Nearly lost my license...

[bigbadwolf]

Yesterday I was going for a nice relaxing cruise, when some wanker in a ute comes right up behind me. So, being in a somewhat contemplative mood, I slowed down to let him pass. But, the wanker stayed right behind me about 1 metre from my rear wheel and didn't make any attempt to pass even when I pulled over and signaled for him to go.

Getting sick of this and fearing for my safety a wee bit, I accelerated from 100 up to about 120 to lose him, when next thing you know? A policeman appears from around the bend and immediately turned his lights on. Fuck!

I was clocked at 126 on a learner license on a 400cc bike so was kinda shitting myself... he was pretty lenient on me which was ok, but then he decided to have a wee temper tantrum at me as if I had just shot and killed Helen Clark.

"What the fuck do you think you were doing at that sort of speed on a learner license? You're restricted to 80km/h!" (Shows how well he knows the law...)

I then explained the situation about the wanker behind me.

"You fucking maniac. Do you know how dangerous speeding is? If I book you on your learner license I could arrest you immediately since you're technically going 56km/h over the speed limit. Who the fuck do you think you are?"

Just stood in silence with my head down...

"And to top it off you're riding a bike that's too big for your license. You're going to ride that back to where you're staying and then you're going to call me so I can speak to a responsible adult to confirm that your bike has been garaged. Then you can damn well pay to have it transported back to wherever the hell you're from."

Ok... thats the point where I started to think "maybe this guy is having a wee wank over his powertrip?" Anything that happens after he leaves me alone is not really anything to do with him right?

So, not wanting to piss him off, I gave him a call that night, expecting for the number he gave me to be that of a police station he was at. But the conversation went like this:

"Hello?" (sounded like a 10 year old girl)

Me (thinking I must have called the right place, since he wrote down his number pretty clearly): "Um, hey, I got a speeding ticket today and I was supposed to call the guy who gave it to me to confirm something?"

"What?" (definitely was a 10 year old girl)

"Um... is this a police station?"

"No..."

"Is you're dad a cop?"

"Yeah..."

"Sorry to bother you. Goodbye."

OH MY GOD the wanker gave me his home phone number. What a fucking tosser. I sincerely hope that our resident policemen are in no way like that guy.


Although on the upside, I got my knee down for the first time coming home from that... makes ya feel good :)

[slimyxylofone]

lol, naughty naughty.

Where abouts did you get pulled over?

Are you up watching moto GP too?

[sAsLEX]

lol once a cop made me give my home number and go directly home, got Mum to answer the phone and boy was she not impressed at 3 in the morning (at the cop mainly), neither was he the next day when she went in and bollocked him and then his boss.

[stanko]

Jeez man ,sometimes the elevator dosent quite make it to the top floor.

Chances are your post is hanging on the notice board at the Dunedin police station.

The guy lets you off, conditional to you doing 2 simple things, which you didnt do. Then you slag him off in a very public forum,

If I were him I would post your ticket today, and send a towtruck round to pick up your bike.

[Insanity_rules]

Did the copper not see your tailgater? There are some good ones out there. I got monstered by a tard in an import boy wanker car while I was riding through Lower Hutt not long ago and the local constabulary were very helpful.

I can honestly say I did nothing to anger this mensa candidate other than ride at 50Ks with a learner plate stuck to my rump. Made me really not want to keep the L on my bike I can tell you. Local blue even turned a blind eye to the fact I took off the boys wing mirror. They told him that the only thing that was witnessed was him tailgating, revving and acting like a complete brain surgeon behind me, not the alleged act of me raising a boot to his car.

[jonbuoy]

I'd say you got off lightly - you could have lost your licence and you got a ticking off...... Thread should read - "nice cop let me off with a bollocking".

[snuffles]

I'd say you got off lightly - you could have lost your licence and you got a ticking off...... Thread should read - "nice cop let me off with a bollocking".


sorry gotta agree with this one. Its one thing to be caught on a learner license with no L Plate, but on a 400 doing 120......... just think yourself lucky, and if the guy is too close, pull right off the road and stop. hes either gonna pass you or pull up behind you. I think another Darwin awrd might be comming soon.

[Finn]

then he decided to have a wee temper tantrum at me as if I had just shot and killed Helen Clark.


Being a cop, if you had in fact shot and killed Hulen Clark, then he would have been quite pleased and just let you go with a "have a nice day".

[bigbadwolf]

Being a cop, if you had in fact shot and killed Hulen Clark, then he would have been quite pleased and just let you go with a "have a nice day".


Lol maybe I should look into that some time...


The guy lets you off, conditional to you doing 2 simple things, which you didnt do. Then you slag him off in a very public forum

I'm not complaining one bit about being let off. And I have done one of those simple things, he told me to call him so I called him - but is it not weird that he gave me his home phone number? And do cops care so much about people speeding that every time someone does it they give them an absolute bollocking?

[jonbuoy]

Yeah I guess he takes his job to heart, pretty good of him. I'd rather have a truncheon in the stomach than loose my licence....bring back the clip round the ear!!

[scumdog]

Lol maybe I should look into that some time...



I'm not complaining one bit about being let off. And I have done one of those simple things, he told me to call him so I called him - but is it not weird that he gave me his home phone number? And do cops care so much about people speeding that every time someone does it they give them an absolute bollocking?

So you don't like a bollocking?
Would you have been happier with the $$$$$$ worth of tickets and demerits instead??:wait:

Or how WOULD you think the situation be best handled??

[Ixion]

Lol maybe I should look into that some time...



I'm not complaining one bit about being let off. And I have done one of those simple things, he told me to call him so I called him - but is it not weird that he gave me his home phone number? And do cops care so much about people speeding that every time someone does it they give them an absolute bollocking?
I'd say you had the very good fortune to encounter an old style cop. Sounds very like what one of the MoT snakes that were around when I was young would have done.

No, I doubt he cares so much about speeding that every time someone does it he gives them an absolute bollocking.

But maybe he cares enough about young fellows (I'd guess he was an older guy) to want to keep them alive. And figures that a good bollocking might just help with that.

Think about it. Here you are , speeding, on a bike that as far as he knows you are not competant to ride (I'm not not passing any judgement on your riding capability. I don't know it, nor did he. But he DID know you were on a learners, and therefore very probbaly pretty inexperienced), putting up an excuse that just makes things worse. Breaking heaven only knows how many conditions of your licence.

He could have done you for over a thousand bucks, and you could have been walking home.

Instead he bent over backwards to give you an easy break, whilst still reading the riot act in the hope that it would help keep you alive.

I'd say that is one of the best examples of a cop using discretion I've heard of in a long time.

And I suspect he gave you his home phone number to stop your case coming to the attention of other cops - who might not be so lenient.

If I were you I'd make damn sure I did EXACTLY what he told me, AND got in touch with him as he instructed you. He told you to call him and arrange for him to "speak to a responsible adult to confirm that your bike has been garaged". Not just call his number , and then say "OK I've done it". He wants to speak to an adult, and he wants that bike in the gargre. I'd strongly suggest you do it.

He's gone way beyond what he needs to do to give you a break. Don't let him (and the rest of the biking community) down.

Remember, he can STILL give you a ticket. Lots of tickets in fact. And get in touch with your parents and read them the riot act. And pass the word around so that if ANY cop sees you riding that bike, or any bike without an L plate, they'll be right down on you.

[scumdog]

And I suspect he gave you his home phone number to stop your case coming to the attention of other cops - who might not be so lenient.



I would guess so too, - and now you've kind of ruined that by plastering it all over the internet......

[Ixion]

Mate, that one's been common knowledge for over 40 years ! Local snake's wife used to know all us young kids by name when I was young, from us calling round to show her hubby that we'd done whatever it was he told us to, and collect the bollocking due to us. Dunno how many young lives that snake saved, but I'll bet it was a good few over the years.

[Patrick]

[QUOTE=bigbadwolf]I was clocked at 126 on a learner license on a 400cc bike so was kinda shitting myself... he was pretty lenient on me which was ok, but then he decided to have a wee temper tantrum at me as if I had just shot and killed Helen Clark.

PERHAPS HE WISHED YOU HAD...

"What the fuck do you think you were doing at that sort of speed on a learner license? You're restricted to 80km/h!" (Shows how well he knows the law...)

DEFINITELY NOT A SNAKE... THEY WROTE THE RULES...

I then explained the situation about the wanker behind me.

"You fucking maniac. Do you know how dangerous speeding is? If I book you on your learner license I could arrest you immediately since you're technically going 56km/h over the speed limit. Who the fuck do you think you are?"

YOU GOT 3 FUCKS... LUCKY? UNPROFESSIONAL THO...

WOULDN'T LOSE LICENCE FOR THAT... THE SPEED LIMIT IS 100 (UNLESS YOU WERE IN A 70 ZONE - REGARDLESS OF THE RESTRICTIONS ON A L PLATE. ARREST? INVITE IT... EARN $$$ FOR FALSE/WRONGFUL ARREST!))

ETC ETC

OH MY GOD the wanker gave me his home phone number. What a fucking tosser. I sincerely hope that our resident policemen are in no way like that guy.

YOU GAVE HIM YOUR NUMBER...DOES THAT MAKE YOU ONE?

SOUNDS MORE LIKE YOU WERE LUCKY. COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE THAN A TELLING OFF...:drinkup: :drinkup:

[SwanTiger]

OH MY GOD the wanker gave me his home phone number. What a fucking tosser. I sincerely hope that our resident policemen are in no way like that guy.


I wouldn't bother posting in this thread if it wasn't for those comments. The cop obviously wasn't a tosser, instead of hammering you with exspensive tickets, you were given an old fashion bollocking.

Being a smart arse it obviously didn't work and maybe the tickets that you would of got mummy and daddy to pay for would of been more effective?

From what you described he is a good cop.

Nothing was stopping you from pulling over to the side of the road and hitting the kill switch for your engine to let the guy in the ute pass. As others have mentioned.

You should call him back again and THANK him.

[bigbadwolf]

If I were you I'd make damn sure I did EXACTLY what he told me, AND got in touch with him as he instructed you. He told you to call him and arrange for him to "speak to a responsible adult to confirm that your bike has been garaged". Not just call his number , and then say "OK I've done it". He wants to speak to an adult, and he wants that bike in the gargre. I'd strongly suggest you do it.

He's gone way beyond what he needs to do to give you a break. Don't let him (and the rest of the biking community) down.

Remember, he can STILL give you a ticket. Lots of tickets in fact. And get in touch with your parents and read them the riot act. And pass the word around so that if ANY cop sees you riding that bike, or any bike without an L plate, they'll be right down on you.

Bike has been garaged. I don't really know what I'll do with it now. I really love that bike but I guess I'm pretty screwed if I keep it. Shite.

How long do demerit points last for?

[Patrick]

Bike has been garaged. I don't really know what I'll do with it now. I really love that bike but I guess I'm pretty screwed if I keep it. Shite.

How long do demerit points last for?


Ummm... get a full licence?

Demerits last 2 years...

[Ixion]

,,,
How long do demerit points last for?

Two years.

[The Pastor]

ROFL (just had to say)


2 years, or if you get over 100 they get reset to 0 instantly.

[cruxis]

Can you post the cops PH number.

[Ixion]

Um. Just a zany thought, given the aprt of the country you
re in. This cop, he wasn't an ugly-as-sin dude with freaky mustachios , was he?

[scumdog]

Um. Just a zany thought, given the aprt of the country you
re in. This cop, he wasn't an ugly-as-sin dude with freaky mustachios , was he?

Hey, hey! Easy!
I would have dealt with the matter better than that - BUT he would have got a bollocking all the same. - "who the hell do you think you are is breaking every know 'L' restriction and then trying to talk your way into every ticket I can write" etc etc.

And my moustache is not 'freaky', it is way cool man!

The 'ugly' I will accept!

[crazybigal]

Just a few things that are bugging me about this wole licencing system

who thinks the 70km rule on a l plate is a stupid idea?
what happens on the motorway or open road and you have cars up your bum, getting angry and passing you in dumb ass places!

I found the L plate only make drivers bully you

And the rule about riding on the left!
1, thats were all the grit sits on the road!
2 car doors need i say more!
3 it give dumb ass drivers the idea they can pass you on an urban street even if your doing 50km+

Bus lanes!
some cops dont know the rules yet! get with the program!

And the riding after 10pm? whats up with that?
my brother is nearly 50 and hes on his restricted and he can drive his car on his full anytime but a grown man(old man) cant ride his bike cos the nanna state we live it wont let him.

Its ok for somone on a L plate to drive a 500Hp super car but its not ok for somone to ride a 40hp 400cc bike or alike.

yes i know its not a good idea for a novice to ride a zxr250 or a stonking 2 strok 250 at a million mile per hour and so many do and wind up dead!
maybe more education and rider training in the system rather than just time between L, restricted and full.
The CBTA (ACC LTSA) new course was a great idea! a bit expensive though.
Just think of the hospital bills the state and ACC could save if they only invested more into rider training. Im sure it would be cheaper in the long run!.

I cant help think the govt does not want bikes on our roads? one would think more people riding to work rather than driving their ford explorers to the city would be a good idea? but hey that would be comnon sense and thats not alowed in this country!!
well thats my 2 cents, whats yours?


Just who made these laws?

Id love to know what or resident cops think?

[scumdog]

Just a few things that are bugging me about this wole licencing system

I found the L plate only make drivers bully you

And the rule about riding on the left!
1, thats were all the grit sits on the road!
2 car doors need i say more!
3 it give dumb ass drivers the idea they can pass you on an urban street even if your doing 50km+

Bus lanes!
some cops dont know the rules yet! get with the program!

And the riding after 10pm? whats up with that?
Its ok for somone on a L plate to drive a 500Hp super car but its not ok for somone to ride a 40hp 400cc bike or alike.

Just who made these laws?

Id love to know what or resident cops think?

They were made by people who had to cope with the fact that at the bottom end of the scale there would be slack-jawed cretins who wanted to ride - i.e. the lowest common denominator, they would not cope if the learner section was any less restricted..
The rest of us suffer for the dumb arse slack-jawed cretins that had to be thought of (and consequently unfortunately survive and breed)
Just do it and get over it, your "L" doesn't last for ever, does it? does it?

Imagine if they used Rossi as the lowest common denominator:gob:

[Ixion]

Valid grumbles (and BRONZ is going to take up the argument about the 70kph - to start with).

But not really the point.

Like 'em or not, they are the law. OP was breaking the law. Nice cop elected to stick his neck out and use some discretion - give the OP a chance to sort it out without costing big time. Didn't have to. his job is to enforce the law. As it stands. Could have done that. Ticket, ticket , ticket, and here's another ticket. Leave the bike at the roadside, you don't have a valid licence to ride it, start walking.

When a cop is willing to give you a chance like that, you play along. Do what he says, be nice, grovel, lick boots. He doesn't *have* to give you a break. His boss would probably not approve . If he does, thank your lucky stars you got a good one and do your bit.

Different story , to be sure, if you run into Officer Cunt.

But that's all the more reason not to piss off the good ones. Cos if you do, he's going to regret using his discretion. And that comes back against all bikers. "Tried giving those bikers a bit of a chance, and they abused it. So now, I'll play it by the (ticket) book, bugger 'em".

[crazybigal]

problem is most of those slack jaws you refer to dont even have licences!

[Aaron]

Honestly mate, you got a bloody good deal there.

Re the phoning him at home, that's a big leap of faith on his part, (primarily in your character, which must be a compliment), to give out his home number.

Most police I know are not listed for the simple fact that they get hassled less that way.

So here is this guy, who's given you his families phone number, asking you to ring him. (I can't think why, but that does ring true with being pretty 'old school'). This also supports the fact that he was being REALLY lenient and bypassing the paper work for your benefit, while taking a risk himself.

I'd ring him again tonight and say you tried the other evening but spoke to his daughter. Apologise for your actions leave it at that. He'll appreciate your honesty and effort to follow through with his directions.

How many cops are there in Dunedin? Odds are you'll probably see him again some time...

[imdying]

So here is this guy, who's given you his families phone number, asking you to ring him. (I can't think why, but that does ring true with being pretty 'old school'). This also supports the fact that he was being REALLY lenient and bypassing the paper work for your benefit, while taking a risk himself.

I'd ring him again tonight and say you tried the other evening but spoke to his daughter. Apologise for your actions leave it at that. He'll appreciate your honesty and effort to follow through with his directions.

How many cops are there in Dunedin? Odds are you'll probably see him again some time...Agreed, agreed, and agreed.

[mdb]

Did the copper not see your tailgater? There are some good ones out there. I got monstered by a tard in an import boy wanker car while I was riding through Lower Hutt not long ago and the local constabulary were very helpful.

I can honestly say I did nothing to anger this mensa candidate other than ride at 50Ks with a learner plate stuck to my rump. Made me really not want to keep the L on my bike I can tell you. Local blue even turned a blind eye to the fact I took off the boys wing mirror. They told him that the only thing that was witnessed was him tailgating, revving and acting like a complete brain surgeon behind me, not the alleged act of me raising a boot to his car.

I LOVE IT ... What a guy ... I might start riding slowly around the Hutt to see what happens.

[Brett]

I have to agree. Never is nice when the old 5/0 get your for something. But don't forget that he could he have nailed you IF he had wanted to, and that would have been well over a grand, and possibly even your licence gone.

Dunedin IS a small place, and it would pay to respect the cop and not throw mud on a public forum. Besides, i too would rather get smacked in the head with a riot stick and then read the riot act than ever get a fine! Pain is better than lost motorcycle enhancement cash.

Give him a call, dont say sorry for speeding, it is a little bit geekish, but definitely say thanks for being let off that lightly, cause you were!

250cc rating sucks, i have been stuck on it for a year now, cant wait till i get a 600cc, but for the mean time, it sometimes pays to stay within the law!

One thing which does piss me off, is that oneday when my need for speed has calmed a bit and i have made my bling via trading and business, i am keeping a very open mind to becoming a cop...mainly to try and help out those less fortuanate in our communities. If i am busted at a reasonable speed, or loose my licence for whatever reason, that means that i can't ever join the cops.
What tree monkey thought of that as a recruitment requirement?????? Does a loss of licence due to speed equate to a dodgy personality or sumthin these days???

[bigbadwolf]

ROFL (just had to say)


2 years, or if you get over 100 they get reset to 0 instantly.

Shit that might be an easier option... lol


Can you post the cops PH number.

Ummm no don't think I'll be doing that... can I ask why?

[_intense_]

WOW, Twisted, imo that kind of conduct from a uniformed officer (let alone anyone else) sounds a bit sus, sure he was in the right to tell you off, but from the way you relate it thats gotta be misconduct? abusive language like that? consider yourself lucky i guess, coulda been worse.

Thoughts from members of the force who read this? sure everyone has bad days but is this kind of dressing down acceptable?

[Jantar]

WOW, Twisted, imo that kind of conduct from a uniformed officer (let alone anyone else) sounds a bit sus, sure he was in the right to tell you off, but from the way you relate it thats gotta be misconduct? abusive language like that? consider yourself lucky i guess, coulda been worse.

Thoughts from members of the force who read this? sure everyone has bad days but is this kind of dressing down acceptable?

I would much rather endure a dressing down in this manner and be let off the more expensive fines that could have accumulated and the automatic 28 day suspension for 56 kmh over the limit. BigBadWolf will remember this for quite some time.

[scumdog]

WOW, Twisted, imo that kind of conduct from a uniformed officer (let alone anyone else) sounds a bit sus, sure he was in the right to tell you off, but from the way you relate it thats gotta be misconduct? abusive language like that? consider yourself lucky i guess, coulda been worse.

Thoughts from members of the force who read this? sure everyone has bad days but is this kind of dressing down acceptable?


Quite right, the fine/impounding of vehicle thing is FAR better than getting a bollocking, I bet evrybody agrees eh?
A fistful of tickets beats a mouthful of dressing down any day.


If you believe that then I've got this big bridge thing for sale, REAL handy to Auckland and makes travel in the area very convenient.....

[inlinefour]

Quite right, the fine/impounding of vehicle thing is FAR better than getting a bollocking, I bet evrybody agrees eh?
A fistful of tickets beats a mouthful of dressing down any day.


If you believe that then I've got this big bridge thing for sale, REAL handy to Auckland and makes travel in the area very convenient.....

I'd much rather have a total bollocking than a handfull of tickets, loss of licience, day in court and possibly job hassles with not having a licience. Anyone else who would want all that must be nuts.:nya:

[Sniper]

Bugger dude, but I reckon you got off very lightly. I would go and thank the cop IMO next time you see him.

[_intense_]

(Jantar Scumdog Inlinefour) You're missing the point, who wouldnt be happy about getting of fines/impounding. Hell, i know i'd be breathing a sigh of relief about getting of so lightly, what im suggesting is that the officer in question sounds like he was way out of line in hes conduct. go put your glasses on old timers and read the post again.

[Sniper]

(Jantar Scumdog Inlinefour) You're missing the point, who wouldnt be happy about getting of fines/impounding. Hell, i know i'd be breathing a sigh of relief about getting of so lightly, what im suggesting is that the officer in question sounds like he was way out of line in hes conduct. go put your glasses on old timers and read the post again.

Are you pro femanisim?

[Jantar]

_intense_ , I do believe that it is you who is missing the point.

I'll use generalities here because IMO BigBadWolf did the right thing and accepted the reaming out.

The officer lets a motorcyclist off the more serious charges, and if he then just smiles and sends the rider on his way, then the rider is going to get mixed messages and believe that its OK to exceed the conditions of his licence. By giving a bollicking like this the officer is making it quite clear that its not OK.

If the motorcyclist really believes that what he did was safer than following the letter of the law he is quite at liberty to request that the officer doesn't deliver a lecture, but just writes out tickets for every offence. The motorcyclist can then defend these tickets in court.


There are many times that I wish our police force could use the same amount of discretion they had 40 years ago. I know that the two occassions in my younger day when I received summary justice on the spot (from a constable's boot placed solidly on my backside) gave me a lot more respect for the officer than any court appearance ever did.