So I used *555 today, clap clap for mr Plod

[StoneY]

Anyway

Heading to work (in cage as I had stuff to move around) and I see this learner rider shoved aside at Hutt Road/Esplanade roundabout- and the blood boils fast at these sort of carry ons
This learner rider was on a late 80's early 90's nude 250, with all the dayglo shit on and was clearly in the lane having just left the give way and the subby just pushed straight through her/his space!

If you are a KBer little learner bike- I got ya back buddy
A yellow VTRthou and a mid size purple Ninja were present too, if any of ya's were KBers get in touch

I grab the trusty cell (yes hypocryte I know I rant about them heaps) but justify this action in the cause of JusticE and the KB way (backin a biker up)

I ring through, give rego number FCU214 to the lady on the phone, and violla whats in the outside right hand lane? A PATROL CAR sitting on the rear corner of the offending Impeazza!!!

Me: "Quick, get him, hes RIGHT beside ya patrol car"
*555: "It depends what that unit is tasked to'....
Me: "....your kidding me"
*555: "Sir if that officer is not tasked to anything urgent we will grab that driver otherwise please call in to a station and fill in the form....."

Call ends

As we approach Tce Tunnel, cop HAS moved into position, I am behind cop, and YES the lights go on YAY!

I pull over behind cop, wave cellphone at him to say 'Im the witness'
He briefly speaks with Subby driver- returns to me and introduces himself as the Regional Commander Hutt group (wow!)

I tell him what I saw, and quantified it with "I dont know if the bike pushed down the lane past staionary traffic to jump the Q officer but, thats moot, this bitch in the Subaru pushed that bike out of the lane by sheer brute force, the learner rider did well to stay upright( thats no exageration he/she wobbled bad on the curb line but recovered)

This nice cop says, "My mate was killed in that way, im throwing the book at this one, will you witness in court?"


Well of COURSE I will- and if the yellow VTR and Purple/pink Ninja riders saw it too please PM me

There IS justice in this world after all
Turns out he (mr Plod Senior) delayed a high end meeting with his boss to make this traffic stop and he too is a biker
:rockon:


Pix to follow when my bluetooth syncs

[PrincessBandit]

Good to hear that for all the times you actually say "I wish there was a cop around, where are they when you need them?" there are moments like this to redress the balance. Good on ya.

[Thani-B]

Good one! Cool when you see actions taken after calling *555.

[Kiwi Graham]

Bloody good job mate. Hope the two other bikers read this and add their weight. Bling duly awarded :niceone:

[James Deuce]

Good to hear that for all the times you actually say "I wish there was a cop around, where are they when you need them?" there are moments like this to redress the balance. Good on ya.

Balance? It might lift the see-saw a millimetre off the ground. Picture a tiny baby on one end, and a fat Police Inspector on the other. That's how we, the public, are viewed. Our opinions are worthless.

I get frustrated with the idea that one successful *555 bust means that they all work. The vast majority achieve nothing, simply because people won't follow up. Unlike Stoney. Most people would have quietly got in their car and buggered off if asked to present in court.

I still haven't had an answer from Police Comms or Stats NZ about how many *555 calls are followed up. From my personal experience letters get sent to "boy racers" and motorcyclists. People carriers with unsecured kids, bus drivers behaving like bullies, and taxi drivers cruising at 70 km/hr with no lane discipline (always aim for the slow moving lane - the meter isn't related to time travelled - tui) get away with it, despite having paperwork and multiple witnesses.

[mansell]

Well done mate, anything to get those bastards in cages to accept responsibility. Hope the prick gets the book thrown at him, my hope is that it hasn't put the learner rider off.

:woohoo:

[Slyer]

I trying to understand exactly what happened, how someone could get shoved. =/
Once I was waiting to turn right at a roundabout on my 250 with my little L plate on. I was in the left of the lane waiting for a gap and some asian lady just manages to squeeze to the right of me and goes through the roundabout. Didn't even see her look at me.
Revenge against lanesplitters? :blink:

[martybabe]

Well done StoneY and the copper nice to see a bit of justice happening for once.

I gotta say after a three week break driving in England, hitting the roads in NZ again has been a right eye opener, the stuff people do and get away with on our roads is shocking. Speeding is nothing compared to the incompetence/arrogance and sheer stupidity that abounds out there.

Well done you for taking at least one of the loons to task :niceone:

[Blackbird]

I get frustrated with the idea that one successful *555 bust means that they all work. The vast majority achieve nothing, simply because people won't follow up. Unlike Stoney. Most people would have quietly got in their car and buggered off if asked to present in court.



Jim,

Your comments are undoubtedly accurate but StoneY deserves a bit more kudos than a rant about the system. By doing nothing, nothing changes and great to see his efforts rewarded:rockon:. I don't know if "most" people would have buggered off. I'd like to think that most bikers wouldn't have.

[sunhuntin]

well done to both you and the learner. im amazed he stayed upright. good that the cop was on to it, and put upholding the law before a meeting.

[Reido]

I trying to understand exactly what happened, how someone could get shoved. =/
Once I was waiting to turn right at a roundabout on my 250 with my little L plate on. I was in the left of the lane waiting for a gap and some asian lady just manages to squeeze to the right of me and goes through the roundabout. Didn't even see her look at me.
Revenge against lanesplitters? :blink:

that happened to me, except with a bus. and he did see me but just pushed in anyway.
and when he turned the back swung out towards me eeep >_<

nice to hear of another successful *555

[ajturbo]

well ... i feel sorry for the cop...
you made him late for a meeting with his boss?....

























well done matey

[MSTRS]

A win for the little guy. Enjoy it. It is rare.

[Lurch]

Good work, more of us need to stand up and take the initiative like you did today. It might seem hopeless sometimes but that's no reason to let these incidents pass without taking action.

[oldrider]

Good follow through and outcome but what a shame it has to come to this!

*555 still leaves me with a bad taste in the back of my throat for the long term!

Good on you though StoneY for supporting the learner biker to the end. :niceone:

[Badjelly]

I trying to understand exactly what happened, how someone could get shoved. =/
Once I was waiting to turn right at a roundabout on my 250 with my little L plate on. I was in the left of the lane waiting for a gap and some asian lady just manages to squeeze to the right of me ...

I'm trying to understand too. Why were you in the left of the lane waiting to turn right?

[Ixion]

One reason might be to keep clear of the morons turning right from your left who cut the corner and can easily clip a bike waiting to the right of the lane.

I usually keep to left of lane if turning right in a position where traffic from my left is turning right into the road I'm in, for this reason

[StoneY]

I trying to understand exactly what happened, how someone could get shoved. =/
Once I was waiting to turn right at a roundabout on my 250 with my little L plate on. I was in the left of the lane waiting for a gap and some asian lady just manages to squeeze to the right of me and goes through the roundabout. Didn't even see her look at me.
Revenge against lanesplitters? :blink:


I'm trying to understand too. Why were you in the left of the lane waiting to turn right?

Ok, I will clarify - by shoved I mean scared off the riders own lane by pushy car not actually collided with (but farkin close!)

I was on The Esplanade in my CAGE (sadly)

The learner rider was coming out of Hutt Road, to my right (I see the bike make the mental note "THERES A BIKE") and the lanes merge into a big wide 2 lane merging sort of area, me in LH lane, biker and offending cage entering my area of concern from my RH side- clear so far?

I see the bike wobble badly from my perifferal vision and alarm bells start ringing-

I look again, and there is BLACK SUBARU IMPREZZA driving though the spot that the bike was in when I first noticed!

This poor learner was lucky (and very well handled too I may say) not to fall off as this car driver obviously tried to 'take revenge on lane splitters' by driving into the bikes lane between the RH curbing of the roundabout and the bike itself (my interpretation)

I did not see the car TOUCH the rider but shit I swear if the bike was any bigger it would have been in contact most definitely

The VTR and Ninha riders both saw it and both gathered round the wobbly learner to show support (or thats how I saw it)

And good on the newbie- kept it up kept a clear head too bloody well riden (I think I would have kicked the car and made myself crash LOL)

Here the pic of Justice in action

Cop just rang me back

He said she had a shit attitude - refused to even be slightly sorry for her actions arrogant cow - charges being discussed

He was happy to be late to his meeting too AJ - he rides both types of two wheelers and its only 200m from where his best mate was killed on a bicycle a few months ago

;)

[EJK]

Happy happy! Be a proud man today!

[Jizah]

Good work. That pic of where they pulled over is miles away though...

[caseye]

Proud of ya buddy, thats the sort of POSITIVE action that will ignite someones fuse, even if it is only the big brass hat who actually did the stop!
I'm home from the 15th of this month so mate don't you dare ride through here without stopping over, K.
Not ranting, but James hit it on the head, this is mostly a one off good luck event. May we , those of us prepared to stand up as STONEY just did have many more of em.

[PrincessBandit]

Balance? It might lift the see-saw a millimetre off the ground. Picture a tiny baby on one end, and a fat Police Inspector on the other. That's how we, the public, are viewed. Our opinions are worthless......

......... despite having paperwork and multiple witnesses.

Oh don't be such a grumpy bugger. Ok, "balance" might not have been quite the best word, it's at least a token better than a 100% no response rate!

[StoneY]

Good work. That pic of where they pulled over is miles away though...

Yes, that was obviously the time it took for the dispatcher to get the message to the patrol car (with the cheese driving it)
Traffic was flowing very smoothly being school hols, in all truth its only 5 mins from call to pull over, considering this chap was not an 'active patrol' I think they did ok

Mr Area Commander lined up the Subaru just before Ngauranga, where 3 lanes wide leaves very little room for a stop, and waited till it moved to the centre lane to activate the lights - well past his Murphy st exit for Police HQ so he took this call personal- good man
:)

[James Deuce]

Mr Area Commander lined up the Subaru just before Ngauranga, where 3 lanes wide leaves very little room for a stop, and waited till it moved to the centre lane to activate the lights - well past his Murphy st exit for Police HQ so he took this call personal- good man
:)
Indeed, and my rant isn't directed at Stoney in any way. Nice job.

[marty]

Jim,

Your comments are undoubtedly accurate but StoneY deserves a bit more kudos than a rant about the system. By doing nothing, nothing changes and great to see his efforts rewarded:rockon:. I don't know if "most" people would have buggered off. I'd like to think that most bikers wouldn't have.

I reckon JD is a talkback caller. Needs to work on his sphere of influence more.

[James Deuce]

I reckon JD is a talkback caller. Needs to work on his sphere of influence more.
Fuck that, I'm not immobile and living in a rest home yet. I have to have SOMETHING to look forward too.

[Ender EnZed]

Nice work StoneY. Bling added.

I don't mean to detract at all from the system working as it should but I wonder if you would have got the same response had the offender been driving something a bit more respectable, say, a late model Commmodore?

:whocares: I guess. They weren't and it worked this time. Hope the learner's a KBer and sees what you did.

[Maki]

It's funny that people feel a need to "take revenge on lane splitters". Lane splitters do not affect them in any material way. I can understand a feeling of envy looking at bike riders carve through traffic while you are stalled in a cage, but a need for revenge? I don't think so, not unless you are some kind of nutter who should not be driving in the first place.

I hope this lady gets what she deserves.

Well done, StoneY.

And another thing, is riding around with an L plate and a fluro vest asking for death? Some car drivers seem to take it as a challenge...

[sunhuntin]

It's funny that people feel a need to "take revenge on lane splitters". Lane splitters do not affect them in any material way. I can understand a feeling of envy looking at bike riders carve through traffic while you are stalled in a cage, but a need for revenge? I don't think so, not unless you are some kind of nutter who should not be driving in the first place.

i can see why some cagers get pissed. mum and i were stuck in her car in very mild morning traffic. we were on a two lane enclosed bridge. no room for anything except the two lanes. got a hell of a fright when a sportsbike flew past. all that was needed for tragedy was for one of the many on coming cars to be going a bit faster than they were. this bridge takes a max of 15 mins to clear, so what the riders hurry was, i dont know. he had his daughter [?] in school uniform on the back, but they werent exactly going to be late. i can easily see why people get annoyed with actions like that.

[tigertim20]

JD has a point, it is a shame more *555's dont have this kinda outcome. +1 for the cop putting us first over a meeting, and good onya stoney, allotta people wouldve done nothing other than rant about wankers in cars on here when they got home.

[ynot slow]

To often the *555 is hopeless,by that you call say I'm following but need to leave at such and such exit,they say well if you don't see an officer come in and report it,most of us will say stuff it.

[StoneY]

To often the *555 is hopeless,by that you call say I'm following but need to leave at such and such exit,they say well if you don't see an officer come in and report it,most of us will say stuff it.

Yes that has also been my USUAL experience with *555 sadly

I think if there had not been that 'patrol' car right there, with a cop who gave a crap in the seat, I am sure that would have been the response this AM, in fact she tried that but I refused to let it lie- I carried on about the patrol car being 'right there, hes beside the subaru right now, call him PLEASE call him now' lol

I was determined this driver would at LEAST be held to task no matter what, was even prepared to follow the car to its final location to ensure I had details, facts and more info ready

Still hope to hear from the VTR and Ninja riders or even the learner rider that was the almost victim
Another Biker would have done the same for me too :yes:

[Drogen Omen]

this same thing has happened to me several times. luckily non have been on the Buell otherwise i would have shut the cunt...

but yes, 3 times on my CBX250 when i was a learner- broke mirror off one car, bright orange vest and all, then on the GN250 2 times - once with mrs Drogen as pillion, guy in subaru hit me so hard that my left hand went numb after getting crushed by the clutch - at least this guy pulled over to ask if i was ok. 2 more times on the DR350 - chased after them and gave their car a boot with my steal sided fox motocross boots, out of the 7 times only 1 of the drivers pulled over to ask if i was ok and apologized. all of these happened when i was going with the flow in center of my own lane. i make it a rule to never lane split when i have a pillion.

[CookMySock]

Good shit mate. Fucken well done. Cagers will stop their threatening behaviour around newbie L-Platers, or pay the price.

Steve

[Beemer]

To often the *555 is hopeless,by that you call say I'm following but need to leave at such and such exit,they say well if you don't see an officer come in and report it,most of us will say stuff it.

Too true - apparently more than one person rang police about the driving of that armed guy who ended up leading the police a merry dance near Norsewood over the past few days. First call was at 1.15pm near Te Horo, second call at 3.20pm north of Dannevirke - and it was the second call that resulted in police stopping the car 25 minutes later.

I rang *555 about an idiot in a late model BMW who was overtaking in peak hour traffic (about 4pm) on double yellow lines and in the path of oncoming vehicles between Te Horo and Paraparaumu. Was still waiting to be connected 20 minutes later (we could see him ahead, he only got about 10 cars ahead of us) when he turned off into Paraparaumu so I got the other half to drive to the police station and I hung up and reported it in person. The cop got quite excited when he checked the rego, saying there was a warrant out for the guy's arrest - but then clammed up quickly, saying he shouldn't have told me that. We both said we were prepared to go to court and be witnesses and he took our details down. Three weeks later I get the standard "thanks, and we've slapped him on the wrist with a wet bus ticket" letter so I rarely bother now as it costs per call, I usually take down the rego and report them online now.

[light]

Semi related.

I dialed *555 one time. Was around 2am on the shore. Was coming down to a set of lights on greville road from East coast bays following a car.

The car decided to not stop at the lights going right onto greville through a red. Well I thought this was a little strange but hey 2am no cars around who cares. I waited for the red then speed up quickly to follow this car some more. Next set of lights again no hesitation, straight through a red with a little weaving back and forwards from one lane to the next.

By now I am a little worried as he was going over the speed limit... I think possibly drunk perhaps.

Called *555 as a precaution, advised the operator of the erratic behaviour and if they could get a squad car to check out if this guy was drink driving or not.

They advised all cars were busy so I asked if they wanted me to follow them. Did so pointing out they were weaving in a out of their lane... went through 2 or 3 more red lights. I was rather concerned at this stage. Eventually the lady said there was a car on he way... 5 minutes later not one, or two but four cars should up with lights going. Obviously they weren't as busy as they said.

Driver got done for DUI. I was pleased but shocked at how long it took for the cops to get there. Just another semi props to the *555 people.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Greville+Rd&daddr=-36.738575,174.716134+to:Rosedale+Rd+to:Rothwell+Av e+to:Albany+Hwy+to:Upper+Harbour+Dr&hl=en&geocode=FcaUz_0dzCNqCg%3B%3BFVddz_0d1OdpCg%3BFaQ5z _0d5rRpCg%3BFZ4rz_0dArJpCg%3BFeXQzv0djIVpCg&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=15&via=1,2,3,4&sll=-36.741154,174.715147&sspn=0.019327,0.027595&num=10&ie=UTF8&ll=-36.755665,174.709396&spn=0.077294,0.175781&z=13

[Patrick]

I've used the *555 a fair bit and had a response EVERY time.

About 8 drunk drivers and a couple of dangerous driver lock ups resulted too...

Some sober but tired drivers too, passing the breath test but getting a good wake up call because their driving was so bad I thought they were pissed....

Oh well...... Shame it "rarely" works......

100% strike rate so far.....

[JimO]

I've used the *555 a fair bit and had a response EVERY time.

About 8 drunk drivers and a couple of dangerous driver lock ups resulted too...

Some sober but tired drivers too, passing the breath test but getting a good wake up call because their driving was so bad I thought they were pissed....

Oh well...... Shame it "rarely" works......

100% strike rate so far.....

you must know the secret password

[Patrick]

you must know the secret password

Nah... Just give em me name.... Works in areas I don't even work in...

[TOTO]

Good on ya StoneY, and well done to the Mr. Policeman for doing his job well :)

[NDORFN]

Nah... Just give em me name.... Works in areas I don't even work in...

Next time I dial *555 I'm to going to say "Hi this is Patrick..."

[oldrider]

Next time I dial *555 I'm to going to say "Hi this is Patrick..."

What's the average penalty for impersonating a police officer these days? :Oops:

Funny isn't it, Helen Clark impersonated a Prime Minister for nine years and got away with it! :sick:

[Ender EnZed]

Funny isn't it, Helen Clark impersonated a Prime Minister for nine years and got away with it! :sick:

So we didn't have a PM for nine years? It worked fairly well didn't it?

[StoneY]

Indeed, and my rant isn't directed at Stoney in any way. Nice job.

Cheers Jim
Comin on a RR ride soon bro?
:scooter:

[Katman]

It's funny that people feel a need to "take revenge on lane splitters". Lane splitters do not affect them in any material way. I can understand a feeling of envy looking at bike riders carve through traffic while you are stalled in a cage, but a need for revenge? I don't think so, not unless you are some kind of nutter who should not be driving in the first place.



I wonder how many are just simply pissed off that they've lost a wing mirror in the past through no fault of their own.

[varminter]

This just seems to confirm my suspicion that all Subaru drivers are nutters...unless they also ride bikes.

[howdamnhard]

Well done.

[st00ji]

yeah good shit,

im sure you said nice things already. but if you see the officer in question again be sure to pass on the pleasure expressed by all the other bikers!

[Ms Piggy]

There IS justice in this world after all
Turns out he (mr Plod Senior) delayed a high end meeting with his boss to make this traffic stop and he too is a biker
:rockon:

Good work!

Having been a nervous Learner rider I know being round ignorant car drivers is terrifying!

[surfchick]

this is my favourite read for the day! whohoho
the li'll dude wins - :rockon:

[StoneY]

Ok folks update-

Richard Chambers, Inspector, Regional Commander Hutt Area, has rang me, again in person

He had a 30 minute talk with the young lady at roadside, and left the talk with every intention to prosecute harshly

Prosecutors reply to our beloved area commander is that without the acrtual victim in person to back up my witness statement, cant charge :(

He wants to but needs more
He says she was not sorry, denied even being on that road or seeing a bike....end 30m mins later with full confession that yes saw bike but disputes the facts I present

Ok

At LunchtimE TodaY! MIRACLE
I see what I am sure is the cb250rs (Black late 80's) with the wonky L plate on its rear, at the bike stand!!!! :shit:

I wrote a note, and taped it to the tank asking this rider if they were the rider yesterday morning, etc blah blah...giving details for contact

Cross our collective fingers this was the same bike I saw abused......god is on our side this time in person, (cheers Inspector Chambers)
:2thumbsup

[Cynos]

I get frustrated with the idea that one successful *555 bust means that they all work. The vast majority achieve nothing, simply because people won't follow up. Unlike Stoney. Most people would have quietly got in their car and buggered off if asked to present in court.

Which is why the vast majority achieve nothing - can't get a prosecution with no witnesses. My Mum used to take the *555 calls, and people seemed to be confused when she told them that their phone call wouldn't be sufficient evidence for a prosecution. I understand why no-one fronts up as a witness, it's hard to get time off and all, but yeah. People need to know that without a witness in court, the best the police can do is a sternly worded letter.

Stoney, good luck and good stuff. _b

[caseye]

Go STONEY! I really hope that rider replies.On ya mate.

[discotex]

and taxi drivers cruising at 70 km/hr with no lane discipline (always aim for the slow moving lane - the meter isn't related to time travelled - tui)

I have had the fortune of catching many taxis as a result of my travel to Wellington for work a lot this year and I can tell you time in the cab means nothing. The only time my fare varies significantly is when we get stuck in super slow peak hour traffic - the wait time fee only kicks in at <10km/h I think. Fair enough tho.. Idling still costs money.

Motorways at 70km/h doesn't help them in any way.. Adding a few km and red lights on the other hand....