Waikato police will no longer assess patrol officers on how many tickets they issue, in an effort to rein in unnecessary fines.

It means speeding tickets will only be handed out to those who really deserve them.

Instead, patrol officers will emphasise changing bad behaviour on the roads instead of punishing it.

A quarter of all infringement notices issued in the Waikato are compliance infringements - relating to minor vehicle defects, driver licences or cycle helmets rather than dangerous driving.

National manager for road policing Superintendent Steve Greally told Newshub tickets are not the ideal solution.

"There are some people out there that just simply can't afford it. They're just trying to do the best they can in life. And when they're continuing one-dimensional ticketing, it can make their problems even worse."

Mr Greally says hefty fines can often exacerbate offending.

"An infringement notice, a ticket, is not the only thing we can use to get people to change behaviour. A referral to other agencies, getting people licenced in terms of their driving, - if we do that, we're going to get a more sustainable solution."

The 2017 road toll to December 7 stands at 372.

Newshub.