Bring back traffic cops?

[XRVrider]

Just went for a quick drive on this Sunday arvo, brilliant day, nice to be out and about.... except for....... Sunday drivers, and just Kiwi driving in general all days of the week.

Man there was about every type of mistake or offence possible all around us. Not giving way, running red lights, speeding (70 in middle of town, kids everywhere) slow driving (I expect that on sunday) not using indicators, weaving all over the road and out of lanes. Now I'm not perfect but try to drive to the rules of the law. Jeez its not that hard, we all did it to get our licences, we know the rules and it seems like we just dont give a shit.

This is mainly car drivers I'm on about and maybe its just crap here in my town (dont think so) but I reckon that back a few years Traffic Cops pulled you up more, looked for reasons to pull you over and were more of a presence on the roads than the general police we have now. I'm not putting down the Police but think that Traffic Cops got more of a result out of drivers, they were focused on traffic offences and perhaps made drivers not so sloppy in their habits etc.... What do you lot think?

[CookMySock]

Hah, thats exactly what we need - old skool cops ticketing all the grampa sunday drivers for every little trivial thing they possibly can. :killingme

Steve

[scumdog]

I'm not putting down the Police but think that Traffic Cops got more of a result out of drivers, they were focused on traffic offences and perhaps made drivers not so sloppy in their habits etc.... What do you lot think?

Damn right - all tickets I ever got was from the 'black'n'whites' - often for things that would result in a monumental whaaa-fest on KB if it happened today.:yes:

NO mercy from them in the old days.:blink:

[PrincessBandit]

Hear hear, and let the police spend their time more efficiently following up on crime. I'm all for bringing back the pandas to keep our roads safe without tying up the resources of our overwhelmed police force.

[Jantar]

I'm another one in favour of splitting traffic away from general police duties. At least back in the days of MoT we knew who to trust and who not to.

[PrincessBandit]

Just went for a quick drive on this Sunday arvo,...
Man there was about every type of mistake or offence possible all around us. Not giving way, running red lights, speeding (70 in middle of town, kids everywhere) slow driving (I expect that on sunday) not using indicators, weaving all over the road and out of lanes. Now I'm not perfect but try to drive to the rules of the law. Jeez its not that hard, we all did it to get our licences, we know the rules and it seems like we just dont give a shit.


That's the other thing that makes me laugh (if I didn't laugh I'd cry) - all these people had to sit their licence at some stage yet once they have it they ignore most of the rules they had to follow during their test. Wtf?

If they can observe them for the duration of their driving test how come it's so hard to afterwards? Laziness and piss poor attitude to their "right" to do whatever they want on public roads. Bring back the pandas!!!!Bring back the pandas!!!

[peasea]

I'm another one in favour of splitting traffic away from general police duties. At least back in the days of MoT we knew who to trust and who not to.

Neither?????

[peasea]

That's the other thing that makes me laugh (if I didn't laugh I'd cry) - all these people had to sit their licence at some stage yet once they have it they ignore most of the rules they had to follow during their test. Wtf?

If they can observe them for the duration of their driving test how come it's so hard to afterwards? Laziness and piss poor attitude to their "right" to do whatever they want on public roads. Bring back the pandas!!!!Bring back the pandas!!!

Yeah, bring-em back, I really miss the sport of 'maggot baiting'. Jolly good fun. They couldn't ride to save themselves either! Faaaarkin funny giving those clowns the run-around; gave one or two a twack too. Yeah, bring em back, if only for entertainment purposes.

[Usarka]

Bring back buck.

[peasea]

Bring back buck.

OK, here you go. He's got his own money too!

[Motu]

Jodpurs,peaked caps and mustaches - prefects gone bad.

[Mom]

Taught me to be a good girl on the road.

I had a couple of very scarey run ins with them in my youth, and I mean my youth here. Biking of the pedal variety :yes:

The first time I was pulled over complete with lights and siren I might add was in Howick back in... well never mind.

I was on my bike and came to an intersection contolled by a STOP sign. Guess as a kid and on a pedal powered bike I did not think I needed to stop. In fact I probably did not understand the STOP rule back then. Pedalled safely out of this road, and got the very big AHEM! and pulled over. This MOT Cop read me the riot act! I dont have the vocab to describe how I felt at the time, but shitting my self springs to mind, he threatened to tell my parents too! :shit:

The next time was not so bad :dodge: Hell for leather down Picton Street, on the footpath! All of a sudden I got the loudspeaker and siren telling off that guaranteed I never rode on the footpath again :D

[crazyhorse]

Hah, thats exactly what we need - old skool cops ticketing all the grampa sunday drivers for every little trivial thing they possibly can. :killingme

Steve

Then they sure the fuck would leave the bikers alone, wouldn't they

[vifferman]

I think the MOT were (generally) more focused on safety than quotas, and perhaps more inclined to let you off with a warning. You've got to remember though that their equipment was less sophisticated, so it was easier for them to miss stuff. I got a ticket once for 38mph in a 30 zone, shortly after I was doing about 70ish. Cop's microwave was set on pie mode or summat. We both knew I was honking, but fortunatley for me, I'd already slowed down before I saw the cop, while he was busy talking to my neighbour about driving with no lights on at night.

Two (2) other things: if they brought back dedicated traffic cops, they be pricks like the "snakes" currently are. Also (as well) they'd still be contracted by ACC, so they'd still have quotas to meet, and would focus on easy to ticket things like speeding, rather than safety.

[duckonin]

We lost the black and whites because the Govt at the time wanted to increase policeing staff numbers,and the cost was the good old BW's...

We adopted the American way, two idgits to a car driving around talking about their weekend activities, then went on to a him and a her in the same car, well what did that lead to in a lot of cases ?:angry:, our gubbermint couldn't get throwing a rotten apple core into the garbage can right..Yep it would miss...

[mattian]

every saturday and sunday morning at around 7.00 am I commute to work from Glenfield to the city for work. As I head onto the motorway heading south towards the harbour bridge I try my best to stick with the speed limit on that stretch coz, there is always a motorway patrol officer sitting in his vehicle just at the foot of the harbour bridge there, hiding just behind the truck weigh station. I have cars passing me at at least 20-30 ks per hour over the speed limit which is 80ks. I have never seen him give chase to anyone..... not once! is it that, its not worth the effort to chase speeders at that time of morning on the weekend? I'm not having a whinge..... its just an observation :wari:

[RDjase]

Does anyone remember when Napier had its own Council Traffic Cops? must have been in the late 80s ,we (hastings) lot hardly ever went over there , they were pricks lol

[crazyhorse]

Does anyone remember when Napier had its own Council Traffic Cops? must have been in the late 80s ,we (hastings) lot hardly ever went over there , they were pricks lol

Even Havelock North had its own cops Jason - I remember that too! Its where I got my licence for car and bike. No more Borough Council here either :woohoo:

[RDjase]

Even Havelock North had its own cops Jason - I remember that too! Its where I got my licence for car and bike. No more Borough Council here either :woohoo:

Dont remember them , you have got a few candles on me tho aye:lol:

[Mom]

I have never seen him give chase to anyone..... not once! is it that, its not worth the effort to chase speeders at that time of morning on the weekend? I'm not having a whinge..... its just an observation :wari:

Bet he would light up like a Christmas Tree if you tried it :yes:

[XRVrider]

The cop who took me for my car driving test was a monster and grim faced making a freshfaced 15 year old poo his pants. Passed the test though, but they made driving a privilege rather than a right. Thats how it should be.

As for Govt saving money combining them with police rather than having stand alone Traffic Cops, well they pay out plenty due to bad driving, accidents etc.. the thinking may have worked elsewhere, but little old New Zealand has is own issues and all countries differ from each other. I dont care if they do target speeding and make their quotas for moolah and tickets, at least there will be dedicated cops for roads, it can only help.

Oh well, cant see it changing back but we need better driving skills from a large part of the driving community.

[crazyhorse]

Dont remember them , you have got a few candles on me tho aye:lol:

Not many at all Jason! I got my bike licence on a Pasola - really funny when I look back. The cop was on one of those big white bikes and I was on a piddly little thing - must've looked a joke. Lucky I knew the cop, but still felt stink at the time. I'd love to take him on now and show him a thing or two - LOL

[Okey Dokey]

They say you can never go back, and it is probably true in this case, too. The separation of police force from traffic force was quite good, and I believe other countries even admired it.

[merv]

Does anyone remember when Napier had its own Council Traffic Cops? must have been in the late 80s ,we (hastings) lot hardly ever went over there , they were pricks lol

Yeah grew up there but I'd left town in 1973 before they finished so can't remember what date that was, prob 80's though. Got my licence off one about 40 years ago after doing a lap around the block on my Bro's Zundapp while he watched. Then I got a ticket off one of them for doing 43mph in a 30 zone on my A100 in the early 70's. They had a reputation alright.

[peasea]

every saturday and sunday morning at around 7.00 am I commute to work from Glenfield to the city for work. As I head onto the motorway heading south towards the harbour bridge I try my best to stick with the speed limit on that stretch coz, there is always a motorway patrol officer sitting in his vehicle just at the foot of the harbour bridge there, hiding just behind the truck weigh station. I have cars passing me at at least 20-30 ks per hour over the speed limit which is 80ks. I have never seen him give chase to anyone..... not once! is it that, its not worth the effort to chase speeders at that time of morning on the weekend? I'm not having a whinge..... its just an observation :wari:

He's probably slurping coffee awaiting an accident. Isn't that what they call 'positive policing'? Also, it just goes to show how dumb it is having an 80kph limit there.

[RDjase]

Not many at all Jason! I got my bike licence on a Pasola - really funny when I look back. The cop was on one of those big white bikes and I was on a piddly little thing - must've looked a joke. Lucky I knew the cop, but still felt stink at the time. I'd love to take him on now and show him a thing or two - LOL

haha, not that many aye lol, just couldnt resist a wee wind up :Punk:

those napier cops couldnt ticket you past the bridge by Ravensdown, u would see the mark5 cortina headlight chasing you and try to the bridge (get across the state line) like in the old yank movies :wari:

[crazyhorse]

haha, not that many aye lol, just couldnt resist a wee wind up :Punk:

those napier cops couldnt ticket you past the bridge by Ravensdown, u would see the mark5 cortina headlight chasing you and try to the bridge (get across the state line) like in the old yank movies :wari:


See? I'm not that old - don't remember mark5 cortina's as cop wagons.... LOL

[1wheel riot]

i dont know if im alone on this or not but i dont like cops it might just be me but i think most cops are up them selves and they just wont to give tickets and collect revenue.

[RDjase]

See? I'm not that old - don't remember mark5 cortina's as cop wagons.... LOL

those council cops had old cars(5 years or more, parking wardens in cars lol) , the real MOT cops had v3000s too(replaced some of the cortinas) , my mates got a black one with white paint under the front door cards, and holes in the dash with spare wiring for the lights ect .The hastings cops had a red honda accord mufti car ,prob a 87ish. everyone got pinged by that one

You wouldnt remember them aye shirley , you would have never had a ticket :laugh:

[SPman]

Does anyone remember when Napier had its own Council Traffic Cops? must have been in the late 80s ,we (hastings) lot hardly ever went over there , they were pricks lol

Every council had their own cops - East Coast Bays...Mac Reid, Sandy and a few others I can't think of atm. We thought they were all cunts! They did know all the locals though and which ones were more likely to "offend"...

[NDORFN]

I thought we had all but bought back seperate traffic enforcement in the way of Highway Patrol. The only difference is back in the day the black and whites had sensibly priced Mitsi's and lowest spec model Falcons compared to the blinged out high-spec HSV's they have today. My wife spotted one in Hamilton the other day with 18 inch cromies! Imagine the annual tyre bill on that extravance!

[Ixion]

Every council had their own cops - East Coast Bays...Mac Reid, Sandy and a few others I can't think of atm. We thought they were all cunts! They did know all the locals though and which ones were more likely to "offend"...


Not every council. Most did, but some contracted it out to the MoT. MoT and ACC were pretty decent on the whole (inevitably, some bad uns in there). The one man band cops in the small towns were the real cunts.

The township got the fine money, so any outsider passing through really was just a source of revenue.

[Motu]

And if you got an out of town ticket,it was a court appearance,not just a fine.

[Ixion]

Actually, back in the day they didn't have tickets. You got a summons.

[Motu]

Yeah,that was it - you had to turn up in court,say you were guilty and pay the fine,plus court costs.I never protested these things...a fair cop,I accepted that.Then I had to go to bloody court to say fair cop!

[Ixion]

Wasn't no point contesting it anyway. Every magistrate knew that snakes were constitutionally incapable of error. And that evil bikers were constititionally incapable of telling the truth.

Saying you didn't do it when the snake said you did, they'd probably have locked you up for perjury as well.

[Motu]

Wearing jodhpurs can do that to you.....they knew everyone was laughing at them,that's why they were always in a shitty mood.They were just jealous of my flares.

[StoneY]

And if you got an out of town ticket,it was a court appearance,not just a fine.

No you didnt...I used to pull tickets in Masterton and I lived in PTown, happened all the time coz I had a girl in Eketahuna and an RD350.

Got my first DQ in '86 for 190kmh on my RD, I knew the local MoT's intimately hehe. (THAT was a summons)

They just gave ya a paper ticket, 2 copies and carbon in the book, it processed exactly like they do now but the courts took way longer to find you.
An no DQ's for demerits till 89 if I recall....:Police:

[Ixion]

Ah, no doubt. But we were talking about *way* before 1986, y'know.

[MaxB]

I got 'chased' by the MOT in a wee Suzuki van once. My crime was to overtake him in Bucklands Beach. At most I was 10k over. He must of followed me for 5 or 6 kms. I could see this thing could barely corner without tipping over.

He was pretty angry when he caught up with me and got all shouty. His mistake in ticketing me was to let me see his dashboard which had the speedo all bashed in. The plastic cover was cracked and there was no needle.

The van was full of cones and flags and went round schools and clubs etc preaching road safety. Ironic.

There was a number on the back of the ticket so I rang it and told 'em what happened. The MOT guy said to forget about the ticket and not to complain 'cos they already knew he was a dick!

And that was that.

[MSTRS]

Although I, too, hanker for the 'old days'...is there really any difference?
GD cops always could pull you up. It's just that the naughtiness had to be particularly bad.

[oldrider]

Just went for a quick drive on this Sunday arvo, brilliant day, nice to be out and about.... except for....... Sunday drivers, and just Kiwi driving in general all days of the week.

Man there was about every type of mistake or offence possible all around us. Not giving way, running red lights, speeding (70 in middle of town, kids everywhere) slow driving (I expect that on sunday) not using indicators, weaving all over the road and out of lanes. Now I'm not perfect but try to drive to the rules of the law. Jeez its not that hard, we all did it to get our licences, we know the rules and it seems like we just dont give a shit.

This is mainly car drivers I'm on about and maybe its just crap here in my town (dont think so) but I reckon that back a few years Traffic Cops pulled you up more, looked for reasons to pull you over and were more of a presence on the roads than the general police we have now. I'm not putting down the Police but think that Traffic Cops got more of a result out of drivers, they were focused on traffic offences and perhaps made drivers not so sloppy in their habits etc.... What do you lot think?

Been there done all that and if you think things would be any better, forget it, the reason they are like they are, is, because, "we are like we are!" :yes:

The old "Traffic cops" did not have the power of arrest, law changes for driving under the influence was one of the major causes for the change, followed by economics!

There were not only MOT traffic cops, there were all sorts of local municipal traffic cops as well.

Boy oh boy were they a bunch of dandy-sandies! :wari:

FWIW I think the good old days are now, at least you know who you are dealing with and who to watch out for. :Police: Are they really that bad? :mellow:

[peasea]

Actually, back in the day they didn't have tickets. You got a summons.

Actually, back in the day, you just told the twat to go fuck himself and legged it. Having a trailer rego on your bike was all the rage back then and there was no way they'd catch ya on their ill-handling Honda's, overloaded with all manner of valve-operated radio equipment and cast iron panniers.

Ahh, those were the days, no copper chopper to contend with....no instant backup (the cops didn't really like the maggots) and you could be gone in sixty seconds. Excellent fun.

[Ixion]

Ah, very probably. But we were talking about *way* before Hondas were around. Triumph Saint FTW. They may not have been the fastest bikes on the road even then, but those bastards could ride allright. By the time that Jap bikes arrived they'd invented tickets

[XRVrider]

Been there done all that and if you think things would be any better, forget it, the reason they are like they are, is, because, "we are like we are!" :yes:

Hmm, well maybe but we are crap drivers and that was the point. Dont see as much presence by the Police on the roads as all those years ago and no one gets stopped and corrected as much as they used to, soo maybe that is 1 reason for our crap driving, maybe its not. I didnt like the traffic cops too, but they made me pull my head in.

Really just want to think about how we can be better drivers and keep in line with the rest of the world, and that might lower our horrendous road toll per capita. A badly driven car at high speed (or even low speed) is akin to a loaded gun of sorts, as its so easy to f up and kill someone.

Anyway rant rant, I aint gonna change anything, just wish someone would.

[Motu]

[QUOTE=peasea;1129349331 there was no way they'd catch ya on their ill-handling Honda's, overloaded with all manner of valve-operated radio equipment and cast iron panniers.
[/QUOTE]

Only time I tried to do a serious runner the fucker was gaining on me!!! I couldn't believe it....fuck,he was moving.They did a road block and there were cop cars everywhere - even had the muffler probe with the bike aerial.

Mind you,another chase I wasn't really serious,and sat at the lights waiting for him to catch up.I got the green and let him do his siren and flashing light stuff....it was important for them to put on a show y'know.The guy was shaking and could hardly talk,I think he really shit himself trying to keep up with a little Italian bike.

[DougB]

You have all missed the main point here. It was after the police took over the traffic duties that the Police force in general started to loose the respect of the general public.

In the days of traffic cops we could hate them and still hold the police in high regard. Now we hate the traffic police and that makes us less inclined to respect the rest of the police force.

[Ixion]

You are right, but I think it has also worked the other way also

When they were separate, the snakes regarded the general public with, if not hatred, then at least with antipathy. How could they not considering that their day was spent ticketing and prosecuting the "ordinary bloke".

But the police , who seldom had to turn their official attention to the ordiinary (non criminal) public could regard the man in the street as an ally, and a supporter . Their antipathy was reserved for "real" criminals.

Now they are combined the police have come to regard the ordinary motorist as a criminal.

You can see that clearly on this site, where the resident cops make very little distinction in their attitude between the motorist pulled over for 111kph , and the basher or thief.

And , naturally, this antagonism is recipricated.

The public no longer trust the police , the police no longer trust the public. Both are the losers for it.

[oldrider]

That's a big part of the problem today, the public still think driving is a game and traffic offence is not a crime! :eek5:

Tell that to all the dead cunts, I'm sure it will make them feel better! :yes:

[peasea]

In the days of traffic cops we could hate them and still hold the police in high regard.

Speak for yourself. I've seen the traffic cops of old and the police lie in the box, that gives me a different perspective. Sure, you can say one bad apple can ruin it for the rest, not all cops are bad bastards and that I shouldn't tar them all with the same brush but when you see things like that (from those who are supposed to be above such things) then you become somewhat jaded.


I doubt I'll ever hold the police in high regard; they're not deserving of respect.

[MSTRS]

Ah, very probably. But we were talking about *way* before Hondas were around. Triumph Saint FTW. They may not have been the fastest bikes on the road even then, but those bastards could ride allright. By the time that Jap bikes arrived they'd invented tickets

I had an ex-MOT 650 Saint. This would have been 1976/77. Only bike I ever did a runner on. It was a heap of shit, but it handled good.