At least 20,000 false fine notices mailed to New Zealanders

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Feb. 18 (UPI) -- New Zealand police said a computer glitch led to at least 20,000 incorrect traffic fine notices being mailed to motorists.

Police spokesman Ross Henderson said the tickets were for actual offenses but were sent to the wrong people due to a failure to update in police databases identification details registered with the country's Transport Agency from Oct. 22 to Dec. 16, the New Zealand Herald reported Tuesday.

Henderson said many of those who received erroneous notices had sold their cars or moved to new homes late last year.

"Police sincerely apologize to all of those affected by this one-off technical issue," said Carey Griffiths, the national road policing manager superintendent.

Henderson said people who paid the erroneous tickets would be reimbursed.