, who was driving a combine harvester back out to a farm following its winter service.
One of the area’s finest traffic officers flagged him down and berated him for not having his flashing and rotating orange beacons turned on.
The spanner man replied, “This machine is over 9 metres long, 4.2 metres high and 3.7 metres wide and painted bright green”.
The cop replied, “I know... that’s the reason you need a flashing beacon – so other road users can see you!”
He then issued a $50 infringement notice, before speeding off in his patrol car, most likely, to the local doughnut shop!