The Ed's Column

[NDORFN]

I've seen all sorts of people doing dangerous U turns, can we please have a petition about them to?

No because we wont need to if we force the police proceedures review then not only will the police stop doing dangerous U-turns but the police themselves will stop "all sorts of people" from doing dangerous U-turns. Do you get how this works and how it'll benefit all riders now?

[NDORFN]

The speed limit is the speed limit. Although it seems mean, I have no problems with the Police giving you a ticket for doing 115km/h in a 100km/h zone, no matter how safe you think it is.

Although it seems safe, there are so many dangers you can't perceive, and the additional damage you do to your body at speed costs the tax payer that much more to treat.

So please save me from paying more tax, and travel at the speed limit on public roads.

As for Police pulling U-turns and hurting members of the public; they should be treated the same as any other member of the public doing this. It's not acceptable for one user of the road to hurt another just so they can get somewhere faster.

Why does it have to be about money (tax dollars) when it can be about FREEDOM.

[oldrider]

This month's is on the blog re Police policy:

http://kiwiridermagazine.blogspot.co...-guy-here.html

I am very dissapointed with the current governments "priority" focus!

Why?

Because I thought they would have placed "Law and order, justice and corrections" on a first priority order for reform!

The current situation (mainly a Labour legacy) is a joke and even more disfunctional than "Auckland City"!

This government is just carrying on where Labour left off and some cases exacerbating the problems. I.E. speed!

[MaxB]

Good article. I have always wondered what is the point of a cop doing a dangerous lane change or u-turn to catch someone a few percent over the speed limit.

In-car video cams would go a long way to removing the need for chases. You get driver and car i.d. and time and place all in one handy digital file.

[jono035]

Good article. I have always wondered what is the point of a cop doing a dangerous lane change or u-turn to catch someone a few percent over the speed limit.

In-car video cams would go a long way to removing the need for chases. You get driver and car i.d. and time and place all in one handy digital file.

I've never particularly liked that idea, but I don't see how anyone could really argue against it given that it isn't too dissimilar from current speed cameras...

Also, if made reasonably tamperproof, it would provide a good way of seeing more evidence when something like the gorge incident occurs...

[NDORFN]

Good article. I have always wondered what is the point of a cop doing a dangerous lane change or u-turn to catch someone a few percent over the speed limit.

In-car video cams would go a long way to removing the need for chases. You get driver and car i.d. and time and place all in one handy digital file.

I'm totally with you on that idea. It would also make them more accountable for proof of infractions where it's thier word against yours, like not stopping at a stop sign etc...

[peasea]

Good article. I have always wondered what is the point of a cop doing a dangerous lane change or u-turn to catch someone a few percent over the speed limit.

Agreed. The whole system needs a bit of a tune up really, the cops just do what they're told (for the most part) and they're only trying to make quota. The punishment should fit the crime, meaning 115kph in heavy motorway traffic is more of a crime against humanity than 115kph round the back of Mt Ruapehu, even though you're doing 15kph over the limit in both cases. That's over-simplifying it perhaps but you get my drift.

I read an article recently (forget where) in which some person of note suggested that the police should take a long, hard look at themselves in an effort to regain the public's trust etc. I've been saying that for years but I'm not a person of note. However, it was heartening to see someone else has the same opinion and that I'm not just cop-bashing, I'm simply being observant.

Cops have a culture of dishonesty, bullying, self righteousness and a 'you can't touch me' aloofness that needs to be curtailed. In other words; they need to pull their collective heads in and I think they could be about to get such a directive. We'll see.

Learning good manners would be a great start. They could follow that by concentrating more on ticketing people who pull dangerous stunts and failing to indicate etc than doing 111kph on the highway.

Rant over.

[Robbo]

I am very dissapointed with the current governments "priority" focus!

Why?

Because I thought they would have placed "Law and order, justice and corrections" on a first priority order for reform!

The current situation (mainly a Labour legacy) is a joke and even more disfunctional than "Auckland City"!

This government is just carrying on where Labour left off and some cases exacerbating the problems. I.E. speed!

Well said John. I have always supported MP's who have campaigned on Law and Order as their priority before elections and have been continuously let down in the past. This time i really thought we would see some positive action in this direction but unfortunately we appear to have been let down once again.
Are there any politicians here in NZ who actually have any balls?

[jono035]

Are there any politicians here in NZ who actually have any balls?

We just shipped the last one off to the UN...

[Marmoot]

The article started brilliantly and went on amazingly on exposing the cause of the problem ("because Police HQ have elevated exceeding the speed limit to a status it simply does not deserve – that of a serious crime.")

Then it went on to an absolutely rubbish closing argument (Should the Police review their policy on 'pursuits' in the wake of the carnage their cops are causing with their (illegal?) U-turns on busy roads?)

It's a bit like having premature ejaculation in a heated intercourse.
Please convey my disappointment to the writer.

The real conclusion should be around how police should review their priorities between to protect, to serve, and to enforce. It is between law enforcement and the purpose of law enforcement itself (safety and security). It is between the methods and the goals. Is the method worth doing for the results?

Review the pursuit policy....bah! What goal and which direction the review should go to? Are we advocating against police pursuit? So ambiguous. So shortsighted.

[Big Dave]

Thank you for your feedback.

I also don't want to 'encourage' boi racers running me off the road on the motorway either. However - there have been some sad events too.