Bullshit speeding ticket from arrogant cop. Complaint

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

After time to cool down and a letter of complaint sent about the attitude of this officer I thought I’d put it out to the masses.

It goes like this; Rush hour traffic last week;

I filter through stationary traffic to the front of the traffic lights by Pak & Save on Lincoln Road, Henderson. I see a cop car approaching 6-800meters away. Lights go green we all head of from the lights (I’m in the right hand lane), into second, into third, his lights come on (about 80-90 meters away),
Starts to execute a ‘U’ turn, wheels on full lock and crossing the hatched area separating lanes,
Thank fuck he decides he couldn’t do it and stops, we ride/drive by (me shaking my head) my fukin heart was in my mouth!!
He pulls into the traffic and follows (lights now off) through several lights, past the hospital (over a kilometre and several mins later) he sticks his lights on and a blip on his siren and points for me to pull over.
I filter into the left lane. No where obvious to stop (its rush hour!! Solid traffic etc) so pull onto the grass verge.
He pulls across a business address’s entrance and sits in his car? Another car is attempting to access the business so I get his attention and indicate he is blocking their drive. He pulls his car onto their garden!!! Address occupiers staring at him through their window.
And continues to sit in his car dark wrap round shades, watch to big for his wrist Asian dude.
When he does get out I of course ask what’s up. You were doing 80kmh. What!!!
I was stationary when I saw you and doing no more than 30-40k when you stuck your lights on and tried your ‘U’ turn!! Can I see your radar please; he glances back into his car and changes the speed he claimed I was doing to speed on the radar 74k.
That’s wrong no way was going as fast as that indicates, how do I know that was me and at this time it was recorded I ask.
Him still with his Rambo shades on (not sunny but overcast by the way) stares at me and says it was you because I said it was.
I said I was one of many vehicles all just leaving a set of traffic lights and none of us were doing anything like that speed. He said I was out on my own?? I said I will contest the ticket and feel he was picking on the motorcyclist.
All this time he had an arrogant, self important attitude about him and he was really starting to piss me off. I asked how long he was going to be. He was writing in his note book….no answer.
I am on my way home from work to collect my car to pick up my children from pre-school and had been on the side of the road for about 5 mins by now.
I asked again why he picked the motorcyclist out of all (there were lots) of the other vehicles, “I chose you”. But I thought I was out on my own, now you say you chose me (I knew a ticket was coming and it was total bullshit so I thought I would see what he had to say) he said nothing.
I said I thought he had a stink attitude and was arrogant and rude and that I would contesting the ticket, he said write your letter!!
Time was ticking away now so I said again how long is this going to take? No answer and gets in his car and shuts the door. I sit there for what felt like ages, he is just sat there writing in his notebook?
I knock on the window, ignored, I knock again, ignored. I open the door and ask again why is he ignoring me, how long he was going to be and why was he not answering any questions? Again, no answer just another stare through his shades. I called him fucking ignorant and said I’m off; my priorities are to pick up my children and not sit here being ignored by an arrogant copper. Put my helmet and gloves on jump on my bike and about to start it when he’s out of his car and shouting I’ll arrest you if you ride off!! What for I ask? Failing to stop!!
I’ve been stopped for the last 10 minuets what are you talking about, listed all his changes of events, his attitude and speeds etc I said he could post my license and ticket to me and that in two minuets I was going (to pick up the kids) and he had a choice, arrest me or write the ticket and give it to me now. I got the ticket.

I was bloody fuming, what an absolute bullshit ticket from a cop with the worst attitude I’ve ever come across.

Once I got home and sorted the children I sat down and wrote my best recollection of events and the next day (once calmed down) wrote a letter of complaint to both Henderson Police and Police NZ in Wellington and included the ticket.

I am fast loosing respect for traffic cops. I can’t believe he dreamt all this up because I shook my head at an attempted and aborted ‘U’ turn. This guy must have other complaints about him if this is how he treats people.

On reflection; I was not speeding. I could have sat there and took it up the arse. But I would have received the same ticket I got for challenging him. It was clear from the off that he was going to be a bastard by the way he presented himself (folded arms, wide stance), his attitude, the insistence of wearing and staring at me through dark shades, his treatment of other peoples property…you just know when someone is going to be a twat and he was that someone.

I will update the thread as I learn more.

[MaxCannon]

Sounds like he was being a real dick.

Id recommend going back to where he drove over the garden and seeing if the occupants would be willing to file a complaint.

A workmate years ago got off a ticket because the Cop executed a dangerous U turn and 4 witnesses wrote and complained about the officers conduct.

[firefighter]

Again, "safer Communities Together"..........pfft.

What a cunt. Cop cars should have the cameras in them that the Yank cruisers do, so it will be there for all to see when you write in your complaint. It's your word verses his unfortunately.

[The Pastor]

You only have to stop for a max of 15 mins for the sole purpose for the cop to gain your identity. State your name and address, give him your drivers licence and away you go.

It'll piss the cop of no end tho, so only use it as a last resort.

[Mully]

You only have to stop for a max of 15 mins for the sole purpose for the cop to gain your identity. State your name and address, give him your drivers licence and away you go.

It'll piss the cop of no end tho, so only use it as a last resort.

Trouble is, plod tend to hold your licence until they're finished. I suspect if you drive away, they'll pull you up and ticket you for not carrying your licence (if they're as much of a dick as this guy seems to be).

Graham - hope you get a result mate. I'd go back and talk to the people who's garden he ran over.

[Flip]

I would say go for it, but get a Lawyer

Did you see the radar?

The radars can't distingush between vehicles, it was the reason the rozzers used to get lazers.

Probably the best thing is put him on the stand and ask him how was he able to identify the speed you were going and not another vehicle, it makes them look like liars. If there is a history of this rozzer acting like this it will likely be in his record allredy and the Police won't want the officer put on the stand. Get a lawyer. Make an "official" complaint to the police complaint authority, get legal advice, then take it further. Do expect to sink a grand into legal fees.

[748south]

1) You only have to stop
2) If asked for your licence you only have to show it eg "produce it" you do not have to hand it over to them
3) Once you have stopped and produced your licence you may leave, you dont have to wait for the ticket
4) the only way they can stop you from leaving is to arrest you - which they cannot do because you have stopped for the lights - and you have produced your licence

but seriously, what a wanker

[nico]

what a cock, no wonder not many bother to stop for these dick heads, cops used to have alot of respectin the comunites now because of a few knobs ther'e haited

just the other day i watched 3 bikes pull out pull a mono past a cop and gun it cop had no chance

[red mermaid]

From what you have said I would recommend that you write in making a complaint and asking that consideration be given to having the ticket withdrawn.
Do not expect that because you have made a complaint the ticket will be withdrawn. They are treated as 2 seperate matters.

As far as some of the other comments in the thread....

Cameras would be great in Police cars but the bosses and Govt will not front with the money.
Overseas studies have shown they result in a decrease in the number of complaints because in the majority of cases back up what the officer says.
I know of a case in NZ of video surveillance of an intersection and a resulting ticket that the driver swore back and blue they did nothing wrong and why wasn't the car behind them given a ticket as well.
When the film was checked it was clearly obvious the driver was in the wrong, by a huge margin, and there was no car behind them.

The 15 minute time is for the purposes of gainning identity.

You can be held up for longer than this and the relevant case is Duff v Police, from the author Alan Duff.

And the radars used these days can distinguish between vehicles, but it comes down to the officers skill as to which vehicle it is displaying the speed of.

[Genie]

congrats on keeping your cool, your story paints a perfect picure and I can see it all. good luck.

[kwaka_crasher]

And the radars used these days can distinguish between vehicles, but it comes down to the officers skill as to which vehicle it is displaying the speed of.

That's a bit misleading and then contradictory in the second half. The microwaves can distinguish direction, the fastest (middle FAST display window) & strongest (left TARGET display window) return signals. They cannot distinguish which specific vehicle is responsible for any. Only the strongest signal can be locked and when this is done the middle window becomes the locked reading by displaying LOCK below it.

The mere presence of other vehicles with an undoubtedly stronger microwave return signal (due mainly to their size) means that it's unlikely it could be you he locked unless you were a lot closer to him than the larger vehicles. This ticket is very questionable, as is any, where there is claimed to be a LOCK on a motorcycle with microwave in the presence of other larger vehicles.

[bogan]

That's a bit misleading and then contradictory in the second half. The microwaves can distinguish direction, the fastest (middle FAST display window) & strongest (left TARGET display window) return signals. They cannot distinguish which specific vehicle is responsible for any. Only the strongest signal can be locked and when this is done the middle window becomes the locked reading by displaying LOCK below it.

The mere presence of other vehicles with an undoubtedly stronger microwave return signal (due mainly to their size) means that it's unlikely it could be you he locked unless you were a lot closer to him than the larger vehicles. This ticket is very questionable, as is any, where there is claimed to be a LOCK on a motorcycle with microwave in the presence of other larger vehicles.

yeh thats what i though too, but it still results in cops word vs yours, best option is to record the conversation I reckon, most cellphones can do this.

[JMemonic]

yeh thats what i though too, but it still results in cops word vs yours, best option is to record the conversation I reckon, most cellphones can do this.

I was about to suggest this as an option, surely it would be legal to do so and use in evidence.

[Daffyd]

I'm not sure, but I believe it's illegal to record a conversation without the permission of the other party.

[red mermaid]

yeh thats what i though too, but it still results in cops word vs yours, best option is to record the conversation I reckon, most cellphones can do this.

Didn't mean it to be contradictory.

It means you have the radar, it displays a speed, you have vehicles coming towards you and visually you can see that one vehicle is travelling faster.