*555 - good or bad?

[ital916]

Well for the third time in my life I *555 someone today. After the call I was told that I shouldnt be so intolerant and should stop being a nark by a family member.

What do you guys think of the *555 system? I personally see no harm in anonomously reporting traffic faults and people being idiots.

[James Deuce]

Pointless if you aren't prepared to go to a Police Station and fill in the paperwork.

[Katman]

I personally see no harm in anonomously reporting


Fuck, you're brave.

[ital916]

Fuck, you're brave.

Mmmhmmm a real william wallace I am.

[James Deuce]

Seriously dude, the Police won't do anything if you don't go to the Police Station and log the paperwork. Otherwise it's just a toothless whinge.

[ital916]

Seriously dude, the Police won't do anything if you don't go to the Police Station and log the paperwork. Otherwise it's just a toothless whinge.

So whats the whole *555 system there for? Shits n giggles.

[Katman]

Otherwise it's just a toothless whinge.

Nooooo!!<hgvhgvhjv>

[James Deuce]

So whats the whole *555 system there for? Shits n giggles.

Yes. It's there to make the Victor Meldrew's feel like something is being done.

[ital916]

Yes. It's there to make the Victor Meldrew's feel like something is being done.

:laugh:, Nice to know that..but who is victor meldrew. Before my time I think.

[YellowDog]

I understood that the rego numbers are recorded and after 3 reports, you get a visit from the Police.

But dirt bikes don't usually have rego numbers.

I look forward to being corrected as to what *555 is all about?

[ital916]

Nooooo!!<hgvhgvhjv>

Supposedly you were like the ghost rider of london back in the day. :shit:

[Chooky]

Ha.. I was coming down the hill into Waitahanui early one morning in the dark, and there was a bloody black horse standing on the road.
Rang *555 and the guy on the other end said....
" ah... its ok it'll be daylight soon"

[Katman]

Supposedly you were like the ghost rider of london back in the day. :shit:

Which day?

[ital916]

Which day?

you know....THAT day. A couple decades back. Sheesh. 100 mph down london streets sounded impressive.

[James Deuce]

:laugh:, Nice to know that..but who is victor meldrew. Before my time I think.

One Foot in the Grave, BBC Sitcom, ran for 10 years from 1990 to 2000.

You Tube will explain.

[Ragingrob]

How would that give *us* bad rep??

A bmx rider at a skate park being a dickhead doesn't make me think road cyclists are dicks.

[James Deuce]

I understood that the rego numbers are recorded and after 3 reports, you get a visit from the Police.

But dirt bikes don't usually have rego numbers.

I look forward to being corrected as to what *555 is all about?

You get a letter.

The problem is, it's based on the perceptions of what consitutes safe road use in a country where texting, driving drunk, driving while eating and drinking, as well as driving while applying make up, reading the paper and falling asleep are all if not actively encouraged, tolerated by the majority.

Their individual opinion will be, "I don't do that stuff", but when they get caught doing it they are aggreived, act badly, and proclaim loudly that they are excellent drivers, it's everyone else who is unsafe.

*555 is a reporting tool. If you are prepared to go to the Police Station, fill in a form, and tick the box that says you'll go to court to give evidence, the naughty road user will be called to account.

[sAsLEX]

Seriously dude, the Police won't do anything if you don't go to the Police Station and log the paperwork. Otherwise it's just a toothless whinge.

I have been pulled over after being *555'd.

They can direct units nearby to attend incidents reported through *555

[Mom]

Seriously dude, the Police won't do anything if you don't go to the Police Station and log the paperwork. Otherwise it's just a toothless whinge.

What is even worse in my experience when you front into the station to report something that has just happened, complete with registration numbers of culprit and witnesses, and you have literally followed the culprit into town and saw them turn down an almost blind exit road, driving a light truck with a friggen digger on it, and you have the name of the company that is blazoned all over the truck they still wont move.

Serious here, I watched (read avoided) a truck move out into a right hand overtaking lane without indicating, forcing the car alongside him to negotiate a blind left hand bend all the way on the wrong side of the road, and forcing me to slam the hell on the anchors so I did not get taken out in the process of him making this move. I had the registration of the car in front of me, I had the registration of the truck and the name of the company that owned it and I fronted the cop shop and this red haired copper passed me some paperwork to fill in all the while warning me that I was liable for prosecution if he discovered I had been in the wrong as well!

I am not often moved to say things like this, but there surely is a wanker in my local constabulary. Even when I said, but he has just driven up there, pointing I might add :D the cop said, fill out the paper work, then I will see if it is worth following up.

*555 is waste of time. Have used it 3 times now, once to report a car being driven on the motorway with no plates and a dealer window card in the rear window, they were interested in that and asked if I would follow the car until they could pick it up. Different lanes and it turned off, so who knows what happened there. Once to report a car that had litterally shit itself on the motorway infront of us laying a trail of buring oil across 3 lanes of the northern motorway into Auckland just short of the Harbour Bridge. Once to report a van that had almost wiped out 3 bikes and a couple of cars, similar story, I had the details and the direction, but I was put on hold for so long my cell phone ran flat.

Annonymous calls would stand no chance of being investigated!

[James Deuce]

I have been pulled over after being *555'd.

They can direct units nearby to attend incidents reported through *555

How unfortunate. If you get ticketed on the spot you should fight that one. If the witness doesn't turn up to court there shouldn't be a case.

[sAsLEX]

How unfortunate. If you get ticketed on the spot you should fight that one. If the witness doesn't turn up to court there shouldn't be a case.

You miss my point.

Calling *555 can get a cop to look in to an incident. Quickly in some cases.

Going to the cop shop and filling in a form will not.

[ital916]

One Foot in the Grave, BBC Sitcom, ran for 10 years from 1990 to 2000.

You Tube will explain.

I remember that from when I was growing up back home in birmingham. I dont remember much of the show now. Fawlty towers was great however as well as dads army.

[Sidewinder]

why ya think its my race number??
so ppl know what number to ring when im riding on the road.
DUH

[Mom]

why ya think its my race number??
so ppl know what number to ring when im riding on the road.
DUH

I thought that was your personal plate <_<

[ital916]

You miss my point.

Calling *555 can get a cop to look in to an incident. Quickly in some cases.

Going to the cop shop and filling in a form will not.

I would think that the police would have duty of care to respond to most *555 calls, or do they respond only after a few complaints have been laid.

[Sidewinder]

I thought that was your personal plate <_<

im not that rich and ya cant get them in pink

[James Deuce]

You miss my point.

Calling *555 can get a cop to look in to an incident. Quickly in some cases.

Going to the cop shop and filling in a form will not.

No I didn't.

It's incredibly rare for that to happen and you were unfortunate.

I've *555ed while in the passenger seat of a car while driving next to an HP and they saw the whole incident and did nothing. Couch cushions flying off an overloaded trailer on the Motorway.

I'll amend my statement to "largely pointless" in light of your bad luck.

[Pedrostt500]

Ive only ever used *555 twice once was an obvious 13 yr old driver, who was a sole ocupant in a car that was bunny hopping and weaving all over Petone esplanade, the second was a blindly drunk driver that couldnt stay in any of three lanes on the Wellington motorway. plod turned up and delt with both rather quickly, didnt need to sighn any thing as a witness. If I see some who is operating a Vechicle in such away that I deam them to be going to cause Harm to myself or another then I will use *555 again, but it does have to be of a reasonably serious nature before I do.

[Mom]

im not that rich and ya cant get them in pink

I saw some really cute pink leather jackets today at the Speed Show, bugger though forgot to check they had them in your size. Nice pink it was too, not glaring, a real girly pink :D

And what is with the price of those plates anyway, you must have money to burn to buy one these days :dodge:

[sAsLEX]

No I didn't.

It's incredibly rare for that to happen and you were unfortunate.

I've *555ed while in the passenger seat of a car while driving next to an HP and they saw the whole incident and did nothing. Couch cushions flying off an overloaded trailer on the Motorway.

I'll amend my statement to "largely pointless" in light of your bad luck.

Oh I didn't get ticketed.

He had no evidence, it did take him 40 mins to catch up when he saw me, and I was lucky I had slowed to 100 when he got behind me and checked my speed.

And I was apparently riding with no hands which originated the call?

[scumdog]

No I didn't.

It's incredibly rare for that to happen and you were unfortunate.

I've *555ed while in the passenger seat of a car while driving next to an HP and they saw the whole incident and did nothing. Couch cushions flying off an overloaded trailer on the Motorway.

I'll amend my statement to "largely pointless" in light of your bad luck.

There's several drivers done for EBA down here that I guess are cursing the *555 system...

[Genestho]

*555 is an instant intervention tool, IF there are cars available. It's not for minor whinging, it is for seriously dangerous driving.

In my area there are 6 cars that cover a few hundred Km's. They can't always be available, but I know of stories where some seriously dangerous driving, and potential injury to innocent road users has been averted, particularly drink drivers 3 and 4 times over the limit.
If it's an emergency (what you deem as emergency) then you ring 111.

If you want to lay charges YOU need to go into the police station, and fill in the form.

[SMOKEU]

Comms don't usually give a fuck when people call *555 unless it involves a RWD Nissan doing burnouts or drifting. I have called *555 when some idiot was driving on the wrong side of the road for about 1km and then cut me off, then they parked about 500m from the Christchurch central police station. I got told to "Make a complaint at a police station" if I want anything done about it.

[caseye]

You miss my point.

Calling *555 can get a cop to look in to an incident. Quickly in some cases.

Going to the cop shop and filling in a form will not.

I'd say the caller got very lucky that day.555 is a total waste of money and time expended.
if it's really that bad go for 111 and don't hang up till you've got assistance.
As for form filling, without them jack won't shit mate, simple as that.
Don't put yourselves in any more danger than you have/had already been in trying to get identification etc. If you must follow them,follow discretely.
Stay the hell back from them and make sure you have a clear line of escape.As I said before 111 and stay on line,tell them you are ready and willing to lay complaints.If it's humanely possible and if you get a good comm's there will be help moving pretty smartly.

[Sidewinder]

one of the numbers started to fall off but owell

<img src=http://file047a.bebo.com/17/large/2009/05/23/21/6075184799a10883111913l.jpg>

[cowpatz]

I have *555'ed only a few times. Once when following a drunk who almost sideswiped a few cars and a pedestrian. The cops zero'd in pretty quick and nabbed him before he killed someone.
The most recent was for short phasing traffic lights causing chaos.

[Ixion]

The only time I ever use it (or the other form thing) is if I encounter an incompetent Victor who looks like he might take objection to my riding - usually, based on the fact that I have managed to overtake him despite him having sped up to 120 (after meandering along at 65 for the last 10km) AND swung hard right. Such people take the failure of their "no one gets past me" tactics as a personal offront- and are very willing to brazenly lie to achieve their 'revenge'.

So, I *555 them to get my story in first - or at least independently. Carries much more weight if you put your side up BEFORE a cop asks.

For practical purposes, it's a total waste of time.

[mnkyboy]

And I was apparently riding with no hands which originated the call?

Is that illegal?

I do it a bit.....:spanking:

[Swoop]

It is a "feel good" for the public.

Have used it twice when in the cage. Once when a plank of wood was sitting across lanes on the harbour bridge and another time when a person felt the motorway was a really nice wide footpath to go for a walk along.
Both of these prove that having cameras on the motorway system, doesn't help all the time.

[SMOKEU]

if it's really that bad go for 111 and don't hang up till you've got assistance.


Yeah, like the time me and my mates got beaten up and his car smashed up and our shit stolen buy a whole group of guys "Sorry, we're too busy to help. Come to a police station tomorrow and make a complaint there"

[fergie]

victor meldrew is alive and well ,, and he lives right across the road from me. actually his wife id Hyacinth bucket!

[Ixion]

victor meldrew is alive and well ,, and he lives right across the road from me. actually his wife id Hyacinth bucket!

Ni, I don't live across the road from you. That's my cousin, he's not as grumpy as me.

[ready4whatever]

Someone called them on me once because they lost the race haha

[sAsLEX]

It is a "feel good" for the public.

Have used it twice when in the cage. Once when a plank of wood was sitting across lanes on the harbour bridge and another time when a person felt the motorway was a really nice wide footpath to go for a walk along.
Both of these prove that having cameras on the motorway system, doesn't help all the time.

There has been a sheet of gib in lane two south bound just south of esmonde road for a few days now

[Ms Piggy]

Pointless if you aren't prepared to go to a Police Station and fill in the paperwork.
The posted it out to me - I *555 a guy that almost ran me over at a pedestrian crossing by running a red light.

But I dunno if I'd bother again - not cos of the paperwork but because it's probably not gonna stop to idjits doin idjit things.

[rocketman1]

Pointless if you aren't prepared to go to a Police Station and fill in the paperwork.

How does this work!!!, If you are following a pissed person, yeah real good, i will just go the police station and report him, like drive 50km to the nearest cop shop while all the time he offs & kills someone.
Bugger off! Its Ph 555 so the cops can get to the action asap and cut him off, and give him/her a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket.
there was a case a while ago when these , poorly brought young souls from sth jaffa land stole a car and drove to huntly at 180km/hr + mostly on the wrong side of the road.
It was the telephone to the cops that managed to stop them , not a trip to the police station.

[scumdog]

How does this work!!!, If you are following a pissed person, yeah real good, i will just go the police station and report him, like drive 50km to the nearest cop shop while all the time he offs & kills someone.
Bugger off! Its Ph 555 so the cops can get to the action asap and cut him off, and give him/her a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket.
there was a case a while ago when these , poorly brought young souls from sth jaffa land stole a car and drove to huntly at 180km/hr + mostly on the wrong side of the road.
It was the telephone to the cops that managed to stop them , not a trip to the police station.

The cops WILL stop the car if they can - and if the driver is pissed etc they have him

But if they didn't see bad/dangerous driving that YOU did they will need you as a 'witness', ergo you need to fill in the appropriate paperwork.

And no, you DON'T need to drive '50km to the nearest cop shop' right there and then, just confirm you intend to do the paperwork and do it as soon as you can.

[jimbo_on_travels]

*555 is useful if you are involved in a crash like I was last Sunday and noone was injured (leave that one to 111). Thankfully I was in a car at the time out near Otaihanga and got rear ended by a Beamer.. on a late sunny sunday afternoon I'd usually be on my bike.

So yeh 555 for the win! :)

[MisterD]

I've done it once after someone in an SUV I was following dropped a beer bottle out of the rear window.

One of the bro's travelling in the vehicle had come running out of the dairy by Jellicoe park to hop in at the lights and I thought he was running 'cos the lights were just turning green but turned out he'd just robbed the place.

Small pieces of info I was able to give, but it helped convict the a-holes...

[James Deuce]

How does this work!!!, If you are following a pissed person, yeah real good, i will just go the police station and report him, like drive 50km to the nearest cop shop while all the time he offs & kills someone.
Bugger off! Its Ph 555 so the cops can get to the action asap and cut him off, and give him/her a slap on the wrist with a wet bus ticket.
there was a case a while ago when these , poorly brought young souls from sth jaffa land stole a car and drove to huntly at 180km/hr + mostly on the wrong side of the road.
It was the telephone to the cops that managed to stop them , not a trip to the police station.

Most people who ring *555 don't end up handing off to an HP unit.

Most people who ring *555 aren't prepared to put themselves out by filling in the paperwork either.

This is how it works:

1. Ring *555 and give details.
2. If a unit is both available and nearby it is despatched. If the people you perceive to be behaving badly are still behaving badly they'll get pulled and charged with what the cop saw them doing.
3. If it isn't and you respond "yes" to the operator's question about wanting to take it further you will be asked to go to a Police station and fill in a form at your earliest convenience.
4. The form will be reviewed and may be followed up or may not, a lot of the time due to the reporting individual's unwillingness to testify in court.

For every one off where *555 results in immediate action, there's a large number that don't get followed up. There's 33000 calls to 111 and *555 every week. I'm trying to find a better breakdown of the stats.

[oldrider]

The only time I ever use it (or the other form thing) is if I encounter an incompetent Victor who looks like he might take objection to my riding - usually, based on the fact that I have managed to overtake him despite him having sped up to 120 (after meandering along at 65 for the last 10km) AND swung hard right. Such people take the failure of their "no one gets past me" tactics as a personal offront- and are very willing to brazenly lie to achieve their 'revenge'.

So, I *555 them to get my story in first - or at least independently. Carries much more weight if you put your side up BEFORE a cop asks.

For practical purposes, it's a total waste of time.

I agree with you there Ixion.

Have tried (unsuccessfully) calling them once myself (about a drunk) but often wonder how many times my own number has gone in!

Not personally feeling guilty but once an old Sheila drove up after we parked our bike and abused us for all she was worth!

Telling us (me and Mrs O) what crazy "young" fools we were passing her (she was speeding too) further back down the road!

We took our helmets off and her jaw dropped, she went suddenly silent and slunk away, (I told her to fuck off) we were much older than her anyway!

Some people just can't leave "young" people enjoying themselves, alone!

[one fast tl1ooo]

Good if someone has pissed you of with thier drivin, But very bad if you have cut off, passed to fast , tailgated someone really close, or :chase: someone,

[naphazoline]

Well for the third time in my life I *555 someone today. After the call I was told that I shouldnt be so intolerant and should stop being a nark by a family member.

What do you guys think of the *555 system? I personally see no harm in anonomously reporting traffic faults and people being idiots.

If somebody is driving/riding in a manner that is barely out of the norm,then i hate to tell you,but you ARE a nark.:2guns:

If everyone phoned the cops for every little thing that annoyed them on the road,then we would all be in trouble.

No one's perfect.

[scumdog]

No one's perfect.

Qiute rihgt, noone's prefect...

[Ixion]

Ford is .

[naphazoline]

Ford? who the hell is that?

[Ixion]

Ford? who the hell is that?

Barbarian.

[far queue]

I've used *555 3 times ...

1. Boy racers doing burn outs on the summit road taking up the whole road. I don't know what the outcome of that was.

2. While walking to work I witnessed someone vandalising a car and called it in from a safe distance, and stayed on the phone describing what the guy was doing. The rozzers were there in 5-10 minutes, catching the guy still in the act. I approached the cops and gave my details in case I was needed.

3. A car had rolled, nobody appeared hurt as they climbed out while I watched (others were assisting them), the car was blocking the road. The cops were there in 5-10 minutes.

My reason for using 555 and not 111 is that these weren't emergencies that required fire or ambo in immediate attendance and 555 goes straight to the police comms room without having to go through the 111 operator 1st.