March 16, 2016
WELLINGTON (AFP) - New Zealand police on Wednesday ruled out charging reigning Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton over a video apparently filmed while he was riding a motorbike on an Auckland highway.
But police renewed warnings about using mobile devices while driving after investigating footage the Briton posted to social media a day earlier.
In the selfie-style video, Hamilton is riding a Harley-Davidson down the motorway, with the angle panning across his shoulder to show the traffic behind him.
Using a handheld mobile while driving is an offence in New Zealand, but police said the footage posted by Hamilton was inconclusive.
"The video footage available does not provide us with sufficient evidence that an offence has ocurred," they said in a statement.
"Police take the issue of mobile phone use whilst driving or riding very seriously, it is a significant distraction and a major risk to road users."
Hamilton was visiting New Zealand ahead of the Australian Grand Prix this weekend.
He was stopped by police before the Melbourne race in 2010 for performing "burn-outs" on a public street in a high-performance sports car.
