Lewis Hamilton has been investigated by police in New Zealand as his ‘holiday’ in the country turned into a public relations disaster.
The controversial world champion posted a video on social media of him riding a Harley-Davidson on an Auckland highway while appearing to hold a camera that panned over his shoulder to shoot the road behind him.
On first being made aware of the selfie, a spokesman for New Zealand Police said: ‘If there is clear evidence that a mobile phone has been used to record this footage and it has been recorded by hand, as opposed to from a fixed device, then this would be deemed an offence.
‘The use of mobile phones is a significant distraction, especially on a motorcycle, and can cause serious crashes.’ Using a mobile while driving, or riding, has been illegal in New Zealand since 2009.
It carries an $80 fine (£37) and 20 penalty points.
However, police said that, having looked into the matter, they would not prosecute Hamilton due to a ‘lack of evidence’.
Although the British driver is an FIA road safety ambassador, he has been in trouble before for his driving on the roads. Here in Melbourne, where he begins the defence of his world title in this weekend’s Australian Grand Prix, he was fined for reckless driving called ‘hooning’ in Australia doing ‘burn-outs’ and ‘fish-tailing’ near the Albert Park track six years ago.
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