Help with fines - splitting and red light?

**over5tayer** · 16th September 2011, 13:27

So about a month ago i was heading onto the Southern Motorway via the Wairau on-ramp (controlled by on-ramp traffic lights). It was 7.40am and traffic was pretty heavy so i decided to split up to the front of the lights and merge in with the cars at the end. As i was splitting, a motorcycle cop was coming down the motorway - he had a clear view of me. He pulled me over 200 meters after the lights and said that i "was splitting way too fast". He had time to get his speed gun out and pinged me doing 40kmph. He must have scanned me as i approached the lights because i accelerated to make the green (which i just made). He said i was being reckless and threatened to impound my bike. I didnt talk back or anything even though he kept digging into me. I'm a relatively new rider but i've done about 40,000k's in the past few years, most of which through heavy traffic. I have a pretty good grip on danger signs and riding within my limits.

In the end the cop 'let me off' with a $300 fine. $150 for "being the driver of a vehicle on a road marked in lanes moved from a lane before ascertaining that the manoeuvre could be made safely". And another $150 for driver "failed to stop at a red traffic signal in the form of a disc".

I'm a student and theres no way i can afford these fines. I struggle enough keeping my rego up to date and my bike serviced. I did not run the red light but i did go through the green with 2 other cars.

even if i write in explaining my case and i only get off 1 of the fines it will be a big help. Is there anything i can say that will help my chances?

I dont want to dig into the cop because i know he's a member on this site (he wouldnt tell me his username)... but did i mention that he began splitting down the motorway right after handing me the fine?

thanks in advance for any constructive feedback

**nodrog:Me** · 16th September 2011, 13:41

just pay it off a $5 a week if you are such a brokenarse, taking it to court and whinging about being poor isnt going to help.

**Scuba_Steve** · 16th September 2011, 13:45

If the light wasn't red the light wasn't red that should be a no-brainier & if it was green then there should be no argument.

Other one, I don't know, only you could tell if you "ascertained that the manoeuvre could be made safely" if you did then argue it.

**tigertim20** · 16th September 2011, 13:50

you can write a letter, writing in isnt going to hurt. you may or may not get off one, or both.
Aside from that, you can go into the fines department at the courts, and sign a thing that says you're poor as fuck, and you can pay themoff. $10 per week is the minimum you can pay as i understand it, that will at least make paying it more easy.

**Mom** · 16th September 2011, 13:50

Originally Posted by Scuba_Steve

if it was green then there should be no argument.

If it was green then the sign says only 2 vehicles per green allowed to go. It must have looked out of place to the cop for him to have pulled his radar and clocked the OP. I guess, the saying do the crime, pay the fine springs to mind here.

If you cant afford the fine then wait for it to go to court. You will get costs on top of the fine, but you will be able to make a repayment arrangement.

**tigertim20** · 16th September 2011, 13:57

Originally Posted by Mom

If it was green then the sign says only 2 vehicles per green allowed to go. It must have looked out of place to the cop for him to have pulled his radar and clocked the OP. I guess, the saying do the crime, pay the fine springs to mind here.

If you cant afford the fine then wait for it to go to court. You will get costs on top of the fine, but you will be able to make a repayment arrangement.

you can fill out some basic paperwork and pay it off WITHOUT going to court and accruing further penalties.
You go to the fines department, and fill out a statement of means, and an automatic payment form, and away you go.

**JustNick** · 16th September 2011, 13:58

Originally Posted by Mom

If it was green then the sign says only 2 vehicles per green allowed to go. It must have looked out of place to the cop for him to have pulled his radar and clocked the OP. I guess, the saying do the crime, pay the fine springs to mind here.

If you cant afford the fine then wait for it to go to court. You will get costs on top of the fine, but you will be able to make a repayment arrangement.

Yeah I've always thought the way the system works regarding organising to pay fines off is a bit of a hassle. i.e. having to wait for your fine to go to court and getting additional debt just so that you can pay it off.

**sleemanj** · 16th September 2011, 14:00

All you can do is write in and plead your innocence, or pay the fine (over time), so you might as well try!

I'd point out a faultless driving record (assuming), that you are absolutely 100% certain that you did not bust a red, and that you "split" past the stationary traffic which is legal but found it necessary on the grounds of safety to accelerate in order to merge as the light turned green, being the most safe course of action.

Splitting is such a damn grey area.

**oneofsix** · 16th September 2011, 14:00

Originally Posted by Mom

If it was green then the sign says only 2 vehicles per green allowed to go. It must have looked out of place to the cop for him to have pulled his radar and clocked the OP. I guess, the saying do the crime, pay the fine springs to mind here.

If you cant afford the fine then wait for it to go to court. You will get costs on top of the fine, but you will be able to make a repayment arrangement.

If the cop wanted to ping him for being the third vehicle then that is what he should have pinged him for, not for running a red when it was green.
If the law doesn't allow an offense such as being the third vehicle then the sign is a bluff and there is no offense.

**Scuba_Steve** · 16th September 2011, 14:02

Originally Posted by Mom

If it was green then the sign says only 2 vehicles per green allowed to go. It must have looked out of place to the cop for him to have pulled his radar and clocked the OP. I guess, the saying do the crime, pay the fine springs to mind here.

If you cant afford the fine then wait for it to go to court. You will get costs on top of the fine, but you will be able to make a repayment arrangement.

Point, I missed the part about it being one of Aucklands retarded on-ramp lights!

... fucking retarded idea they are

**The Baron** · 16th September 2011, 14:04

It sounds like you are screwed on this one. Your word / his word.

I think if you fight it to hard it will cost more with extra costs.

In life sometimes SHIT HAPPENS - I say pay it and move on.

How you pay it is up to you but if you drag it out then the pain of it will just last longer.

My 2 cents.

**Indiana_Jones** · 16th September 2011, 14:08

Originally Posted by oneofsix

If the cop wanted to ping him for being the third vehicle then that is what he should have pinged him for, not for running a red when it was green.
If the law doesn't allow an offense such as being the third vehicle then the sign is a bluff and there is no offense.

Why him and not one of the other two vehicles?

-Indy

**Luckylegs** · 16th September 2011, 14:14

Originally Posted by Indiana_Jones

Why him and not one of the other two vehicles?

-Indy

Righteous indignation 1 : common sense 0

Because the other vehicles waited patiently for their turn which they duly took, not like the bike who came wizzing through (by his own admission) to make the green and now wants to bitch about it.

Or something