Ever-Controversial Cop Thread

[Korea]

This is going back a little ways but...

After hanging out with some friends in the Brooklyn pub on a Friday night, I left with my girlfriend (in a car -sorry :crybaby: ) and after rounding the first bend got pulled by a member of our finest (pulled-over that is :sweatdrop ).

Said officer must have been out to score some points for the side of justice by watching for drink drivers leaving the pub. Fair enough too, drinkdrivedie and all that but I hadn't been drinking so I was fairly confident when he stopped me for 'just a routine breath test sir'.

After saying my name and address the gauge must have read full zeros so (except for bad breath I guess) I thought I might be able to get on my way... but I'm guessing the sprightly young officer must have been a bit disappointed because he then decided to check WOF and REG - sure, no problem, all fine.
Hmmm...
Officer performed a quick frisk around the outside of the car for broken lights etc. all fine again...
'Will that be all officer?'
Hmmm...
"Got your licence there?"
'Sure, here you are.'
"A-haaa! This is a restricted licence and you are driving with a passenger!"
'Actually, that's a full car licence and restricted motorcycle licence officer.'
A closer inspection revealed this to be true.

Officer off to the patrol car to make some checkups I suppose, outstanding fines?.
I'm left standing around for about 10 minutes, and all this for a 'routine breath test'.

When he finally returned (with a spring in his step I might add) it turned out that while I had been out of the country during the last 2 years in Europe and Asia, my licence had expired... last month... and I had just arrived back in NZ that week.
'Yes, yes, but you are effectively driving on an expired licence and that's a $360 fine I'm afraid'.
It was true, I am the scum of the universe for having the audacity to drive *unknowingly* on an expired licence.

He was good enough to let me know that if I get my licence renewed within the week, I could get the fine overturned, which I did and with evidence of my time overseas the fine was removed. So that was nice.
But I finished by saying "Are you always this thorough?"
'Well, it's my first year on the job...'
!!!

My question is, is it standard practice to go to all these lengths for a 'routine breath test' or was he out to get me no matter what?

Apparently in Amsterdam, the police have to announce the reason for stopping you and outside of that, they can not bust you for anything else. Eg. If they stop you for a breath test and they notice a rubbish bag full of ecstasy tabs in your back seat they can't nab you! Maybe that's a bit overboard, but you get the picture...

[DemonWolf]

hmmm.. seems abit excessive.. its been done to me a couple times.. but then again I've also had some very nice Officiers... I say as long as the person was not obnoxious or belittling.. then take it.. If it happens too many times.. perhaps just write a nice letter to the station manager noting your points of view.. in a calm way.

[SixPackBack]

FUcken pigs. The boy in schhool beaten everyday, unliked by all an now a pig. Pepperspray is needed in that situation

[Sniper]

Darcy, you been into the pepper spray :lol: (PT)

I feel for ya Korea. Not a pleasent thing to happen, but maybe he was feeling all excited and will realise soon that doing that all the time just gets him abused.

[Indoo]

.My question is, is it standard practice to go to all these lengths for a 'routine breath test' or was he out to get me no matter what?...

If he was out to get you surely he would have given you a $400 fine for driving on an expired drivers license, forbidden you from driving until you obtained a current drivers license and made you walk or get at taxi home?

Instead he let you off a $400 fine by giving you compliance and he let you carry on driving, I hope you wrote into complain.


.
But I finished by saying "Are you always this thorough?"
'Well, it's my first year on the job...'
!!!...

And err haven't you just answered your own question?

[Korea]

Instead he let you off a $400 fine by giving you compliance and he let you carry on driving, I hope you wrote into complain.

No, I didn't complain ~ I agree under the circumstances, he was pretty reasonable. Just seemed excessive for a 'routine breath check' is all...

[crazylittleshit]

Sounds like over comp to me..................
Maybe someone has a little pee pee. :crybaby:

[Lou Girardin]

He was new and zealous, either he'll grow out of it or join the HP/STU.

[Zapf]

Apparently in Amsterdam, the police have to announce the reason for stopping you and outside of that, they can not bust you for anything else. Eg. If they stop you for a breath test and they notice a rubbish bag full of ecstasy tabs in your back seat they can't nab you! Maybe that's a bit overboard, but you get the picture...

perhaps he can pull you over again suspecting you have tabs? :bleh: heheh

[Avignon]

Its the job of the police under the directives of the comrade Helens Socialist/Comunist government to raise as much revenue as possible. Saftey and crime prevention arent even on the agenda. While this happens your houses or car/bike is being broken into or taken, prisioners escape from vans, teenage kids steal, graffiti everything in sight and in south auckland kill each other, 14 year old girls get raped in their beds by multiple conviction pedofiles on parole, people get bashed and robbed, some get killed, usually pensioners - your grandmother etc. If you didnt vote national, its your fault that there will be more of the same for the next 3 years. Im off to Aussie, where its sunny every day - drought - bikes are cheaper where a white man can still hold his head high. :spudwave: Forsale 05 Hornet, 95 GSXR, 00IS300Lexus

[curious george]

If you didnt vote national, its your fault that there will be more of the same for the next 3 years.
Oh dear..... short memory? National canned the panda patrol, and made cops do it.
Wonder where our police went? National started them on the way to being fast moving meter maids.


Im off to Aussie, where its sunny every day - drought - bikes are cheaper
Can't argue that really, although it's been pretty good recently...


where a white man can still hold his head high.
Oh dear again.
It probably because the whities hunted the abbos to extinction, 'eh bro?
Indiginous rights? They got plenty of land.... it's all the middle bit, except where we put a prison, or some mine, or other tourist attraction.
Other than that, hey have the lot!

[spudchucka]

My question is, is it standard practice to go to all these lengths for a 'routine breath test' or was he out to get me no matter what?
Sounds like he is just a young cop learning his trade and at least he / she had the guts to say that they were a newbie. Really it just sounds as if he was thorough and professional. If you weren't stopped you probably wouldn't have known about your expired licence and if you had a crash you may have found yourself without insurance.

[inlinefour]

He was new and zealous, either he'll grow out of it or join the HP/STU.

Always wondered about that. :niceone:

[avgas]

'Well, it's my first year on the job...'

Apparently in Amsterdam, the police have to announce the reason for stopping you and outside of that, they can not bust you for anything else.

Get that cop a medal!!! ............. ................. ............wotta cock
Cops genrally do say what they are stopping you for in NZ - however most of the time its BS.
Must have been a slow night for the NOOB.
Its a shame these guys are on the force, cos there are craploads of good cops out there.

[Magua]

I haven't come across a bad one in my travels. I've been pulled over for looking "suspicious", but I was on my way again in a minute. That's about it.

[Ixion]

I haven't come across a bad one in my travels. I've been pulled over for looking "suspicious", but I was on my way again in a minute. That's about it.

Well, you would be, wouldn't you :devil2: (Sorry. Couldn't resist it)

[vtec]

Maybe instead of issuing a fine. He should have issued a warning.

But just reading that I felt violated, they need to take a gentler line with the general public, or else public opinion of the force is going to continue its downward spiral.

[Ixion]

Well, he did sort of. Gave a fine but with a "fix it up in x days and it'll be scrubbed". Called a compliance ticket IIUC . Good idea. Had a few m'self

Like Mr Spudchuka said, new broom, sweeping clean .

[Da Bird]

Maybe instead of issuing a fine. He should have issued a warning.

But just reading that I felt violated, they need to take a gentler line with the general public, or else public opinion of the force is going to continue its downward spiral.

Amazing the number of people who expect warnings, especially the ones who nearly knock me off my work bike. If everyone got a warning, you may as well scrub the traffic side of policing (like I'm sure some would like). Then you would really have something to complain about.

[Indoo]

Im off to Aussie, where its sunny every day - drought - bikes are cheaper where a white man can still hold his head high. :spudwave: Forsale 05 Hornet, 95 GSXR, 00IS300Lexus

Old Robbie really did have a point after all....

[Ixion]

Amazing the number of people who expect warnings, especially the ones who nearly knock me off my work bike. If everyone got a warning, you may as well scrub the traffic side of policing (like I'm sure some would like). Then you would really have something to complain about.

I would like. I'll police 'em, me and my honking big security chain.

[Biff]

Apparently in Amsterdam, the police have to announce the reason for stopping you and outside of that, they can not bust you for anything else.

Not true my friend. The Schengen (European Police Cooperation) agreement allows any police officer, in their own geographical jurisdiction, across Europe to arrest and/or detain any person believed to have be committing an offence or be suspected of planning to commit an offence. And in several countries in Europe, including the UK, they can even slam you away for years without even charging you. Especially if you're from the Middle East, or some parts of Asia....

A couple of weird national police thingies come into play in countries like Spain (and maybe Holland), but the bottom line is that they can hold you for pretty much anything in Europe these days if you even smell guilty. But they may need to call for backup if they wanted to make any formal arrest.

Alledgedly.

[vtec]

Amazing the number of people who expect warnings, especially the ones who nearly knock me off my work bike. If everyone got a warning, you may as well scrub the traffic side of policing (like I'm sure some would like). Then you would really have something to complain about.

Knocking you off your bike is a bit different from being out of the country for 2 years. I agree that if someone nearly knocks you off your bike, by all means throw the book at them. But in this case he could have just done the guy a favour and let him know that it was out of date, and that he should sort it. Especially after giving him such a rigorous going over.

[Korea]

the bottom line is that they can hold you for pretty much anything in Europe these days if you even smell guilty. But they may need to call for backup if they wanted to make any formal arrest.

Alledgedly.
Well, there go a bunch of shiffty plans up in smoke then... :sweatdrop

[Karma]

Can't say I've ever been stopped by a copper over here... guess I've never done anything illegal *ahem*

[VasalineWarrior]

Similar story when I got pulled over last year. Driving home from work, following a mate to a party in my crappy car. We both get pulled over by two cops in the same patrol car, one walks to my mates car (full of drunken yobbos), checks his licence, sweet off you go mate. The second cop walks over to me. Im part maori and was wearing a beanie. Gets me out of the car, breath tested, warrant and rego, licence check owership check, the full kit and caboodle. Looked really disapointed when he couldn't find anything too.

[Lou Girardin]

Amazing the number of people who expect warnings, especially the ones who nearly knock me off my work bike. If everyone got a warning, you may as well scrub the traffic side of policing (like I'm sure some would like). Then you would really have something to complain about.

Well the road toll dropped more between 1990 and 1998 when people were complaining about lack of Police presence on the roads, than it has since.

[Patrick]

Well the road toll dropped more between 1990 and 1998 when people were complaining about lack of Police presence on the roads, than it has since.

The thing is, they were out there...people "couldn't see them" in the old white colour (jeez...like they were motorbikes or something???)...dunno why the toll dropped tho...or did it??? Show me the figures?

But since the population is growing and more people own more cars, not surprising things are on the rise again.

[Lou Girardin]

The thing is, they were out there...people "couldn't see them" in the old white colour (jeez...like they were motorbikes or something???)...dunno why the toll dropped tho...or did it??? Show me the figures?

But since the population is growing and more people own more cars, not surprising things are on the rise again.

There weren't as many doing traffic, no HP. They were catching burglars and other 'real' crims. The our beloved AA started bleating about the lack of traffic cops, the GOVT got a hint of the dosh cameras could produce and voila!
The road toll dropped from around 700 in '90 to 500 in '99. (if memory serves)
The population was growing throughout then too, much of the asian influx started around '93/'94.
But cars were getting safer and roads (especially motorways) were being improved.

[Patrick]

There weren't as many doing traffic, no HP. They were catching burglars and other 'real' crims. The our beloved AA started bleating about the lack of traffic cops, the GOVT got a hint of the dosh cameras could produce and voila!
The road toll dropped from around 700 in '90 to 500 in '99. (if memory serves)
The population was growing throughout then too, much of the asian influx started around '93/'94.
But cars were getting safer and roads (especially motorways) were being improved.

True..,.cheers for that...unfortunately the job description changed somewhat...real crims move around in cars though, so chances of getting picked up seems to have increased but the focus may be more on quotas than sticky beaking around a scumbags cage...

[Silage]

Last time I was stopped for a random breath test I was on the bike. An officer strode over and without me having to even remove my helmet got me to state my name and address - mmmmummble mmumble - and I was on my way with the surprising result that I was not over the limit :doh:

Well I wouldn't be would I. Actually try to keep to a zero alcohol for driving policy.