Wellington Bikers Be Warned

[wkid_one]

Strange things are appearing in bushes near Wellington motorways.




According to police, they are not blue plant hybrids, but part of their "normal" operations.

The accompanying photo, taken by a member of the public on Monday afternoon, shows a member of Wellington's road policing group discreetly tucked behind bushes in the median strip where the northbound urban motorway splits into State Highways 1 and 2.

The "spotter" was recording offences and calling colleagues further up the road to stop the offending motorists.

Though not fully concealed in the bushes, the officer had removed his cap and safety vest to avoid being highly visible.

Officers dished out 26 tickets in 2½ hours for speeds ranging from 112km/h to 135km/h. Dozens more speedsters were detected but not all could be stopped.

Inspector Allan Boreham, Wellington district road policing manager, made no apologies for the "short duration, high impact" operation, one of dozens that have run in the district since April. "This is just another normal operation."

Speedsters were deterred only by being caught and fined, not by a high-visibility police presence on the roads, he said.

He reminded people who thought the tactic was sneaky to remember that plainclothes police commonly targeted drug dealers and car thieves.

"Why is it that offences on the road are different to burglaries? A uniformed cop being reasonably covert on the side of the road but still wearing his uniform – I have no difficulty with that.

"People just need to obey the law and those that don't, it's our duty to catch them," he said.

The spotter's location had been deemed safe, and he had even slapped on police-issue sunscreen to guard against damaging ultraviolet rays.

[merv]

By the number of tickets they are dishing out it seems to me the consensus is the speed limit on the motorway is too low.

[Hitcher]

While reading my Dompost this morning, I saw this and thought "Wikd will post this for sure". I like some certainty in my life.

Fancy having to squat in roadside bushes for a living. Other people would get arrested for this behaviour alone. They could at least build the poor bastard a maimai!

If the cops want to bust people for speeding they shouldn't sneak around.

Also, if you get stopped a couple of km up the road from the point of the alleged transgression, how do they validate what information was on the gun or whether it was you they pinged? Or are they just relying on you to fess up and say "It's a fair cop, officer. Do with me what you will." ??

[matthewt]

Also, if you get stopped a couple of km up the road from the point of the alleged transgression, how do they validate what information was on the gun or whether it was you they pinged? Or are they just relying on you to fess up and say "It's a fair cop, officer. Do with me what you will." ??

I lost my license for 28 days (55kph over) and asked to see the laser reading. I was told it wasn't available as the gun had been reset and that they weren't required to show it to me anyway. Not sure how that would stack up if someone had a go legally. This was in late 2000.

[wkid_one]

While reading my Dompost this morning, I saw this and thought "Wikd will post this for sure". I like some certainty in my life.

Fancy having to squat in roadside bushes for a living. Other people would get arrested for this behaviour alone. They could at least build the poor bastard a maimai!

If the cops want to bust people for speeding they shouldn't sneak around.

Also, if you get stopped a couple of km up the road from the point of the alleged transgression, how do they validate what information was on the gun or whether it was you they pinged? Or are they just relying on you to fess up and say "It's a fair cop, officer. Do with me what you will." ??

I called the Police about this this morning. APparently it is for OTHER traffic offences, like illegal lane changes, changing lanes without indicating, unsafe following distances.......M'Bikes beware as it includes lane splitting.

Speeding is something it is not targetted at

[matthewt]

Speeding is something it is not targetted at

So why the laser gun ??

[Slingshot]

Does anyone this there's value in a sticky thread that people could list sites where they've spotted cops with radar/laser equipement.
If so, maybe it could be regionalised and people could update the list as they found new one.
There seem to be favorite places that cops hang out, like on the Wgtn Motorway heading into the city just past the bit of land that juts into the harbour (the one that heaps of people fish off), or further along the Motorway at the on ramp just before the terrace offramp. Both of these sites are imposible to see until you're basically right on top of them.
I can post a few more sites as well if people want.

[Motu]

[b]

Speedsters were deterred only by being caught and fined, not by a high-visibility police presence on the roads, he said.

What crap is that? put a police car on the side of the road and everyone slows down to 80kmh for at least 5km,fines only deter the speeder caught,not the 100 potential speeders slowed down by a patrol car.

[Hitcher]

Does anyone this there's value in a sticky thread that people could list sites where they've spotted cops with radar/laser equipement.
If so, maybe it could be regionalised and people could update the list as they found new one.
There seem to be favorite places that cops hang out, like on the Wgtn Motorway heading into the city just past the bit of land that juts into the harbour (the one that heaps of people fish off), or further along the Motorway at the on ramp just before the terrace offramp. Both of these sites are imposible to see until you're basically right on top of them.
I can post a few more sites as well if people want.

The buggers also hide behind the concrete bollards at the end of the railway line by the Railway Station. They also hide in the Stadium carpark (and then run the red light to catch anybody they ping). They also park under the verandah on the canvas and awnings place up the Ngaio Gorge!! And I've also spotted them loitering with intent on Old Hutt Road under the Jville railway bridge... [Seethe, fume]

[wkid_one]

Does anyone this there's value in a sticky thread that people could list sites where they've spotted cops with radar/laser equipement.
If so, maybe it could be regionalised and people could update the list as they found new one.
There seem to be favorite places that cops hang out, like on the Wgtn Motorway heading into the city just past the bit of land that juts into the harbour (the one that heaps of people fish off), or further along the Motorway at the on ramp just before the terrace offramp. Both of these sites are imposible to see until you're basically right on top of them.
I can post a few more sites as well if people want.

yep great Idea

And a couple more:
1. Just after the merging lane before you head in to the Terrace Tunnel (LASER)
2. Cop hanging over the fence after the Nauranga Turn Off heading north with 2 bikes waiting down by the merging lane to pick you up. (LASER)
3. Parked in the Belmont Turn-off catching traffic heading south (LASER)
4. Parked up in the south bound breakdown lane just after the Silverstream lights on the left hand bend with his rearward Radar on (RADAR)
5. Parked in the horse paddock on the southbound side of the motorway just before the Manor Park Turnoff. (LASER)
6. Parked in the turnoff to the Firebreak that is now blocked off heading north on the river road with Laser - with two other cars for pick ups.

[bungbung]

but wait, there's more:

Bike with laser northbound from terrace tunnel on the grassy piece at the Tinakori rd off/on ramps

Laser handheld on Hobson st bridge watching southbound m/way with 3 cars by Hawkestone st onramp to collect.

Laser handheld outside Thorndon New World watching Murphy St offramp speeds (its a 50km/h zone, but you wouldn't know it)

[svs]

By the number of tickets they are dishing out it seems to me the consensus is the speed limit on the motorway is too low.

So what can be done about it? They keep going on about 100k being appropriate for small NZ roads with no crash barriers, but coming out of Wellington (and Auckland) the motorway is wide, open, gentle corners, steel crash barriers down the middle and entrance/exit ramps. What's the issue with raising the speed limit to 130k? It would be just as safe and also would clear the traffic quicker. The only loosers would be the police coffers with the reduced fines

see http://www.safespeed.org.uk/ and http://www.roadsense.com.au/

[bluninja]

So what can be done about it? They keep going on about 100k being appropriate for small NZ roads with no crash barriers, but coming out of Wellington (and Auckland) the motorway is wide, open, gentle corners, steel crash barriers down the middle and entrance/exit ramps. What's the issue with raising the speed limit to 130k? It would be just as safe and also would clear the traffic quicker. The only loosers would be the police coffers with the reduced fines

see http://www.safespeed.org.uk/ and http://www.roadsense.com.au/

The 'spaghetti junction' portion of Auckland motorways was slapped with an 80 k 'temporary' limit last year. The claim was that slowing traffic down increased the flow of traffic.....a bit like the variable speed limits on the M25 in England. Like there it has no effect.

[BigB]

The 'spaghetti junction' portion of Auckland motorways was slapped with an 80 k 'temporary' limit last year. The claim was that slowing traffic down increased the flow of traffic.....a bit like the variable speed limits on the M25 in England. Like there it has no effect.

Except that they then put a speed camera in at the weekends and you get done (in the car 94Kph) $80 thankyou very much

[Lou Girardin]

Scum, hiding under bushes with the rest of the dog turds. Then telling us it's for offences other than speeding, don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining.
As for the spaghetti junction 80km/h limit, a chance would be a fine thing.
Lou