Police discretion re ticketing in passing lanes

[Ender EnZed]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Maybe this needs to be done by an independent, non-police agency. Run it the same way as Community Traffic Watch but make the database public and free to view. That way, if a certain Rego crops up again and again the attention of the LEO's could be drawn to that plate.

It'd also mean you could check your own reg to see how many drivers you have pissed off by hurtling past them at warp factor 9...

You'd get far too many false accusations, it would be bordering on defamation. Just look at what happens to the questions in Trademe auctions when someone complains about a seller on here.

[Parlane]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

You'd get far too many false accusations, it would be bordering on defamation. Just look at what happens to the questions in Trademe auctions when someone complains about a seller on here.

Pics/video evidence for actual negative posts.

[slofox]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

You'd get far too many false accusations, it would be bordering on defamation. Just look at what happens to the questions in Trademe auctions when someone complains about a seller on here.

This has crossed my mind. But Community Traffic Watch is faced with the exact same thing and it seems to truck along OK.

[ducatilover]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

The government could easily profit from extra training though.. Make defensive courses compulsory. Government can take a cut.

Make practical car/bike on road training compulsory. Government can take a cut.

Not going to happen with National in....they're far too short sighted

[Scuba_Steve]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

You make a fair point. I keep coming to the conclusion that there is no fix.

Maybe even harder testing on driving tests...
Maybe get rid of multichoice questions in the learners test and replace it with a short answer style test. Of course the AA can charge more for their time etc. Why should getting the right to drive be a cheap affair anyway ?

Motorcycle leaners test is a complete joke IMO. I shouldn't have been on the road before doing the extra course with Mike to get the basics down. I learnt with a friend, who never mentioned counter steering.. (And I don't ride a pushbike, so it didn't come naturally). At the time I did do the basics course with Mike, I already had everything down, but a few theory things got me better sorted for riding on the road. And just the knowledge that I made sure I did have the practical things right too.

Well the licence & driving ability is a good point/topic so I have put my thoughts here
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1130152466

[Ender EnZed]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Pics/video evidence for actual negative posts.

I'd have no problem with that but it's very rare to have video evidence.

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

This has crossed my mind. But Community Traffic Watch is faced with the exact same thing and it seems to truck along OK.

The entertainment value would be very different if the number of allegations against a specific rego plate was available to public view. I think the current system works alright.

[slofox]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

The entertainment value would be very different if the number of allegations against a specific rego plate was available to public view. I think the current system works alright.

It would be wouldn't it? (Entertainment value I mean).

Current system gives the person complaining no evidence of any action being taken - sure you get a letter from the coppers (form letter) but there is absolutely no way of knowing whether your original complaint has been actioned or not. They say they send a letter but how wouldya know?

[Jack Miller]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Good post but number 2 is impractical
We cant fine people on hearsay of the public or we would end up with a lot more "bad cops"

There is a stronger form you can get than the Community Roadwatch Report (which is basically hearsay.) As far as I know the stronger form isn't available online but any traffic cop should have a blank one available and you can get them from any police station. These complaint forms do allow you to make the complaint formal and even request prosecution. If you do request prosecution you have to be willing to front up in court and give evidence, which takes it beyond hearsay. Next time a traffic cop pulls you over ask for a few blank forms or pick some up from your local station.

[scumdog]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

There is a stronger form you can get than the Community Roadwatch Report (which is basically hearsay.) Next time a traffic cop pulls you over ask for a few blank forms or pick some up from your local station.

How is it anymore hearsay than a statement made by somebody?

I genuinely mean that, can you elaborate?

If true they're hardly worth filling in.

And if I had to wait until I was stopped by a traffic cop to get one of those forms I might have to wait a bloody long time!!

[Jack Miller]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

How is it anymore hearsay than a statement made by somebody?
I genuinely mean that, can you elaborate?
If true they're hardly worth filling in.
And if I had to wait until I was stopped by a traffic cop to get one of those forms I might have to wait a bloody long time!!

The Comunity Roadwatch process is more or less hearsay. Someone tells the cops in an online form that they saw someone else driving badly. The cops respond, not sure how but not with legal action.

The form I'm talking about (I have a copy here but it doesn't have a name or form number unfortunately) is more serious. you have to actually sign it. You also have to get the cop you give it to to sign it. It requires you to provide quite a bit of detail; time, place, description of what happened, description of offending vehicle & driver, map, independent witness details if available, your personal & contact details. It allows you to specify you either want the other driver spoken to and warned, or you want him or her prosecuted. If you choose the latter you have to agree to be available to go to court and be a witness. I guess that is the point where it becomes more than hearsay: because the defense can cross-examine you, you're under oath, and a judge is presiding.

[jellywrestler]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

The Comunity Roadwatch process is more or less hearsay. Someone tells the cops in an online form that they saw someone else driving badly. The cops respond, not sure how but not with legal action.

The form I'm talking about (I have a copy here but it doesn't have a name or form number unfortunately) is more serious. you have to actually sign it. You also have to get the cop you give it to to sign it. It requires you to provide quite a bit of detail; time, place, description of what happened, description of offending vehicle & driver, map, independent witness details if available, your personal & contact details. It allows you to specify you either want the other driver spoken to and warned, or you want him or her prosecuted. If you choose the latter you have to agree to be available to go to court and be a witness. I guess that is the point where it becomes more than hearsay: because the defense can cross-examine you, you're under oath, and a judge is presiding.

cool, it'll be easy for you to scan it and post a copy on here then eh?

[scumdog]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

The Comunity Roadwatch process is more or less hearsay. Someone tells the cops in an online form that they saw someone else driving badly. The cops respond, not sure how but not with legal action.

.

Yep, know of them - mostly the comms say the person will come in and make a formal complaint, sometimes they just want the offending driver given a flea in his ear.

If formal complaint made then normally a penalty of some sort will be dished out - sometimes a summons to Court, sometimes a ticket depending on circumstances.

[cowpoos]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

Voted.

And have to say I have never issued a ticket to anybody on a passing lane, period.

And can't say I know anybody who has.

Not saying there's not the zealous guy or two that wouldn't ticket in the same circumstances...

the odd one does do it Scummy....we have a passing lane opposite the farm im on...there is often the same highway patrol car parked in one of our farm access ways, under the trees, pointing a gadget out of his window...it always seems to be the same guy...oddly I've talked to him a couple of times when I'm going out that way with some machinery...and he seem like a nice fella??

but also...its the only time I've ever seen a cop praying on passing lanes.

[rastuscat]

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

the odd one does do it Scummy....we have a passing lane opposite the farm im on...there is often the same highway patrol car parked in one of our farm access ways, under the trees, pointing a gadget out of his window...

Was it a donut maker?????????????

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

it always seems to be the same guy...oddly I've talked to him a couple of times when I'm going out that way with some machinery...and he seem like a nice fella??

Can't be a real traffic cop............

This quote is hidden because you are ignoring this member. Show Quote

but also...its the only time I've ever seen a cop praying on passing lanes.

Was he facing Mecca?

[Pseudonym]

I’ve been booked at 112 on a passing lane, I was most pleased…
The upside was now I knew where he was I could have a little fun!
Every cloud and all that…

I think an increased tolerance for passing should be encouraged, but I also think a 20% tolerance across the board would be a good idea so I’m an extremist radical in the eyes of the beige.
What I’d really like to see is an open limit on lonely back roads with a 2-3km lead in to towns where it drops you down to 100 then 80 then 50 as you close in on it.
Where the motorway has a speed limit that fluctuates with peak times and the right hand lane is for passing.

I’d also like to see 13 year olds on 50cc scooters after passing a road test with an experienced instructor all done through their collage.
Only allowed to be on roads with a speed limit of up to 60kph, and a curfew…
Not too different than a push bike (speed wise) but with lights and rego.
That would lead nicely into the compulsory two years on a motorbike!

But all of this would require people to be able to think for themselves and that just isn’t going to happen.
But can you imagine the uproar if it was floated?
The reality is that while there would be losses, and initially they would look quite high if taken out of the overall “shit that happened” statically generated reports, but they shouldn’t be much higher than the usual final score.

Just a personal fantasy.

Anyway, sorry OP I’ve gotten way off topic.