The snakes is coming back!

[Muppet]

As usual the whole thing will be driven by money, they'll have a cunning plan, it'll cost millions. Some of you may think this is a good idea, but if you replace traffic cops with speed cameras, you'll have a situation like they do in the UK where you can't so much as fart on a bike without the Gummint knowing about it. Be careful what you wish for.......

[Muppet]

I'm not so sure!

When an arrest is required, the "unwarranted traffic cops" will have to enlist a "warranted police officer" to carry out the arrest!

That will mean doubling or trebling the cost and manpower will be drawn away from (publicly perceived) real crime again!

There are a lot of traffic situations that now call for an arrest!

Suggested solution: Less conflicting or useless laws and more police, fewer lawyers and sort and weed out the poor performing judges!

You're absolutely correct of course. Prior to the 1992 merger MoT officers stopped thousands of people a year for "warrants to arrest" but had to call police to arrest them assuming there was one free. And what happens when someone fails to stop for these unwarranted police? It may interest the younger crowd on here that for quite sometime MoT officers had no powers to arrest if a motorist refused to give their name and address, they just had to let them go and ascertain their details via car reg etc This proposal will result in more cocks ups and road deaths and injuries. What sort of person will they employ to do this job? Naturally they will be paid less because they have no power of arrest etc If you were stopped by them for speeding and you knew they couldn't bin you if you didn't tell them your particulars, would you? They'll be a laughing stock, a very backward step I think.

[Pixie]

That's quite logical. MoT focused on vehicle stuff, driving AND RIDING skills were critical.

The real bummer is that they've lost 20 years worth of good snakes, like Mr Girardin.

I'll say!
You had to have good skills when the management would not plump for good tyres and replace buggered shocks.
Lou could tell you of wobbling off the northwestern into the mudflats when his police CB750 got into a tankslapper.

[kwaka_crasher]

It may interest the younger crowd on here that for quite sometime MoT officers had no powers to arrest if a motorist refused to give their name and address, they just had to let them go and ascertain their details via car reg etc

The best bit was they couldn't pursue you onto private property. Ahhhh the glory days....

[Ixion]

I'll say!
You had to have good skills when the management would not plump for good tyres and replace buggered shocks.
Lou could tell you of wobbling off the northwestern into the mudflats when his police CB750 got into a tankslapper.

CB750 ? I thought they were all CB650s ? I had one of the ex police CB650 (after they pulled out of bikes completely). It was , ah, interesting to ride. Even for an early Jappa.

[Motu]

Bring on the jodhpurs!! Bring back the mustache and peaked cap.Something for prefects and bullies to aspire to.

[Pixie]

CB750 ? I thought they were all CB650s ? I had one of the ex police CB650 (after they pulled out of bikes completely). It was , ah, interesting to ride. Even for an early Jappa.

Lou had a Honda Police CB750 (the original Four) and later a Yamaha XJ 750 Police special.He stared copping?copulating? in 1977.

[pritch]

Bring on the jodhpurs!! Bring back the mustache and peaked cap.Something for prefects and bullies to aspire to.

Don't forget those bloody brown boots! I spotted a mufti cop bike in the Ngauranga Gorge once purely because nobody but a snake woulda been seen dead in those bloody things...

[Pixie]

Bring on the jodhpurs!! Bring back the mustache and peaked cap.Something for prefects and bullies to aspire to.

The jodhpurs were very functional they allowed extra room when you shit yourself.See post #33

[oldrider]

You're absolutely correct of course. Prior to the 1992 merger MoT officers stopped thousands of people a year for "warrants to arrest" but had to call police to arrest them assuming there was one free. And what happens when someone fails to stop for these unwarranted police? It may interest the younger crowd on here that for quite sometime MoT officers had no powers to arrest if a motorist refused to give their name and address, they just had to let them go and ascertain their details via car reg etc This proposal will result in more cocks ups and road deaths and injuries. What sort of person will they employ to do this job? Naturally they will be paid less because they have no power of arrest etc If you were stopped by them for speeding and you knew they couldn't bin you if you didn't tell them your particulars, would you? They'll be a laughing stock, a very backward step I think.

If they really try hard, they could revert to every City having their own municipal traffic cops again, boy that was a laugh!

It was like America, racing to get across the border out of their jurisdiction into the MOT area with whom they had no radio contact!

The most fun I ever had, it was like the Keystone Cops only in real life, MOT cops had no authority to chase you into Municipal areas!

Three different chases between Lower Hutt City, Petone MOT, Wellington City and then back again another way!

It was hilarious, I haven't thought about those days for a while, will have to stop before I wee myself!

Arnold Barr of Hutt City was the meanest little arsehole City traffic cop that lived back in those days, ask your granddads about him, he was well known!

Stupid expensive move going back to separate organisations for policing IMHO!

[nighthawk]

All this is just PC bullshit.
It’s about time people started demanding more from the courts.
If they started putting criminals away with proper sentences instead of letting them out that would free up a lot more time.

I could'nt agree more,but the general population of this fair land neither want to know about crime or criminal activities in their area or support stronger sentences until it affects them.

As far as Im concerned I've known many traffic and police staff both before and after the merger, most if not all did and still do their job to the best of their abillity and for the betterment of society in general, despite the general concensus that you read from time to time,that they(the police) made another mistake or picked on someone unfairly....

I can tell you from first hand experience you need to be a special type of person to put your life at risk on a daily basis dealing with society's more problematic individuals.....so others can lead a safer life....

[Ocean1]

Three different chases between Lower Hutt City, Petone MOT, Wellington City and then back again another way!

They eventually armed themselves with a couple of TS Suzukis, and then DT250s as I recall, so the fun continued up the firebreaks also.

Thems was the days ...

[Motu]

The jodhpurs were very functional they allowed extra room when you shit yourself.See post #33

Seen one do it - I got so far ahead I stopped at a red light and waited for him to catch up.When I finally decided to pull over for him he was visibly shaking and could hardly speak,I think he had totally shit himself trying to keep up with my little bike.He told me to keep my speed down.....I don't think he dared try to write a ticket with shaking hands.

Some were great guys and above average riders - most were just playground bullies looking for a uniform and badge to boost their below average self esteem.They have been around since the uniform was invented....counterbalanced by vacuous women who like a man in uniform.

[Patrick]

Of course what all of this means is probably more cops on the road, with proper police still being able to issue traffic infringements as well as traffic officers who are specifically issuing traffic tickets.

Business as usual, as it is now, then....?

Police back before the training college in Papakowhai opened trained in Auckland somewhere, MOT trained in Trentham on a dedicated section of the Army base there, opposite the at the time GM factory.....

Porirua opened in 1981, after moving from Trentham. MOT trained there til the merger in 1992. Dogs still train there at Trentham Barracks - old draughty places they are.......

Back to the future...

The MOT were better organised in a lot of ways than the Police. The MOT had seven shifts, each of which had specific duties that went with it. The Police had just three shifts. In the days of 10.00PM closing the PCs were all back writing up their paperwork or getting ready to start work at the same time as all the drunks hit the road.

Not how I recall it in the early - mid 80's..... Only a few MOT working in the dark night shifts, roads swarming with em during the day (in Auckland at least....).

The TOs had the car at home so they were on the job as soon as they exited their driveway. Now they have to drive in to town and pick up a car and the reverse at night.

After the cuts recently, even Highways have to share now - they used to have a car parked in their back yard for 2/3rds of the day.... Makes $$$ sense to have a car running 24/7 instead of three cars to cover the days lot....

They used to do all their paperwork in the car,

Still do - nothing new there...

after the merger in some instances they had to go back to the office and type it all up...

Type up a ticket? LOL.... but there is a lot more typing, and some of the old crustys still refuse to use a typist....

All in all they are on the job a lot less than they used to be.

Of course all of this was told to me by a former MoT chief so he may have been a bit biased?

I had pause to think last night, as I did a very ummm marginal(?) stop at a stop sign that there are many more misdemeanors go unpunished since the merger. Previously there would have been a significant risk of a traffic car being parked nearby watching the corner for exactly such behaviour.

Pessimistic as it may be I feel the new arrangement may just combine the worst of both worlds...

They've turned to giving out digital handicams to record these redlight runners and stop sign crashers now..... at least in these parts.....

[SPman]

They'll probably give them powers of arrest, if they do split them off again.
Same as they do to the Transit Guards or "Railway Police" over here in Perth.
Personally, I think a well trained traffic police engendered with keeping traffic moving and concentrating on stupid traffic behaviour is a good idea - but - we all know they will be in the thrall of land transport and their money handouts...so..nothing much will change except , perhaps, the heat will be taken of GD police.

(never thought I'd be saying bringing back dedicated traffic cops would be a good idea...)

If they really try hard, they could revert to every City having their own municipal traffic cops again, boy that was a laugh!

aaaah, those were the days....Mac Reid in the East Coast Bays......