School cops have traffic quotas!

**Albino** · 8th August 2007, 08:50

Been a while since a thread about the cops, speeding and quotas

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4156513a10.html

My questions:

Do you think that these guys will target dangerous driving, or take the easy radar out the window approach?
.
Is there also a quota for these police officers to catch burglars?

Originally Posted by stuff

"You do need to write tickets!," Robinson said in the email.

"You are in a marked police car, wearing a police uniform ... Would you let a thief run away? An assault happen and not assist? A person report abuse and not take action? I mean we educate about that as well as still enforce it."

**marioc** · 8th August 2007, 08:53

Highly unlikely seeing as they dont make any money out of catching burglars

**peasea** · 8th August 2007, 18:40

Originally Posted by marioc

Highly unlikely seeing as they dont make any money out of catching burglars

What's the word????
Bingo?

**McJim** · 8th August 2007, 19:21

But...but...what if there aren't enough offences? Oh that's right it's traffic so they don't NEED to commit an offence the officer just makes one up and there's no comeback.

Cool.

**Usarka** · 8th August 2007, 20:17

I bet they don't have a quota for catching burglars or other types. which makes it very hard to deny that its revenue now dunnit mister

**peasea** · 8th August 2007, 20:31

Originally Posted by Usarka

I bet they don't have a quota for catching burglars or other types. which makes it very hard to deny that its revenue now dunnit mister

Ahh, excellent idea. (Rubs hands like Mister Burns...)

We know there's plenty of burglars out there, child abusers and P bakers, so why not give the cops a bonus for catching 'real' crims?

I'll tell you why.

Coz the minute they do that the cops will stuff their pockets full of P, stash it in your car when they stop you for speeding (bad pun I know), bash your kid on the nose (as well as your missus) claim they've found a P-dealing-child/wife abuser and run off to Acapulco on the proceeds.

Ooops, the handbrake has just gone on real hard, the 'Cynical Express' is slowing down........chuff, chuff......sorry troops, didn't mean it, ahhh, it's all better now.

Didn't mean a word of it.

**peasea** · 8th August 2007, 20:33

Originally Posted by McJim

But...but...what if there aren't enough offences? Oh that's right it's traffic so they don't NEED to commit an offence the officer just makes one up and there's no comeback.

Cool.

Bingo again.
Your word against theirs. Good luck with that.

My court case is October 19th.....no breath being held here.

**scumdog** · 8th August 2007, 21:47

Originally Posted by marioc

Highly unlikely seeing as they dont make any money out of catching burglars

But its OK folks, the cops will only make money from losers who can't ride/drive and/or don't know road rules, - won't be anybody on KB then will it?

**rwh** · 8th August 2007, 22:54

Shouldn't be hard - just be back outside the school at 3pm and start ticketing all the parents who stop on the dotted yellows, or double park, to pick up their kids. Then they'll have something to discuss with the kids next time.

Richard

**Albino** · 9th August 2007, 10:09

Originally Posted by rwh

Shouldn't be hard - just be back outside the school at 3pm and start ticketing all the parents who stop on the dotted yellows, or double park, to pick up their kids. Then they'll have something to discuss with the kids next time.

Richard

Haha nice, but what's the chances of that happening.

It appears the cop who issued the targets has said it was a mistake and there will no longer be a fixed target.

**k14** · 9th August 2007, 11:17

Originally Posted by rwh

Shouldn't be hard - just be back outside the school at 3pm and start ticketing all the parents who stop on the dotted yellows, or double park, to pick up their kids. Then they'll have something to discuss with the kids next time.

Richard

Or the people that do 50 past the school bus stopped to drop off/pick up children, that'd hurt, 30 over the limit. Do 60 past there and you'd be walking for a month.

**Pancakes** · 9th August 2007, 11:39

I'm so against targets like this as it means poor policing can appear to be more affective, if you have your target don't follow up new crime, secure a conviction against ones you've already caught or have to do people for dumb stuff cos your running out of real criminals (in NZ? hahahahah).

BUT!!

Did anyone actually read the story? 80 tickets a year? 2 each schoold week? I don't think they're going to have to make stuff up or wrongly accuse people of things to fill that quota! Considering there's probably not even one cop for 3 school area's (police KB'ers feel free to offer a real number!) and each school area will have a few primary schools, an intermediate or two and a high-school. Thats not alot guys. Thats a cop looking after at least 10 schools, 8 tickets/year/school. Thad'd be scratching the surface (maybe).
I'm all for higher M'Way speeds like 120-130k's (and having roads built to suit + adequate drive testing, all goes hand in hand). But am also all for schools being able to have their own speed camera's and ticket people doing over 40. Yes I think that is a suitable speed givenb the type of (fast and short) people around at start and end of school times and the fact the adults are out-numbered and have their hands (normally literally) full. Parked cars mean the kids can come out of gaps between them and you typically drive less than a meter away from the cars if they're parked on both sides. A child could be infront of you before you hit the pick's, if you see them. If you have kids you'll get me, if not you'll understand one day. If someone hit my kids they'll find hurt pretty quick!

**gixermike** · 9th August 2007, 12:57

I don't have a problem with this at all really..I'd be pissed off if I was knocked off by a drunk driver who they were to lazy to ticket because they took a nice comfortable job with regular hours.....and I've no problem with the idea of either lower limits, or more enforcement around schools. But this should also come with better signage that you're actually near a school. Plenty (expecially kindergartens etc) seem to have little or no signage showing that they are there. Once that sort of warning is in place then go for the ticketing option if people ignore it.

This just goes along with the theory that speeding in town is intrinsicly dangerous becasue of the hazards around / stopping distances and the chances of pedestrians / dogs etc running out closer than your minimum stop distance....if someone runs out you will hit them...but hopefully will be slow enough not to kill them.
But to accept that Idea about risk / hazard....you also have to then accept that speeding on the open road isn't instrinsicly dangerous...(i.e....the imdeiate hazards..kids with footballs etc are much less likely)..as long as you can stop in the distance that you can SEE (not think) is clear ahead of you.
It would seem that that leap of faith would be too much for the NZ traffic police/ LTSA / safety odd bodds to accept....maybe I'm just a skeptical ex pom....I live in hope..