A clean get away

[Coldkiwi]

Don't ever waste your money on a radar detector, the things are next to useless if the cop is using the hawk / stalker correctly.

not true... they also tell you if that old holden you just passed is likely to turn around and go after you and whether or not you should perhaps take that into account when the next straight appears and your fingers start to itch!! (personal experience)

man.. I don't think i've seen that many marathon posts on after the other (couldn't be arsed reading them, sorry fellas) on any other topic on this site.

[spudchucka]

Wow - something is really wrong with me....not only did I get the gist of Spud's thread - Jim2 mirrored my sentiments.

Now if you all excuse me - I am going to find a quiet room somewhere and practise my writing of controversial posts - I seem to be out of touch

Dan

I think you are doing fine, after all you are ahead of me in the "most unreputable" stakes.

Cheers

[Hitcher]

There has been a huge outpouring of angst and ink on this subject, that's for sure...

[spudchucka]

Just a point I think that needs clarifying. The cops/government can be arseholes and the following two cases shoud illustrate this point, but in general I agree with Wikd_one/spudchucka and the point of the messanger.

Case 1: A young male, 20 full license driving on farms since age 5, had his car impounded as while doing a U-turn in wet conditions his inside wheel momentarily lost traction. The cops using the new boy racer law then impounded the car due to his previous infringements.

The following day his mother answers the door to see the same cop, he had come to say that it was a mistake for him to issue the ticket, and that the car could be picked up from the impound yard on monday.

Well the impound yard knew nothing of this, and after much running around they eventually got the car after having to pay the impound fees.

Why did he have to pay?? the cop admitted he was in the wrong he still had to pay and was without a car for a weekend.

Case 2: Another young male, 24 full license, was charged with something under the new boy racer law, he thought it was dubious so went through the process and got the charges dissmissed. This would have been ok but in the process he was given demerit points, enough to cause him to lose his license.

Now after the charge was thrown out he thought he would get his demerit points back, since they were given for a offence that he was no longer being charged for, he was in all accounts innocent, but the demerit points remained


He then had to get a temp license for work purposes at roughly $1000, and since this is peak contracting season he did not have the time to contest the demerit points, his father then rang the regional commander who instructed him to ring LTSA, who in all their brillance could only tell him to " check the road code" and when questioned further hung up on him. .



How can the police do this?? having to pay for something that you did not do , or being punished for a crime you did not commit??? You have to wonder why people are starting to run

Can someone clarify what the law is regarding getting Demerit points returned after the ticket that contained them is dissmissed??

Regarding case 1, on the face of it the cop was wrong because the loss of traction has to be "sustained". The way you describe this incident does not sound like it could be considered in that way, hence the cops embaressing visit to the family home. As far as having to pay for the impound storage, why don't you send a bill to the local police district manager??

Regarding case 2, sorry I don't know. Without knowing all the facts its hard to offer any advice. The only suggestion I have would be to follow it up with the local police, court or look up the Ph: for the Infringement Bureau, (theres an 0800 number).

As for the Boy Racer Act, whenever there is new legislation introduced there will be a sort of refing period as cases are put before the Court and decissions are handed down one way or the other. This then builds up the Case Law relevant to the legislation and will in turn have an effect on how the legislation is interpreted and applied.

Hope that helps

[wkid_one]

but in general I agree with Wikd_one
??

Can people stop doing this please - I am starting to become agitated and feel I may lose my place on the most disreputable poster.....this rampant agreement with my posts is disconcerting as I pride myself on my unique view of the world and those in it.....where is my identity if people continue to agree with me.....argggggggggggggggggggggg

[XRNR]

I am starting to become agitated and feel I may lose my place on the most disreputable poster.....

Don't worry mate, I'll keep voting for you.


Spud! if your heading north (AK way) let me know so I can come for a ride. I think I would feel safe around you!

[sAsLEX]

We can always use the reputation button to keep wikd_one happy

[wkid_one]

Ahhhh - the blissful sound of discontent

[Lou Girardin]

All I can say, spudchucker. Is that if everyone said nothing in oppposition to the traffic nazis, we would now have a 50mgm alcohol limit, a 5km/h speed tolerance and hidden speed cameras with demerit points. I'll continue to oppose these morons in every media avenue I can.
Lou

[georgedubyabush]

Heard on the Radio the other day that in NZ, per head of population, you are 5 times more likely to be issued a speeding ticket than in the UK.

A bit meaningless though, needs to be per kms driven or something instead of per head of population as EVERYONE drives in NZ.

[wkid_one]

What is wrong with a 50mgm limit anyway? I don't see any problem with this at all.....

Now the rest may be entirely irrelevant to this post - but is part of the research I am doing at the mo:

This whole speeding thing is interesting. With all the boy racers on the road in low profile tyres and larger rims - speedo calibration must be a large issue. Whilst I know they have charts to ensure the rotational diameter of the tyres remain the same - any departure from the Manu Specs is going to alter the speedo reading.

Also - I am yet to see or hear of a speedo reading UNDER the actual speed being travelled - so this so-called tolerance of 10kph over the limit is a falsity anyway??? Why have a tolerance of 10kph ABOVE the limit - when most speedos are reading OVER the actual speed being travelled. This then means Mr Joe Average who gets pinged doing 61kph in a 50zone may in fact have been travelling at an indicated 65 or so.

Would the tolerance not be better as 10% of the posted speed - not 10kph?? Thereby meaning you could get pinged at 56kph in a 50, 78 in a 70 and 111 in a 100 zone??

This makes more sense to me anyway - surely travelling 60kph in a 50 zone is more dangerous than 110 in a 100? Esp with Kids etc

I have attached an interesting article for those who haven't read it 'Tolerances'. I would summarise the key points but it would mean you wouldn't read it. You will tho see that whilst contentious as revenue earners, speed cameras have resulted in a reduction in speeds (both 85th percentile and mean)

Don't discount lower tolerances (law of dimishing returns rears its head here)

The LTSA's current priorities are as follows

The strategy’s key priority areas for action involve:

• engineering safer roads
• reducing speed
• combating drink–driving
• dealing with serious offenders
• encouraging the use of safety belts
• improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists
• improving the vehicle fleet
• new and better targeted education initiatives.

Here is the link outlining their details on each point http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/strategy-201...riorities.html

However - we must also remember - that with tolerances - we develop an 'common law' speed limit to match the Actual Speed + Tolerance. A tolerance isn't a right or permission to speed.

There is another article regarding NZ's Speeding Enforcement Policy. This dispells some myths - equipment need only be calibrated once per 12 months, vehicles within 250m of a speed change shouldn't be targetted, NO RULES ARE ABSOLUTE - OFFICER HAS DISCRETION.

I have a wealth of other papers and crap....this is a mere portion for those who are interested. The single most glaring gap in all this information - is ACCOUNTABILITY FOR SLOW DRIVERS. There is little if any information about the impact of slow drivers.....why?? because they seldom have an accident - yet - can attribute to them.

[wkid_one]

Oh - here is the guide for Certification of Approved Vehicle Surveillance Equipment

ANd if you want to read the Entire Police Strategy for 2006 - here is the link http://www.police.govt.nz/resources/2002/strategicplan/

Also - I have attached the 2001-2002 traffic offense stats link http://www.police.govt.nz/service/st...-2001-2002.xls

[spudchucka]

All I can say, spudchucker. Is that if everyone said nothing in oppposition to the traffic nazis, we would now have a 50mgm alcohol limit, a 5km/h speed tolerance and hidden speed cameras with demerit points. I'll continue to oppose these morons in every media avenue I can.
Lou

Other than the alcohol limit, I would support you in opposing the changes you mention. Unfortuneately, given time and the never ending apethy of the NZ voter, it will become a reality before we know it.

[spudchucka]

WKID

Some interesting stats there. I can't believe that there are still 500 000 drivers a year getting caught by speed cameras. People must drive with their eyes shut!!! No wonder the Govt would like to lower the tolerance, even I'll accept that is revinue gathering. But when there is such an abundance of people willingly falling into their trap, why would you blame them.

I used to be a rep and would travell 70 - 90 000 km per year all over the Nth Islnd and the top of the South. I only got caught once when the cameras first came out, once I figured out what they look like and where they put them I never got caught again. Its really beyond me how people get pingged by them!!!

[SPman]

Also - I am yet to see or hear of a speedo reading UNDER the actual speed being travelled

My brother was done for 116k, - Nissan van - when his speedo was reading 105 - got his speedo recalibrated (cost $70) - the speedo was under reading, sent in the calibration report and they waived the ticket.