Police discretion re ticketing in passing lanes

**Berries** · 12th December 2011, 21:23

Originally Posted by lesley

I would be most grateful to receive any suggestions about what strategies I can utilise in my defense of this matter and would also be delighted if other concerned citizens could take the time to attend the hearing.

You didn't lose your licence so I'd recommend you suck it up and move on. Although your comment about lawyers suggests that there may be some history.

Accelerating from 100 to 128km/h in a car. How long does that take ? Over what distance? If the 200m sign was missing on the right how did you know the lane was going to end other than the truck indicating 200m later where the lane actually ended? And being generous 128 is 135 on the clock. In the dark. In the wet. While tired. So while you were "forced" to accelerate to get past you had no idea that there might have been a 65km/h curve at the end of the passing lane? Pity the poor bastard coming the other way.

I think there should be some leeway over strict enforcement of the speed limit in a passing lane, but in those conditions you are taking the piss.

Good luck.

**steve_t** · 12th December 2011, 21:36

Originally Posted by lesley

I would be most grateful to receive any suggestions about what strategies I can utilise in my defense of this matter and would also be delighted if other concerned citizens could take the time to attend the hearing.

Cheers, Lesley

Years ago I got pinged for 114km/h as i sped up at the end of a passing lane because didn't want to merge into the door of the 4WD beside me. I wrote in to explain the situation and to ask for leniency but no dice. $80 and some demerits. As others have said, you've been snapped in the wrong and so you're probably gonna have to deal with the consequences. You can try to write in but I wouldn't expect anything.

**BMWST?** · 12th December 2011, 21:45

Originally Posted by lesley

Dear Jack et all
I came across your interesting discussion recently when I was researching speed enforcement in passing lanes. The reason I am researching this subject is because I got issued with a speeding infringement at 9.00pm one Sunday night on SH2 near Maramarua, whilst I was enroute from Wellington-Auckland. It was a dark wet night and I was tired from my long drive, so for most of my journey I was well under the speed limits. However, when I got to the passing lane in question, I was forced to speed up to avoid collison with the truck/trailer I was passing. I didn't realise the lane was about to end because the 'passing land ending' sign on the left of the road was obscured by the truck and there was no sign errected on the other side of the road (as is now required by law). At 100 kph on a wet road, there was no option to slow down or stop to let the truck merge in front of me, because the merge was imminent and the vehicle I was overtaking was too long. Consequently, I was obliged to increase my speed to allegedly 128 kph to avoid collison with the truck. The officer who issued me with the ticket was parked up with his stalker radar on in a side street within 250 metres of the passing lane ending. I didn't see him at that time, but received written confirmation from him later of his whereabouts. On a wet Sunday night, when there are few cars on the road and little for a country cop to do, I have no doubt he was only there for tax collection purposes and not road safety, which is wholly unethical.

I was aggrieved to receive an infringement in these circumstances and wrote to NZ Police requesting it cancel the infringement. The response I received from the Adjudication Manager refused to waive the infringement without reason. I also received a letter from the officer involved, advising me that Speed Enforcement Guide doesn't apply to Stalker Radar which I found rather perplexing because this code specifically relates to: "Speed measuring devices (including but not limited to speedometers, laser and radar devies) are, if operated in or from a vehicle, only to be operated from vehicles owned or operated by NZ Police" .

I have opted in public interest to have this matter determined by a court. I can't afford lawyers and have little respect for most anyway, so I will be representing myself at the hearings, which have been set down for Huntly District Court commencing on 21 February 2011.

I would be most grateful to receive any suggestions about what strategies I can utilise in my defense of this matter and would also be delighted if other concerned citizens could take the time to attend the hearing.

Cheers, Lesley

Lesley here is a condensed version of what will happen in court.
JUdge Lesley did you exceed 100 km hr
Lesley Yes Sir
Fined .............

**ducatilover** · 13th December 2011, 08:37

Originally Posted by lesley

Dear Jack et all
Bleat and moan.

Cheers, Lesley

So, you pulled out to pass. You're too stupid to judge how fast you need to go to pass the vehicle that is "holding you up" and are incapable of looking ahead.
You nearly have a crash involving a truck, due to your lack of intelligence and stupid passing manoeuvre.
You broke the speed limit.
You're bitching about it.
You think you can accelerate faster than you can slow down?

You didn't have to pass the truck.
You can stop in the wet faster than you can pass a truck.
No-one "forced" you.
You have a problem with getting a speeding ticket, when you were speeding.
Grow up.

You are a dick, get off the roads, you're dangerous.

**Parlane** · 13th December 2011, 08:39

Originally Posted by ducatilover

You are a dick, get off the roads, you're dangerous.

That's wheelie good advice.

**steve_t** · 13th December 2011, 08:44

Originally Posted by ducatilover

You are a dick, get off the roads, you're dangerous.

A bit harsh on the new girl

**ducatilover** · 13th December 2011, 10:00

Originally Posted by Parlane

That's wheelie good advice.

Hahahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah a

Shhhhh

Originally Posted by steve_t

A bit harsh on the new girl

Should be good for a decent rise out of someone

**imdying** · 13th December 2011, 10:05

Originally Posted by lesley

I drive bad,

Cheers, Lesley

Wait, in a car of a bike? If it was a car...

**Flip** · 13th December 2011, 10:12

Originally Posted by imdying

Wait, in a car of a bike? If it was a car...

If it was a bike the rozza would never have got a lock on. A truck has about 50 times the radar signature of a bike.

**PrincessBandit** · 13th December 2011, 10:37

Originally Posted by lesley

Dear Jack et all
..... I got issued with a speeding infringement at 9.00pm one Sunday night on SH2 near Maramarua, .... It was a dark wet night and I was tired from my long drive,................ I was forced to speed up to avoid collison with the truck/trailer I was passing. ........... the merge was imminent and the vehicle I was overtaking was too long. Consequently, I was obliged to increase my speed to allegedly 128 kph to avoid collison with the truck.

........... I will be representing myself at the hearings, which have been set down for Huntly District Court commencing on 21 February 2011. Been and gone, that date...

I would be most grateful to receive any suggestions about what strategies I can utilise in my defense of this matter and would also be delighted if other concerned citizens could take the time to attend the hearing.

Cheers, Lesley

Oh dear, and you chose to do that on one of the most notorious stretches of road you could have picked? I'm all for saying that roads are not dangerous, road users are; having said that, that area is particularly non-forgiving and I think you should be thankful simply to be alive rather than yet another SH2 accident statistic. You were in the wrong regardless of what your excuses are, take your punishment like a big girl.

**scumdog** · 13th December 2011, 20:58

Originally Posted by Jack Miller

Good luck Any Cop ticketing in a passing lane is pure scum in my opinion and even in the more sympathetic opinion of at least one on-list policeman should be focusing his attention on other issues.

Yup, there should be NO speed limit on a passing lane...

What could possibly go wrong, I mean it's only a passing lane...not like it's a normal narrow road, is it?

**ducatilover** · 13th December 2011, 22:53

Originally Posted by scumdog

Yup, there should be NO speed limit on a passing lane...

What could possibly go wrong, I mean it's only a passing lane...not like it's a normal narrow road, is it?

Totally. In fact, if you get a speeding ticket, it should just be a reminder that you're a better driver than everyone else and you shouldn't have to pay them.

**cold comfort** · 14th December 2011, 21:05

On trips like from Dn to ChCh how about an economical park and ride option on the train- then one could avoid the revenue collection/safety measure's, crap drivers (local and tourists), weather hazards, acts of God and even pointless discussion on this subject, with the added advantage of a mug of railway tea and a pie!

**Berries** · 14th December 2011, 22:54

Have you ever been on the train between Chch and Dunedin? I did it once. Scenic, for like 15 minutes when you can see the coast, but by fuck it is slow. Seriously, if it is quicker to ride or drive than take the train then it is pretty much pointless. Double line it and bang a bullet train on there, Chch in an hour, and maybe. The only good thing about NZ trains is that if you ask nicely they will stop so you can get off and have that pie and a fag, and there is always a good chance you will kill a car driver at a level crossing. They certainly don't need to worry about speed enforcement.

Anyway, back on topic, I see lesley has left and gone back to the Skyline drifting forum after getting no help or sympathy here.

Bloody cagers.......