When a seal pup on a road trip stopped traffic on a Tasman highway it was just the start of its adventure.

Senior Sergeant Nathan Snell and Senior Constable Scott Johnson of Road Policing were called to the Richmond Deviation, where members of the public had captured the unruly juvenile - just a few months old - after it caused a significant tailback.

After consulting DOC, they put the pup into a washing basket, wrapped in a blanket which was secured by plasti-cuffs, and put the basket on the back seat of the patrol car, with seatbelt in place. It seemed secure, but the pup had other ideas.

"Arrangements were made to deliver the unruly seal into the custody of DOC for returning to a more suitable habitat," says Nathan. "But while en route to the prisoner handover, the seal staged a daring escape attempt.

Basket case - the juvenile attempts a clean getaway from the laundry hamper.

"Wriggling his way free of the blanket and subsequently the washing basket, he escaped on to the back seat of the patrol car - and would have made a great sight to passing motorists as they saw a seal head pop over the windowsill looking out of the window."

The escape attempts didn't end there. When Nathan stopped the car, the seal tried to climb into the front seat. Order was restored when he was handed into the custody of DOC staff to be returned to the ocean.

"The seal was let go with a warning for 'Pedestrian failed to keep to edge of roadway' and escaping Police custody," says Nathan.

If you see a seal pup in danger, contact DOC on their 24/7 hotline 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).