So I used *555 today, clap clap for mr Plod

[StoneY]

Anyway

Heading to work (in cage as I had stuff to move around) and I see this learner rider shoved aside at Hutt Road/Esplanade roundabout- and the blood boils fast at these sort of carry ons
This learner rider was on a late 80's early 90's nude 250, with all the dayglo shit on and was clearly in the lane having just left the give way and the subby just pushed straight through her/his space!

If you are a KBer little learner bike- I got ya back buddy
A yellow VTRthou and a mid size purple Ninja were present too, if any of ya's were KBers get in touch

I grab the trusty cell (yes hypocryte I know I rant about them heaps) but justify this action in the cause of JusticE and the KB way (backin a biker up)

I ring through, give rego number FCU214 to the lady on the phone, and violla whats in the outside right hand lane? A PATROL CAR sitting on the rear corner of the offending Impeazza!!!

Me: "Quick, get him, hes RIGHT beside ya patrol car"
*555: "It depends what that unit is tasked to'....
Me: "....your kidding me"
*555: "Sir if that officer is not tasked to anything urgent we will grab that driver otherwise please call in to a station and fill in the form....."

Call ends

As we approach Tce Tunnel, cop HAS moved into position, I am behind cop, and YES the lights go on YAY!

I pull over behind cop, wave cellphone at him to say 'Im the witness'
He briefly speaks with Subby driver- returns to me and introduces himself as the Regional Commander Hutt group (wow!)

I tell him what I saw, and quantified it with "I dont know if the bike pushed down the lane past staionary traffic to jump the Q officer but, thats moot, this bitch in the Subaru pushed that bike out of the lane by sheer brute force, the learner rider did well to stay upright( thats no exageration he/she wobbled bad on the curb line but recovered)

This nice cop says, "My mate was killed in that way, im throwing the book at this one, will you witness in court?"


Well of COURSE I will- and if the yellow VTR and Purple/pink Ninja riders saw it too please PM me

There IS justice in this world after all
Turns out he (mr Plod Senior) delayed a high end meeting with his boss to make this traffic stop and he too is a biker



Pix to follow when my bluetooth syncs

[PrincessBandit]

Good to hear that for all the times you actually say "I wish there was a cop around, where are they when you need them?" there are moments like this to redress the balance. Good on ya.

[Thani-B]

Good one! Cool when you see actions taken after calling *555.

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Bloody good job mate. Hope the two other bikers read this and add their weight. Bling duly awarded

[James Deuce]

Good to hear that for all the times you actually say "I wish there was a cop around, where are they when you need them?" there are moments like this to redress the balance. Good on ya.

Balance? It might lift the see-saw a millimetre off the ground. Picture a tiny baby on one end, and a fat Police Inspector on the other. That's how we, the public, are viewed. Our opinions are worthless.

I get frustrated with the idea that one successful *555 bust means that they all work. The vast majority achieve nothing, simply because people won't follow up. Unlike Stoney. Most people would have quietly got in their car and buggered off if asked to present in court.

I still haven't had an answer from Police Comms or Stats NZ about how many *555 calls are followed up. From my personal experience letters get sent to "boy racers" and motorcyclists. People carriers with unsecured kids, bus drivers behaving like bullies, and taxi drivers cruising at 70 km/hr with no lane discipline (always aim for the slow moving lane - the meter isn't related to time travelled - tui) get away with it, despite having paperwork and multiple witnesses.

[mansell]

Well done mate, anything to get those bastards in cages to accept responsibility. Hope the prick gets the book thrown at him, my hope is that it hasn't put the learner rider off.

[Slyer]

I trying to understand exactly what happened, how someone could get shoved. =/
Once I was waiting to turn right at a roundabout on my 250 with my little L plate on. I was in the left of the lane waiting for a gap and some asian lady just manages to squeeze to the right of me and goes through the roundabout. Didn't even see her look at me.
Revenge against lanesplitters?

[martybabe]

Well done StoneY and the copper nice to see a bit of justice happening for once.

I gotta say after a three week break driving in England, hitting the roads in NZ again has been a right eye opener, the stuff people do and get away with on our roads is shocking. Speeding is nothing compared to the incompetence/arrogance and sheer stupidity that abounds out there.

Well done you for taking at least one of the loons to task

[Blackbird]

I get frustrated with the idea that one successful *555 bust means that they all work. The vast majority achieve nothing, simply because people won't follow up. Unlike Stoney. Most people would have quietly got in their car and buggered off if asked to present in court.

Jim,

Your comments are undoubtedly accurate but StoneY deserves a bit more kudos than a rant about the system. By doing nothing, nothing changes and great to see his efforts rewarded. I don't know if "most" people would have buggered off. I'd like to think that most bikers wouldn't have.

[sunhuntin]

well done to both you and the learner. im amazed he stayed upright. good that the cop was on to it, and put upholding the law before a meeting.

[Reido]

I trying to understand exactly what happened, how someone could get shoved. =/
Once I was waiting to turn right at a roundabout on my 250 with my little L plate on. I was in the left of the lane waiting for a gap and some asian lady just manages to squeeze to the right of me and goes through the roundabout. Didn't even see her look at me.
Revenge against lanesplitters?

that happened to me, except with a bus. and he did see me but just pushed in anyway.
and when he turned the back swung out towards me eeep >_<

nice to hear of another successful *555

[ajturbo]

well ... i feel sorry for the cop...
you made him late for a meeting with his boss?....

























well done matey

[MSTRS:Me]

A win for the little guy. Enjoy it. It is rare.

[Lurch]

Good work, more of us need to stand up and take the initiative like you did today. It might seem hopeless sometimes but that's no reason to let these incidents pass without taking action.

[oldrider]

Good follow through and outcome but what a shame it has to come to this!

*555 still leaves me with a bad taste in the back of my throat for the long term!

Good on you though StoneY for supporting the learner biker to the end.