Gutted...

[Fat Tony]

I signed up to this forum a few weeks ago to find out a bit about what it's like to own and ride a sportsbike in New Zealand, full of dreams that moving over there would be a refreshing change for the better with regards to over zealous policing, inappropriately low speed limits etc.

You've shattered my dreams (still hoping to make the move like - I'll just have to take up extreme ironing or something ay?)

So come on, seriously, how much do you get away with on the roads over there? I mean, you ride sportsbike so you ride them like sportsbikes right? What sort of trouble does it get you in to? Fines, points, bans? How does the penalty system work over there? GATSO cameras everywhere? Mobile units? Is it just around cities and rural roads you get away with what you can? Ohhhhh.. so many questions...

Cheers,
Tony

[Karma]

Fuck all gatsos... mostly roving HP orificers...

As with all things, time and a place.

You'll find areas you can bend the law a little... not that I'd ever do such a thing ;)

[onearmedbandit]

Fines vary from I think $80 to over $500 depending on your speed. If you're in the $500 zone you're no doubt facing a careless or dangerous driving charge, which will no doubt mean you're losing your licence. 6 months minimum for dangerous. Anything 40km/h over any posted limit and you're walking for 28 days immediately. Then you'll probably face a further ban depending if it's considered (which it will be) dangerous.

We have a points system called 'demerit points'. More than 100 in 2yrs means you'll lose your license for at least 3 months. Demerit are given for everything from speeding to other more general traffic offences (but not all). The more serious the infringement, the more demerits you get. If you get a ticket in Janurary 2004 for speeding, and say 35 points and you stay ticket free until December 2006 but receive another in December, the points you got in 2004 stay with you for another 2yrs. Once you've been clean for 2yrs your points get returned to zero.

We have speed cameras over here, but they only work in one direction! :blip: They used to be sign posted, but no longer are. There is also mobile units as well. Police populate the cities pretty heavily, less so the back roads (the best). Don't be stupid in town and on state highways, and you'll be pretty much okay.

But forget all that, keep your wits about you, don'tbe overly stupid, and you can enjoy the great roads over here to your hearts content. And if you decide it's too risky, track days are very common over here and very cheap. Heck, on Tuesdays and Fridays you can pay either $50 for a half day or $80 for a full day to ride around our local track. Can't get much better than that!

While the emphasis is on speeding at the moment, I'm keeping my bike and using it well, and those I know with similar bikes are of the same mindset. Been having shitloads of fun, but been ticket free for 2yrs now. Zero demerit points, now there is a new feeling.

[mynameis]

" onearmedbandit " has pretty much covered everything you'd really need to know. He's either a cop :Police: :gob: or knows too much from his past experiences with so much knowledge :blip: about the system.

In either case, sure you will enjoy it here. Having said that I just racked up $1400 fines and 110 demerit points so licence will be off for 3 months :(

Contemplating if I should still ride in that 3 months or not as I know a few mates who did when theirs were off.

[Karma]

Having said that I just racked up $1400 fines and 110 demerit points so licence will be off for 3 months :(


Bummer...

Well frees up a space for me ;)

[mynameis]

Bummer...

Well frees up a space for me ;)

Bastard ! Lol there goes my STI payout :( sob sob sob .. I am really angry now feel like punching a few cops !! Grr anger management issues man.

Nah it a bit depressing reflecting on stupid things you do on bikes :( 0oh well can't moan too much aye.

[Korea]

I think that I would have lost my licence several times over today if I were in NZ. Damn but I had fun :ride:
I'll have to stick to 125's when I get back or there could be... trouble. :no:
Basically, if you want to ride like a complete nutter with the only repercussions being permanent DEATH, then why not give S.Korea a go?

[mynameis]

I think that I would have lost my licence several times over today if I were in NZ. Damn but I had fun :ride:
I'll have to stick to 125's when I get back or there could be... trouble. :no:
Basically, if you want to ride like a complete nutter with the only repercussions being permanent DEATH, then why not give S.Korea a go?

Grrr .. un yung hoo siyaoo lol...

[Fat Tony]

Thanks gents - doesn't sound that much different to the UK then really, and I've learnt to live with that. Zero points on the licence for the last couple of years (the wife took a few for me, lol) and as you've said there's a time and a place and as long as you respect that you're ok over here generally - I'm often well in to three figures (in mph) but as long as you know the area and where the law hangs out it's not too much of a problem. It's the unmarked cars that are the problem :(

There's only the odd sneaky cop that'll hide behind a bush to get you, the majority seem to abide by the guidelines (a little too rigidly on occasions - no room for consideration of road conditions, time of day etc)

Is insurance optional? And do demerit points and bans effect insurance premiums?

[cowboyz]

A note on the insurance. At the moment it is optional but stilla good idea. There is some talk about making 3rd party compulsary. I got told by my insurance co last week that becuase I am on 90 points my excess has gone from $300 to $1300. I have not had a claim for 9 years now. Just because I have been caught speeding a few times my excess has jumped by $1000. Also they said if I do get another ticket and lose my licence then they will not insure me for 2 years after I get my licence back.

Oh, and yes I am looking at other insurance companies.

[Blackbird]

It's the unmarked cars that are the problem :(

There's only the odd sneaky cop that'll hide behind a bush to get you, the majority seem to abide by the guidelines (a little too rigidly on occasions - no room for consideration of road conditions, time of day etc)

Tony,

Buy yourself a top of the line radar detector when you get here and that will help no end. (You'll find heaps of threads on the subject). If you want to take extreme measures, get yourself a Blinder laser jammer at the same time. Best of all, be careful on the major arterial routes and cut loose on the back roads!

[RiderInBlack]

It's the unmarked cars that are the problem :(Yep agree with that. Have been done by a Cobalt Blue Demante in South Is for doing 115KPM in a 100KPM. Dead straight road no-one but me and him on the road (and he popped out of his hiding place). Discretion seems to be a thing of the past here now, and seems to be more about filling their Quota. Because of this I have since gone to using a radar detector. Back roads are good, but every now and again out of the blue ya might find one hunting them.


Is insurance optional? And do demerit points and bans effect insurance premiums?As Cowboyz said, yes and yes.

[Lou Girardin]

How does a laser jammer work??

They don't, not at all, don't worry your head about them.:innocent:

[Lou Girardin]

From what I gather, you guys get away with much higher speeds on your motorways, but you start from a higher limit any way. Your biker roads seem to be less Policed, whereas our coppers will have blitzes when they hear about ours.
The fast guys rely on magic mirrors over here, law-abiding people like me rely on electronic couter-measures.

[Lou Girardin]

Ok Maverick climb into your f-14 and blast away into the sky...:p

10-4 Goose.

[Blackbird]

Jammers are useless, to generate enough power to jam a Police radar system you would have to tow a battery the size of a small caravan.

How does a laser jammer work??

That's why I said LASER jammer, not radar jammer.... sigh...

[vifferman]

So come on, seriously, how much do you get away with on the roads over there?
Well, given that there are in reality very few traffic oroficers around, it's not actually that hard to get away with not sticking to the letter of the law. F'rinstance: I've had one ticket in the past 30 years, and that was because I *knew* the piece of road I was on was crawling with cops, but exceeded the speed limit anyway, whilst also not being terribly vigilant, because I was tired and cold.
Ooh - and also I thumbed my nose at the BikerGodz by saying (just the day before) "I haven't had a ticket in over 30 years."

[kickingzebra]

Hypothetically speaking, where would one procure one of these blinders?

[bobsmith]

Hypothetically speaking, where would one procure one of these blinders?

You can get them fairly easily from states I think and also sometimes on trademe and perhaps larger radar detector dealers. Fairly easy to get since it is completely legal etc... it should be much more effective on a bike compared to a car because of the ratio of the jammer/frontal area of bike...

[bobsmith]

*Bastard Slap*

That shit doesn't work. If i shoot my laser outside the lense (which is pretty small) its not going to do anything, you would have to turn your whole bike into a giant lense.

If you want your ride to look like a giant pair of sunglasses go for it...

You're right in a way that if you were close enough to the laser that the laser operator could point the thing steady at the parts of the bike other than the lens it would not work but it is suppose to give you warning and reduce the range at which you can be detected. If you're so close to the laser operator that they can hold the laser steady enough without the laser straying onto the lens which should be fairly closely mounted to the headlight, etc you probably deserve to be caught anyway.

Oh and for radar jammers to work I think it's the inverter which would be the size of the caraven not the battery.

[MD]

One correction re; the demerit points system. Once you pay the fine, The points are marked against you from the date of the offence for 24 months. They DO drop off after 24 mths irrespective of any subsequent points you get. You must not get more than 100 within any continuous 24 mth period. If so you lose your licence for 3 mths. If you notch up over 100 pts with 12 months you lose your licence for 6 mths. A lot of people seem to think that you have to go 24 months clean for old points to drop off- wrong. Believe me I've checked this out CAREFULLY. That's why I always sit permanently just under 100 pts. Of course to wipe all points you simply tick over 100, walk a while and start a fresh with a clean slate.
Fat Tony, 3 or 4 average speeding tickets and you are in the poo. I'd say most people ticketed incurr 20 or 35 points a time.
Radar detectors are becoming obsolete as the laser gun seems to be the weapon of choice now. My detector picks laser up but that's the instant you are nabbed anyway. Luck is your best defence or of course some weirdos recommend drive at or under the speed limit, which most dickheads in cars do now.

[XP@]

The big difference we have in NZ are the empty back country roads. You will soon learn the translation between UK & NZ road types:

UK Motorway = NZ mythical big road
UK A road = NZ Motorway
UK B road = NZ State Highway
UK Bridal path = NZ all other roads

All other roads include gravel roads, totally unknown in the UK they are small roads with rocks on them. You can ride as fast as you dare without worry about getting pinged cos the cops havn't found them yet.

I started riding a sprot tourer here then quickly changed to a dual purpose when I realised that they were lots better on the gravel and less likely to get me pinged at 61km/h over the limit again.

There is also the bonus that when you stop at a lookout you can find bike parking, in fact in most cases you could park your motorhome. The numbers speak for themselves:
UK 241,590 sq km 60,609,153 pop = 250 people per km sq
NZ 268,021 sq km 4,076,140 pop = 15 people per km sq

[El Dopa]

Even with all the cops, demerits and what have you, it's still a shit load better over here that it is in the UK. End of.

[Fat Tony]

NZ 268,021 sq km 4,076,140 pop = 15 people per km sq

Bliss - I hate people ;)

Thanks for all the feedback guys. Doesn't sound as bad as the picture I was painting in my head and sounds somewhat more leniant than here in the UK.

For those that don't know, we have a 12 point system with 3 points for minor offences (like my mother-in-law being done for 32mph in a 30mph zone!!!), through to 12 penalty points for one offence if it's deemed severe enough. Anything more than 30mph above the posted limit is likely to see you with an instant ban and a fairly heavy fine. My regular travelling up to 130mph in a very quiet, 60mph limit single carriage way may well end up with prison time if caught.

The law isn't all bad though. If I were to be shitfaced on drugs or booze and stole a car, drove it without insurance, crashed in to several parked vehicles and refused to stop for the cops I'd probably get a slap on the wrist and a week of community service. All's fair in British justice, lol

Christ, I sound like one of those whinging pomms. Shite.

[jimbo600]

Fat Tony

I'm a Pom over here and I can say that sports bike riding is fanfuckin'tastic here in NZ. Awesome roads (esp in the Sth Is) and a few like minded nutters. The sportsbike scene is alot smaller than UK though. The main highways are policed heavily and jonny law WILL NOT give you any leniency for speeding no matter haw small. But they usually stick to the main routes and if we don't piss off locals etc we get away with a fair bit. Mike fuckers out of ourselves and the old bill will respond.

None of that grit/salt bollocks on winter roads here either.

But no MotoGP or WSB either. Get over here mate, you'll think its the bizzo.

[limbimtimwim]

South island is the best for riding your bike. Bliss.

You can ride around for weeks, see a highway patrol maybe every 3rd day.

In Wellington, on the motorway, I have counted 6+ in 30 minutes. And those are just the the ones I saw.

Like Weasel said, time and place :)

[Fat Tony]

I'm a Pom over here and I can say that sports bike riding is fanfuckin'tastic here in NZ. Awesome roads (esp in the Sth Is) and a few like minded nutters.

Just what I wanted to hear :)

Is it fairly cheap to get the ferry between Islands with a bike then?

[jimbo600]

Just what I wanted to hear :)

Is it fairly cheap to get the ferry between Islands with a bike then?

No, cunts charge like a wounded bull!

Actually its not too bad. About $100 (bike + 1 adult) each way.

Gas is 1/3 the price hear too.

No compulsary insurance. But fully comp here is a fraction of what you're used too.

Prostitution is legal here and top class hookers give free service to Pommy sportsbike riders, or so I hear!

Whereabouts are you settling in NZ?

[Fat Tony]

Prostitution is legal here and top class hookers give free service to Pommy sportsbike riders, or so I hear!

Christ it's getting even more appealing by the second, lol.



Whereabouts are you settling in NZ?

To be decided yet mate. I came over a few years back but only got time to look round Auckland and Wellington - enjoyed them both, but not sure that we'd settle in Auckland to be honest - not big on city living and I'm advised house prices are considerably higher for obvious reasons. We'll be looking for somewhere fairly rural I think. My wife and daughter have never been over, so we're planning a visit for early next year to have a nosey round both islands and see what work prospects are like for us (she's a nurse so we're hoping will be able to find work in pretty much any area we like - we'll see though eh?). As for me, I just want to live off her earnings ;) (I wish)

[jimbo600]

Christ it's getting even more appealing by the second, lol.




To be decided yet mate. I came over a few years back but only got time to look round Auckland and Wellington - enjoyed them both, but not sure that we'd settle in Auckland to be honest - not big on city living and I'm advised house prices are considerably higher for obvious reasons. We'll be looking for somewhere fairly rural I think. My wife and daughter have never been over, so we're planning a visit for early next year to have a nosey round both islands and see what work prospects are like for us (she's a nurse so we're hoping will be able to find work in pretty much any area we like - we'll see though eh?). As for me, I just want to live off her earnings ;) (I wish)

I can recommend Napier. Good climate, great roads with plenty of riding options. Plus there are a few mad as a baloon stunters up that way too.

[XP@]

But no MotoGP or WSB either. Get over here mate, you'll think its the bizzo.

Yet... plans for Taupo??? the A1GP is coming.

Where are you planning on coming to in NZ ?? (btw Auckland is the wrong answer)

[marty]

you'll be moving to cambridge then??

[Fat Tony]

Where are you planning on coming to in NZ ?? (btw Auckland is the wrong answer)

Undecided yet mate - it all depends where we can both find work, good schooling for our daughter, good roads for the bike, and no cops lol

Auckland isn't at the top of our list

[98tls]

have a good look at the south island before decideing...great place to live and the roads on the west coast are perfect for sportsbikes...plus you get the great scenery.

[Crisis management]

Just get over here and stop procrastinating, it's better than the UK regardless of where you live; the weathers good, the roads are empty. Ignore Marty, Cambridge here is subtly understated compared to the UK:sick:
If you are worried about fines take up track days and stop pissing about.
Thats enough, back to the cave for me:done:

[Fat Tony]

Just get over here and stop procrastinating //// and stop pissing about.


PMSL. I wish we could upsticks today mate, but my wife (understandably I guess) wants to see the place before we sell the house and everything else over here and make the move, and we can't afford to get over for a nosey round until after Christmas, so no move on the cards realistically for 12-18 months.

98tls, yes we're very tempted by South Island and have rellies (not really... second cousin twice removed by marriage, to my mums siters brothers uncle's dads third daughter's husbands brother best friend or something, lol) down in Dunedin

[davereid]

Plus there are plenty of great back roads, where the posted limit is 100km/hr but they are so twisty and great to ride that you can have a great buzz without having to exceed 100 - tons of fun to be had below the speed limit

[Crisis management]

but my wife (understandably I guess) wants to see the place before we sell the house and everything else over here and make the move,
Quite understandable, my parents came out here in 1958 and spent 40 years agonising over where "home" was, I would not recomend that approach to emmigration.
My advise is.. decide and either do it or not but don't be uncertain, if you are emmigrating become New Zealanders don't try and be Pom's in another land.
If you are in Auckland, PM me and I am sure we can find a room or two for a while. Good luck.

[98tls]

PMSL.

98tls, yes we're very tempted by South Island and have rellies (not really... second cousin twice removed by marriage, to my mums siters brothers uncle's dads third daughter's husbands brother best friend or something, lol) down in Dunedin At risk here of all the Dunedin people jumping up and down but the climate in Dunedin is ahhhh how do i say this...well quite simply it sucks...christchurch and above is a better bet and its closer to the west coast roads....besides the otago rugby team are bullshit....:wari:

[Fat Tony]

My advise is.. decide and either do it or not but don't be uncertain, if you are emmigrating become New Zealanders don't try and be Pom's in another land.

Christ yes, I couldn't agree more. I struggle to understand the mentality of those that move yet make no attempts at all to embrace the culture of the country that they move to. Many do it moving TO the UK, which has seen many areas change beyond recognition. You only have to look at Spain as an example of what large groups of expats who refuse to change their ways/views can do to an area, turning it to a little Britain in the sun with not a Spanish person in sight :nono:


If you are in Auckland, PM me and I am sure we can find a room or two for a while. Good luck.

Cool, that's really kind of you. Thanks for the offer. It's really refreshing to find somebody that doesn't mind putting up a family of pyschopaths ;)

[Fat Tony]

At risk here of all the Dunedin people jumping up and down but the climate in Dunedin is ahhhh how do i say this...well quite simply it sucks...

Hahahaa... noted (thanks)

[98tls]

Cool, that's really kind of you. Thanks for the offer. It's really refreshing to find somebody that doesn't mind putting up a family of pyschopaths ;) Na mate you got it wrong..........hes gay and the only thing he wants to put it up is you.......:shutup: J/K......

[Fat Tony]

Na mate you got it wrong..........hes gay and the only thing he wants to put it up is you.......:shutup: J/K......

:gob:

It's OK, my wife got a beard. She can 'pay the bill' lol

Thanks again for the offer

[terbang]

have a good look at the south island before decideing...great place to live and the roads on the west coast are perfect for sportsbikes...plus you get the great scenery.
You gotta be joking! Its way too cold down there.. Errr hang on, he is a pom...
Auckland is the place to be Tony...:first:

[Fat Tony]

You gotta be joking! Its way too cold down there.. Errr hang on, he is a pom...
Auckland is the place to be Tony...:first:

PMSL at the north south debate

[NinjaBoy]

If you get a ticket in Janurary 2004 for speeding, and say 35 points and you stay ticket free until December 2006 but receive another in December, the points you got in 2004 stay with you for another 2yrs. Once you've been clean for 2yrs your points get returned to zero.



Didn't know this rule. Thought that the original points would have disappeared but then I don't run that close to the limit.

Also North Island roads more heavily policed than South Islands, esp. on main highways

[RiderInBlack]

Also North Island roads more heavily policed than South Islands, esp. on main highwaysWould debate that one. Depends on where in North Is or South Is ya are. When I visited Jantar is in Alexander (SI), he took me on a loop that passes the Brass Monkey site. There were so many cops (mainly un-marked cars, but a speed cam van or 2 and a patrol car) that I felt I could have walked around that route on them without setting foot on the tar (OK I'm exaggerating, but ya get the idea). My last trip to SI is the main reason for my purchase of a Radar Detector and was worth 60 demit points. There is plenty of Cops in SI. Ya just need ta know where ya can go to have a bit of fun. Get local advise on the best and worst roads as far as the patrolled thing goes (that would have saved me at least 40 points).

Lots of awesome roads up here in Northland (just ask us Norf Crew). JAFA's (one of the NZ nick for Aucklanders) tend ta have problems keeping they Jinxers on the road up here but:bleh: Can show ya lots a good roads with very little traffic and awesome scenery.
If ya really want ta find a cop up here the Ruakaka/Waupi Straights is where ya will find them (like seagulls at a rubbish dump). Don't speed along there unless ya like demerit points or have the right advanced warning equipment.

Have been a Nurse in NZ so can tell ya that they would snap up ya wife fairly quickly, but she will end-up with quite a pay cut.

[limbimtimwim]

PMSL. I wish we could upsticks today mate, but my wife (understandably I guess) wants to see the place before we sell the house and everything else over here and make the move, and we can't afford to get over for a nosey round until after Christmas, so no move on the cards realistically for 12-18 months.Though there are signs of a tapering off in the housing market, prices will continue to grow far beyond the rate of inflation. I was lucky enough to purchase a place at about $360K 2 years ago, now it's government valuation (GV) is $460K. GVs are done every 3 years.

What I am suggesting is you need keep the rate of increase in mind when looking at houses.

[ManDownUnder]

If you get a ticket in Janurary 2004 for speeding, and say 35 points and you stay ticket free until December 2006 but receive another in December, the points you got in 2004 stay with you for another 2yrs. Once you've been clean for 2yrs your points get returned to zero.


Really?

I thought the points fell off when they were 2 years old, so in the incident above you'd have 35 points through till December when you got (say) an extra 35... so for Dec '05 you'd have 70, January you'd have 70 till the anniversary of your 1st ticket, when you'd drop back to 35 again

[Fat Tony]

Though there are signs of a tapering off in the housing market, prices will continue to grow far beyond the rate of inflation. I was lucky enough to purchase a place at about $360K 2 years ago, now it's government valuation (GV) is $460K. GVs are done every 3 years.

What I am suggesting is you need keep the rate of increase in mind when looking at houses.

Thanks for the advice mate. We recently had some property papers sent over and noticed how much prices had risen since the last time we looked at the situation. Hopefully the slowing, but steady rise in house prices in the UK will keep up with yours - otherwise it's caravan life for us!

We bought for £102k five years ago, now valued at £225. It's crazy - we can't afford to buy our own house anymore. We were hoping that the equity from the sale of our house here would see us living with a fairly small mortgage in NZ but it's become very apparent that that isn't likely to be the case.

Hey, you can dream :)

[ogr1]

My regular travelling up to 130mph in a very quiet, 60mph limit single carriage way may well end up with prison time if caught.

Do that in NZ get caught/banned/fined and probably deported.......

I bet the police can't wait for you to arrive and in typical British fashion YOU
will fook it up for thr rest of us Poms.

[Crisis management]

I bet the police can't wait for you to arrive and in typical British fashion YOU
will fook it up for thr rest of us Poms.

I can see why you might want to leave England, Tony, generally the locals here are friendly....

[Fat Tony]

My regular travelling up to 130mph in a very quiet, 60mph limit single carriage way may well end up with prison time if caught.

Do that in NZ get caught/banned/fined and probably deported.......

I bet the police can't wait for you to arrive and in typical British fashion YOU
will fook it up for thr rest of us Poms.


**Time and a place*** How can you comment when you don't know the roads in question? VERY little other traffic ever, and if there was I wouldn't ever consider riding at that speed. There's no footpaths, no side roads, no driveways, no houses for miles... what's your problem? Yes it's illegal - I'm aware of that - but I wouldn't consider it dangerous to either anybody else or myself. I'd consider the vehicles driving passed my daughter's school at 40mph in a 30mph zone, with loads of parked cars to be far more dangerous - an area that I wouldn't ever travel above 20mph.

Take it easy mate. I'm not an idiot on the road, and have a good deal of road sense and experience. I know when to show restraint and take a great deal of pride in my riding/driving.

And yes, I KNOW the correct time and place is on track, but finding £100+ regularly for track days doesn't come easy.

Now might I suggest that you go back to bed, and try getting out of the other side?


EDIT:

I can see why you might want to leave England, Tony, generally the locals here are friendly....

LOL. Yes, UK society becomes more intollerent every day. I've noticed it in myself too I'm ashamed to say. Things that wouldn't have wound me up at all years ago do now :(

[limbimtimwim]

And yes, I KNOW the correct time and place is on track, but finding £100+ regularly for track days doesn't come easy.Yes, I had heard that track days got stupid expensive over there after the tracks realised they could make lots of money off them. Did you see the thread about the GSXR only track day? Gotta send off my form tomorrow, might miss out.

$30 :) :)

But that is an especially good price. Last year the local bike club had one free for members, membership is $35 :) :)

[Patrick]

Misinformation is rife here too...

Demerits last for two years, from the date of enforcement (when the fine is paid, or acted on by the fines collections). Demerit from Jan 2004 expires Jan 2006, regardless of whatever more you pick up between the dates... get 100 points within 2 years = 3 months suspension. Supposed to be 100 within 1 year = loss of licence for 6 months, but that never happens. 3 months is all they give, going from experience.

Instant fines up to 50kmph over the limit get up to $630, but over 40kmph up to 50kmph over the limit (ie 91-99kmph in a 50 zone) you lose licence instantly for 28 days as well as the instant fines, which are calculated in 5kmph lots (ie 86-90km in 50 = $400...91-95 in 50 = $510, 96-99 in a 50 = $630)

Just to confuse things more, this only applies to the fixed speed signs. Temporary signs (like 30kmph roadworks), are only loss of licence times for over 50kmph over the limit, but the instant fines remain the same.

Over 50kmph over the limit is court time (ie 101+ in a 50 or 151+ kmph in a 100) for dangerous speed. Minimum loss of licence then is 6 months with fines determined by the courts. Yet to hear of anyone doing jail time for this.

Speed cameras do not carry demerits ( rumoured to be coming tho...).

Pick your time and places for "road tests." I do... :innocent: Others on here are not as careful, but jeez do we hear about it from em...:cry:

Cops are on this site too...:innocent: but we are sympathetic to the cause and offer advice all the time, even though we get more abuse here than from any piss fueled drunken knuckle dragger on a weekend in town...

As for the hookers... farken ugly. All fell out of the ugly tree and hit the branches face first all the way down...

As for the roads? Buy the motorcyclists maps of NZ... tells you of the places to go and see, rates the rides from 1 to 5 (even though the Whangamomona pub ride down these parts is a top 5 easily, they give it a 3... pfffttt:tugger: ....and give the Rimatakas a 5 - a 3 at best...)

Watch this space... that'll get them Welly boys going...:Punk:

[Fat Tony]

Yes, I had heard that track days got stupid expensive over there after the tracks realised they could make lots of money off them. Did you see the thread about the GSXR only track day? Gotta send off my form tomorrow, might miss out.

$30 :) :)


Yeah, Hell I wish I was over there for that - what a 'hello, welcome to NZ' event that'd be, lol :)

Not really sure what the score is with trackdays over here. Several trackday companies went bust last year, so I imagine that most of the money goes directly to the track owners. A lot of the UK companies now seem to be specialising in track days in France and Spain where track ime is much better value for money.

A typical day at Donington Park will set you back around NZ$500, and Brands GP circuit is about NZ$660 - madness! Fortunately, the likes of Cadwell can still be had for about NZ$270 and that in my opinion is the best track in the country bar none :) (not that I've ridden them all, lol)

[limbimtimwim]

'Cept it is 40km/h over the limit now. Not 50km/h!

[Patrick]

'Cept it is 40km/h over the limit now. Not 50km/h!

Read my post.... again...

[Fat Tony]

Cops are on this site too...:innocent: but we are sympathetic to the cause and offer advice all the time, even though we get more abuse here than from any piss fueled drunken knuckle dragger on a weekend in town...

LOL. I ride with a couple of (off duty) bike cops occasionally - top blokes and hell they can shift. I know you're not all evil ;)

Cheers for the clarification on the demerit system - does sound kind of complicated, and yeah I reckon you're lucky to get away without demerit points for cameras at the moment - I don't doubt for a second that that will change though.

[limbimtimwim]

Read my post.... again...Oh yes, quite right, suspension for 40, court time for 50.

[marty]

cambridge has plenty of bikers, and PLENTY of poms! i'm drinkin with a couple right now actually. pity they can't play rugby though. or drink for that matter............

central waikato roads are some of the best in the country - especially if ease of access is considered (ie like sh22 is to tuakau, we have a couple of 70-90km loops that are just as cool) ask simjen. he knows a few back roads......

[Fat Tony]

cambridge has plenty of bikers, and PLENTY of poms! i'm drinkin with a couple right now actually. pity they can't play rugby though. or drink for that matter...

It's true! I'll need to work on the drinking... hangovers last for weeks now that I've reached 40 :(

[jimbo600]

cambridge has plenty of bikers, and PLENTY of poms! i'm drinkin with a couple right now actually. pity they can't play rugby though. or drink for that matter............

central waikato roads are some of the best in the country - especially if ease of access is considered (ie like sh22 is to tuakau, we have a couple of 70-90km loops that are just as cool) ask simjen. he knows a few back roads......

Pomms can't drink? What are you nuts? Thats all they do over there. and Pommy piss is about 8% not like the lolly water we get here.

[Fat Tony]

LOL, we're not all like that - just the majority it seems

I'm not big on booze , never have been. 2 or 3 pints and that's my fill. Drinking always gets in the way of a decent ride and I know for sure that I'd rather be up at 5am and out on the bike on quiet roads than lying in bed until mid afternoon feeling like sh*te

[Ixion]

My regular travelling up to 130mph in a very quiet, 60mph limit single carriage way may well end up with prison time if caught.

Do that in NZ get caught/banned/fined and probably deported.......

I bet the police can't wait for you to arrive and in typical British fashion YOU
will fook it up for thr rest of us Poms.

Nah, 6 months disqualification, fine of 200-300 pound, unless you've got a record. Or try to do a runner or something silly. What was it you got done for Mr Speedie, around 150mph ?

[ogr1]

No detrimental effect for the future then?
If you wanted to work or make permanent residency in NZ?

[RiderInBlack]

Ooh by the way it seams we have imported a few of ya cops ta here, probably why the ticketing has got more retentive:msn-wink: At the moment we are being feed the line that anything over 100kph on the open road is too dangerous (yer right, grabs a Tui:apint: ). By the way most of the cops I've meet are OK, but are bound by the legislation they are required ta enforce by the Government.

[Fat Tony]

Ooh by the way it seams we have imported a few of ya cops ta here, probably why the ticketing has got more retentive:msn-wink: At the moment we are being feed the line that anything over 100kph on the open road is too dangerous (yer right, grabs a Tui:apint: ). By the way most of the cops I've meet are OK, but are bound by the legislation they are required ta enforce by the Government.

It's a crazy f***in world. You get a bollocking for exceeding the speed limit, but nobody does anything about typing in Royal Blue Comic Sans! ;)

So the UK cops are all moving eh? I might rethink this move, lol (not a bloody chance!)

[RiderInBlack]

It's a crazy f***in world. You get a bollocking for exceeding the speed limit, but nobody does anything about typing in Royal Blue Comic Sans! ;):laugh: Just as well I'm not typing in Royal Blue then hey:bleh:

[Fat Tony]

:)

++++++++

[marty]

Misinformation is rife here too...

Demerits last for two years, from the date of enforcement (when the fine is paid, or acted on by the fines collections). Demerit from Jan 2004 expires Jan 2006, regardless of whatever more you pick up between the dates... get 100 points within 2 years = 3 months suspension. Supposed to be 100 within 1 year = loss of licence for 6 months, but that never happens. 3 months is all they give, going from experience.

:Punk:

speaking of misinformation - you must go 2 years ticket free before demerits are wiped - a ticket on 1st jan 2006 will expire 31 dec 2007, but if you get a ticket on 30 dec 2007 then the 1st jan 2006 demerits will last another 2 years from 30 dec 2007.

S 91 (1), LT Act 1998

[jimbo600]

speaking of misinformation - you must go 2 years ticket free before demerits are wiped - a ticket on 1st jan 2006 will expire 31 dec 2007, but if you get a ticket on 30 dec 2007 then the 1st jan 2006 demerits will last another 2 years from 30 dec 2007.

S 91 (1), LT Act 1998

No mate thats not how it works. My demerit points granted in Aug 2004 have just been wiped regardless of me incurring heaps of points between now and then.

[marty]

are you sure? that's not how the act reads

Cancellation and reinstatement of demerit points—


(1)When 2 years have elapsed since the commission of an offence in respect of which demerit points were recorded, the entry of the points made in respect of that offence ceases to have effect in relation to the person who committed that offence; but if demerit points were recorded in respect of 2 or more offences committed by that person, the entry ceases to have effect when 2 years have elapsed since the commission of the most recent of those offences.

[BAD DAD]

Tony

I think your main problem will not be speed cameras and demerit points so much as cars driven by people not skilled enough to use the average household appliance. Noticed how many car drivers [compared to motorcyclists] attempt to drive while texting?

[jimbo600]

are you sure? that's not how the act reads

Cancellation and reinstatement of demerit points—


(1)When 2 years have elapsed since the commission of an offence in respect of which demerit points were recorded, the entry of the points made in respect of that offence ceases to have effect in relation to the person who committed that offence; but if demerit points were recorded in respect of 2 or more offences committed by that person, the entry ceases to have effect when 2 years have elapsed since the commission of the most recent of those offences.

Pretty sure, but after reading that twaddle I might have to check again.

[Fat Tony]

I think your main problem will not be speed cameras and demerit points so much as cars driven by people not skilled enough to use the average household appliance.

Sounds all too familiar Bad Dad! Policy over here over the last few years has been to depend on cameras to improve road saftey while at the same time reducing the number of traffic cops on the road. The result... plumeting driving standards and awful drivers continue to be a danger to all with sod all chance of getting caught doing it.

Then came some sort of clamp down from the cops left on traffic duty, booking people for the likes of eating a mars bar while stopped at a red light pmsl. There was also a time when you heard of people getting booked (rightly so) for using mobile phones while driving, but that hasn't stopped the majority of drivers continuing to focus on their phones and the inside of their car rather than the road and events around them. Scary.

[marty]

(not really... second cousin twice removed by marriage, to my mums siters brothers uncle's dads third daughter's husbands brother best friend or something, lol) down in Dunedin

are you sure it's not Gore?

[Fat Tony]

are you sure it's not Gore?

What goes on in Gore then?

[marty]

about the same as what goes on in Wadebridge, Cornwall....

[Ixion]

are you sure? that's not how the act reads

Cancellation and reinstatement of demerit points—


(1)When 2 years have elapsed since the commission of an offence in respect of which demerit points were recorded, the entry of the points made in respect of that offence ceases to have effect in relation to the person who committed that offence; but if demerit points were recorded in respect of 2 or more offences committed by that person, the entry ceases to have effect when 2 years have elapsed since the commission of the most recent of those offences.

The section is unclear, and has been debated before.

Fortunately, however, for the main purpose of demerit points (suspension of licence) it is also irrelevant, since sect 90 is quite clear



[90.Suspension of licence or disqualification from driving under demerit points system—

(1)If, in any 2-year period, a total of 100 or more demerit points have effect against a person, the Director must, by notice in writing given to that person, either—
(a)suspend that person's current driver licence for 3 months; or
(b)if the person does not hold a current driver licence on the date of the giving of the notice, disqualify the person from holding or obtaining a driver licence for 3 months.


So, any points counting toward suspension must be in a two year period. So those older than two years old cannot count, whether cancelled or not.

Possibly, depending on the interpretation of sect 91, points older than two years could be relevant toward non-suspension issues (eg consideration for admittance to the (now defunct) CBTA scheme).

But as far as keeping you licence goes, it's only the last two years that matter.

[marty]

i think S91 is pretty clear. who has debated it? on here doesn't really count.

[Ixion]

Why doesn't here count? And if it is clear then why the different interpretations? Especially as one of them (the "don't expire until the newest is two years old" one) is a nonsense in the context of S90. What (apart from oddball uses such as CBTA) is the point of retaining points that might be twenty years old ,as such an interpretation would allow , if only those in the last two years are relevant for suspension? (Clearly, if there had been 100 points at an earlier time, then the licence would have been suspended then and the points wiped).

If the intent of the law had been that you must have a "clean slate" before any points are wiped, then they would not have had the "two year window". S90 would simply have said "If anyone accumulates 100 points" Full stop.

If points were not wiped after 2 years, you could have a thousand points dating back twenty years, yet still be OK provided you did not have more than 100 in the last two years.

For practical purposes the points cease to be a worry after two years (S90). Whether they are retained impotently "on the record" for some bureaucratic purpose, I don't know. Or care.

[marty]

who makes the differing interpretations? us? i'm only quoting the law. i don't have an opinion on the matter.

[Patrick]

They die after two years... the next ones last two years, then they die... they don't go on forever if you got another ticket after 1 year and 363 days...