What's the message they're sending?

**Juzz976** · 27th November 2009, 13:23

So a few weeks back my step brother comes to NZ after his fathers funeral.
We decide to have a couple of drinks then get a ride to town and hit the bars/clubs. So we get dropped off by sober driver and go to first bar, I bought a round of drinks walked outside and saw an old friend and started a conversation.

Now we're at a bar where theres's an outside drinking area, my friend and I talking start walking whilst conversing. So anyways I rarely to out to town and not even thinking about it we walk down the street I'm still holding a drink.
I spot a squad car and I'm like oh crap I've got a drink on me so hold glass behind me(I know stupid right) cop glares at me and pulls over. Cop approaches me agressively and talking very fast ask questions for which I'm not sure what the answers are. So 'your being difficult I'm placing you under arrest' fine hop in car go to station get hands scanned and my first/only criminal conviction 'Breech of liquor ban'.

Anyways so I get a fine in the mail $630 - most expensive sip of whiskey I've had. And I'm thinking gee thats steep so I google things right.

Now another guy was down at the same place drinking beer from a box in his ute with a shotgun - fine $150 . Watch that police show drunk guy drives on motorway on steel rim gets DIC - fine $350.

So I'm thinking what did I do that was sooo wrong that I get $630
Ah yes because if your going to get caught drinking you should have a vehicle
and even better a firearms to reduce your fines.
So everyone thats the message from police, Breaking the Law? Do it properly

Oh yeh better to be unemployed too as that helps

**kiwirach83** · 27th November 2009, 13:42

That's because you were unfortunate enough to be arrested by someone in a bad mood. Earlier that day his alcoholic wife left him for the next door neighbour, who had a shirt similar to the one you were wearing. So he saw you and took out his frustrations. Bad luck.

Whenever I've been warned about breaching the liquor ban, I pretend to be a german tourist with limited english.

"Ja Gutentag! Das beer is gut! Ja?!"

**Juzz976** · 27th November 2009, 13:50

well yes I guess I stated wrong tho, the courts sets the fine I think.
The cop was an absolute prick to me and his conduct was inappropriate, nothing I can do about that.

Ya know I've always been cooperative and polite to police because I respect the job they have to do. I've lost faith in them now and I have met alot of people who feel the same.

It seems to be the import cops too making the fuss, don't like Kiwi's well f#@k off back to your own country.

**Juzz976** · 27th November 2009, 13:51

Originally Posted by kiwirach83

Whenever I've been warned about breaching the liquor ban, I pretend to be a german tourist with limited english.

"Ja Gutentag! Das beer is gut! Ja?!"

Thats nice warned, I've never got a warning. Only made the mistake once.

**Mully** · 27th November 2009, 15:02

Is it a set fine, or just made up by the court?

I thought the liquor ban was a council bylaw? And the punishments are set by the council.

I agree, however, that the punishment for drink-driving (particularly repeat drink-drivers), are woefully inadequate.

**Gareth123** · 27th November 2009, 15:52

Maximum fine in Christchurch is $500. Usually though only $150 is handed out.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10417882

Can't find anything on google about a maximum fine for tauranga though sorry.

**Juzz976** · 30th November 2009, 07:02

Originally Posted by Gareth123

Maximum fine in Christchurch is $500. Usually though only $150 is handed out.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/ar...ectid=10417882

Can't find anything on google about a maximum fine for tauranga though sorry.

I think its around $30k max
500 + 130 courts costs.

**Usarka** · 30th November 2009, 07:18

Next time tip the piss on the ground and tell them it was just soft drink.

**Mully** · 30th November 2009, 09:24

I don't think they can charge you "Court costs" unless you actually go to court.

You could always appeal, on the grounds that the sentence is manifestly excessive compared to blah blah blah. But that would probably cost you more in lawyer's fees.

**CookMySock** · 30th November 2009, 09:24

Originally Posted by Juzz976

Ya know I've always been cooperative and polite to police because I respect the job they have to do. I've lost faith in them now and I have met alot of people who feel the same.

Good. Everything's coming together nicely. It won't be long for they are universally hated.

Steve

**Juzz976** · 30th November 2009, 09:44

Yeh it used to be only criminals and body count fans that hated them, now it's your middle class families who actually pay their salaries.

I'd like to have a legal organised fight with that cop, I'll show him who can be a bully when theres no 'Assulting a Police Officer' charge applicable.
He's about my size so would be a fair fight.

Even better I could teach him how to use a tonfa properly

**CookMySock** · 30th November 2009, 10:24

I was at a christmas in the park event on saturday night, and there was a throw-the-ball-at-the-target-and-dump-the-bucket-of-water-on-the-policeman type thing, that all the kiddies were lining up to have a go with.

I thought "ho hum" until I realised there were a handful of cops there who were shivering and soaking wet, but they had to go "yay yay clap hands" for the little kiddies. It was pretty clear the kiddies were having lots of fun, and the pigs were not, bringing new meaning to "boys in blue." They looked completely freezing and demoralised, which began to get noticed by some of the local youth, who began to take glee in the situation.

It wasn't long before there were a quite a few adults watching with great mirth as the pigs' corners of their mouths started to drop, and ours started to rise. It was fucking epic actually, with the occasional quiet "blow on the pie" from someone in the crowd followed by a healthy chortle.

All in all, a great evening out.

Steve

**The Pastor** · 30th November 2009, 10:43

Its because the hard working tax paying middle class man has more than $100 in his bank account and therefore can afford to pay the fine.

**Juzz976** · 30th November 2009, 11:13

I don't so much like paying fines but make sure I go pay in full with cash next day.
Once I got the "Imagine what you could have bought with this instead of paying fines" to which a confused looking reply I give "what do you mean, I wouldn't speed if I couldn't afford it"