Highway patrol police officer speeds 220km/h to catch man

A policeman zoomed along a highway at 220km/h in desperate pursuit of a suspect he saw driving past from his hiding spot.

But it wasn’t a fleeing bank robber or hooning driver he was after – he was trying to fine a man $325 for a crime you’ve probably never heard of.

All Tim Agius was doing was driving in the right-hand lane for about 1.5km down the Pacific Highway between Port Macquarie and Coff Harbour in NSW.

But it wasn’t a fleeing bank robber or hooning driver he was after – he was trying to fine a man $325 for a crime you’ve probably never heard of

By the time the highway patrol officer caught up with Mr Agius he was back in the left lane, but was still fined and slapped with three demerit points.

‘Today is a day where our bosses have us actually targeting this offence,’ the officer told the astonished motorist who didn’t even know he broke the law.

‘A police car appeared virtually out of nowhere and I was taken a bit because he was very close to the back of the car, lights flashing,’ he told 9 News. 

Mr Agius took the fine to court on principle and after seeing the dashcam footage the magistrate cut his penalty to a $200 fine and no demerit points.

All Tim Agius (pictured) was doing was driving in the right-hand lane for about 1.5km down the Pacific Highway

Though it is indeed illegal to drive more than 80km/h in the right lane when not overtaking, road safety experts slammed the officer’s pursuit speed.

‘When it’s over an offence which wouldn’t get more than a few hundred dollars in fines it’s just not justified to add to the risk profile,’ John Lambert said.

NSW Police’s ‘Safe Driving Policy’ said officers must ‘consider high-speed urgent duty driving a last resort’.

The policy was listed as being under review but police wouldn’t comment for ‘operational reasons’. 

He took it to court and got away with a $200 fine and no demerit points, and road safely experts slammed officer’s speed as unjustified for a minor offence