No waiving time, tide and limits of traction

Waves from an incoming tide last evening crash over a Ford Ranger ute that became stuck in the sand at Tomahawk Beach, in Dunedin, earlier yesterday.

A police spokeswoman said they had received several reports of the vehicle in the sand from yesterday morning.

She understood the registered owner of the vehicle, which had not been flagged as stolen, had arranged a tow.

By 5pm the ute's wheels were under water.

An Otago Regional Council spokesman said a member of the pollution team went to investigate yesterday afternoon.

A Dunedin City Council spokeswoman said under the Reserves and Beaches Bylaw, vehicles were not allowed on beaches unless they were being used to launch or retrieve a vessel.

It was the responsibility of the owner to retrieve their vehicle in situations such as this incident where they had got stuck.