Question

[Lou Girardin]

How can you have your bike written off the road for having a licence plate partially obscured?
The letters were all clearly visible, just the border was hidden.
Then when he queried it, 'back up' was called and 4 other cops threatened him with arrest if he didn't comply and have the bike removed.

[yungatart]

You are taking the wrong colour again, mate. It's the blue ones!

[Patrick]

I was under impression it can only be written off the road if it has serious defects which can he hazardous/dangerous (ie: uncertified lowered suspension, severe body rust, cords showing in worn out tyres etc...) - obscured plate is not a "serious" defect but you can get a $200 ticket for an obscured plate. Must be more to this story...

[Sniper]

Easy, same rule making as my tinted visor fine.

[Finn]

I'm with Patrick on this one. Must be more to the story. Maybe the guy was known to Police for something else and they decided to give him a hard time. To call for back up (4 of them) the guy must have been acting odd or looked like he was going to explode.

[outlawtorn]

sounds a bit fucking dodgy Lou, the cops probably had it in for this poor biker, I'd like to hear what the cops on this site can tell us about this?

[Colapop]

How can you have your bike written off the road for having a licence plate partially obscured?
The letters were all clearly visible, just the border was hidden.
Then when he queried it, 'back up' was called and 4 other cops threatened him with arrest if he didn't comply and have the bike removed.
Seems like there's more to this situation than meets the eye? For the :Police: to call for back-up the officer would have had to feel threatened. Of course it could have been because the Blueys have been having a bad time of late and he was a little nervous, I mean bikers are all bad 'uns aren't we?
Are we talking pink stickered type written off the road or forbidden to ride?

[HenryDorsetCase]

by the side of the road isnt the place to fight that stuff. Use the system, Police Complaints Authority, written complaints to the Minister of Pleece, send it to the media, basically make their lives a living hell.

I am starting to carry a digital camera with me (for snapshots) but it strikes me it would be useful in the situation: take photos of the pleece, the plate, everything.

[riffer]

More information please Lou.

Something doesn't sound right.

[Slingshot]

Easy, same rule making as my tinted visor fine.


What...you got a fine for having a tinted visor?

[Lou Girardin]

That's all the info I have. The guy has tats, but isn't big or threatening. His bike is new and worth over $70,000, which would make one reluctant to leave it at the roadside. He said that when he disputed the cops right to red sticker it, the cop called for back up and he was then intimidated by the others that arrived.
I suggested he has his lawyers number on speed dial in future.

[Str8 Jacket]

That's all the info I have. The guy has tats, but isn't big or threatening. His bike is new and worth over $70,000, which would make one reluctant to leave it at the roadside. He said that when he disputed the cops right to red sticker it, the cop called for back up and he was then intimidated by the others that arrived.


Did they just take the bike or was he placed uner "arrest" as well?...

[pritch]

I suggested he has his lawyers number on speed dial in future.

And the Police Complaints Authority number 0800 503 728

[Finn]

That's all the info I have. The guy has tats, but isn't big or threatening. His bike is new and worth over $70,000, which would make one reluctant to leave it at the roadside. He said that when he disputed the cops right to red sticker it, the cop called for back up and he was then intimidated by the others that arrived.
I suggested he has his lawyers number on speed dial in future.

Perhaps they were jelous of his bike? I was pulled over just before xmas for being creative on my way home through auckland shitty. Just a wee little u-turn with no traffic to avoid the abortion that transit and the council have created. The cop said 3 or 4 times "you drive a really nice car" and then rambled through the process. 3 days earlier my father had passed away so I couldn't be bothered asking him WTF has that got to do with it?

Little rant...

[nadroj]

Digital camera photo's are not admissable in a court of law presumably because of the ease at which they can be doctored. Carry a disposable camera if you intend recording evidence.

[inlinefour]

Huh???? all we use is digital..who told you that?

At a serious head on, bike versus car. Nadroj was advised that digital pictures could not be used as evidence in court.:crazy:

[riffer]

Well thats Jimbo600 out of a job then ...

[Deano]

by the side of the road isnt the place to fight that stuff. Use the system, Police Complaints Authority, written complaints to the Minister of Pleece, send it to the media, basically make their lives a living hell.

I am starting to carry a digital camera with me (for snapshots) but it strikes me it would be useful in the situation: take photos of the pleece, the plate, everything.

You should be able to politely ask for the rule you have supposedly broken to be explained, and offer your explanation without fear of being bullied. If you can talk your way out of a ticket on the side of the road then that has to be a better option than the rigmarole of the "system".

These phone camera's are great aren't they ? Awesome evidence (not necessarily court standards) - they will make for many more "caught on tape" type tv shows.

[Lou Girardin]

I doubt a PCA would do much. It sounds a bit weird of a story though..it just doesnt make sense.

Red sticker?? do you mean pink sticker?

Pink, red it's all lower end of the spectrum to me.

[Gremlin]

The letters were all clearly visible, just the border was hidden.
The bike I'm getting has had the plate chopped to just around the letters. Spoke to Chris from Mt Eden to double check it, said there wasn't a problem.

Surely if his setup has passed wof, there shouldn't be a problem?? Thats where it would be picked up... :eek5:

[spudchucka]

Huh???? all we use is digital..who told you that?
If the authenticity of the digital photos was challenged then they wouldn't be allowed. If the defence has no problem with them then there is no problem with admissability. Your police photographers will most likely use film and digital. The digital photos are usually just for the file (working copies) and the film is the evidential record.

[spudchucka]

The bike I'm getting has had the plate chopped to just around the letters. Spoke to Chris from Mt Eden to double check it, said there wasn't a problem.

Surely if his setup has passed wof, there shouldn't be a problem?? Thats where it would be picked up... :eek5:
Those chopped plates are fine but the little skinny ones that rally cars use are a no no. You must display the plate issued by LTNZ, no home made ones allowed.

A dodgy plate is no reason to write a vehicle off the road though, there would have to a serious WOF related issue (green sticker) or the vehicle was just plain unsafe for some reason (pink sticker).

I would be interested in hearing the full story though Lou.

[boomer]

If the authenticity of the digital photos was challenged then they wouldn't be allowed. If the defence has no problem with them then there is no problem with admissability. Your police photographers will most likely use film and digital. The digital photos are usually just for the file (working copies) and the film is the evidential record.

no matter what they use i'm sure it'll get 'misplaced' before it gets to court :sherlock: if it so suits

[Lou Girardin]

To be honest the whole story sounds a bit wobbly. You can get a ticket for having your plate not visible but a pink sticker is for an illegal modification more akin to boy racers. Green stickers are for defective vehicles...i have heard of a green sticker on a bike but never a pink...most cops wouldnt know what was legal on a bike and what wasnt.

There must be more to this story, is the guy not telling you something he did to the bike or when he got pulled over?

The last thing, we cant actually sieze the vehicle on a pink sticker or green sticker...you have to commit a certain offence to get it taken. You are also permitted to ride home...so he wouldnt have to leave his 70k bike on the roadside.

Have you got any more detail Lou?


The bike has no safety issues. We built it. It was a pink/red sticker and it was the third time in a short period he'd been pinged for a non-standard plate.
I know it sounds funny, but that's all I know.
Maybe the cops were using the Fish and Chip Act to deal with someone who wasn't subservient enough.