A visit from the Police

**Marmoot** · 20th September 2005, 16:13

Take it this way:

If you groan on the prospect of having to go to court to defend yourself, think of the witnesses.

It would be harder decision for them to go to court when their wallet is not involved in the equation, and they would lose 1 day wage as your son would.

In the end, there would be court without witness. What kind of court is done without witness? (bear in mind, the police in this case was not a witness since he was not there).

Logical?

**Lou Girardin** · 20th September 2005, 16:31

The unnecessary acceleration thing is interesting. Compared to what?
Even a pootling start on a bike leaves any car for dead.
Is that unnecessary?
I happen to think it's a definite safety factor, a nice big gap back to any cretin unable to stop.

**ajdarrell** · 20th September 2005, 16:51

Originally Posted by Jimmie

After talking with the cop,

This is your problem.

My understanding is that they will do nothing unless they have mutiple credible witnesses or you admit that something happened. The only thing you have to tell a cop is your name and address, other than this say nothing.

A good number of convictions result from information given by the convictee.

Get it moved to CHCH and fight it.

**froggyfrenchman** · 20th September 2005, 16:56

hope it all goes away for him... sucks. even if he was doin donuts!

**froggyfrenchman** · 20th September 2005, 16:58

Originally Posted by Marmoot

Take it this way:

If you groan on the prospect of having to go to court to defend yourself, think of the witnesses.

It would be harder decision for them to go to court when their wallet is not involved in the equation, and they would lose 1 day wage as your son would.

In the end, there would be court without witness. What kind of court is done without witness? (bear in mind, the police in this case was not a witness since he was not there).

Logical?

Not quite true... When my bikes were stolen, i was called to court as a witness. The courts contacted my employer, found out what my days pay would have been and paid me. cheque was here 3 days after court day

**madboy** · 20th September 2005, 17:27

I'd fight it, but then I'm a sucker for punishment. Young boy's word vs old fart's word... don't like your chances. And God help you if there were any children within 100 miles. But I agree with others here, if you've already had a word with the cop you're farked. Best thing to do is name, address and speak to my lawyer, cop. Admit nothing. Truth is the first victim. The fact that you've admitted there was a loss of traction is a bad move. "Sustained" is very subjective and depends entirely on the age of the driver, vehicle they are driving and the last time the officer had sexual intercourse with a real live human being.

**inlinefour** · 20th September 2005, 17:53

Originally Posted by Jimmie

My son got a visit from the police yesterday who were following up on a complaint from the "public". They said he was doing donuts in his ute on a gravel road near Nelson when he was there a month ago. Son's version is that he parked on the grass at the side of the road and the back slipped slightly when he drove off (no big slide or anything) as it was slippery. A coupla "members of the public" having observed this laid a complaint. I suspect there may have been some words between the two parties and the area is probably frequented by hoons but I think son is being straight up saying he was not doing donuts, just took off a bit quick.

After talking with the cop, son was told that either he accepts a $600 fine (for loosing traction ...) or contests it in court. I expect the case would be heard in Nelson (son resident in Chch) so what choice does he have?? - $600 or a day off work, travel costs to Nelson and the possibility of still being found guilty.

Has anyone else had to defend themselves against a complaint from the public? Do they have to front in court if it is defended? This sounds like a good way to have a go at any segment of society that I happen not to like.

Twas my word against theirs. They stated that I did a wheelie as I went around the courner with the wheel up in the air, 90 degree turn. I said to the judge, sorry I can't even do that on my MX bike, let alone on a road bike on the road. He reckoned that he did not know much about bikes, but one of the magpies said that it would be a reasonably hard thing to do. On the end the case was dismissed and I walked away. However if I had lost, I would have had court costs on top of the fine. Let alone the day off work. Next time it happened, I just said to the magpie, yea I did it and paid the fine

**limbimtimwim** · 20th September 2005, 18:35

Originally Posted by inlinefour

Twas my word against theirs. They stated that I did a wheelie as I w [...] Next time it happened, I just said to the magpie, yea I did it and paid the fine

And you want that on your record?

**inlinefour** · 20th September 2005, 18:38

Originally Posted by limbimtimwim

And you want that on your record?

Don't really think its something that anyone would ever drag up again, unless I reverted back to doing those things...

**WINJA** · 20th September 2005, 18:46

Originally Posted by Jimmie

My son got a visit from the police yesterday who were following up on a complaint from the "public". They said he was doing donuts in his ute on a gravel road near Nelson when he was there a month ago. Son's version is that he parked on the grass at the side of the road and the back slipped slightly when he drove off (no big slide or anything) as it was slippery. A coupla "members of the public" having observed this laid a complaint. I suspect there may have been some words between the two parties and the area is probably frequented by hoons but I think son is being straight up saying he was not doing donuts, just took off a bit quick.

After talking with the cop, son was told that either he accepts a $600 fine (for loosing traction ...) or contests it in court. I expect the case would be heard in Nelson (son resident in Chch) so what choice does he have?? - $600 or a day off work, travel costs to Nelson and the possibility of still being found guilty.

Has anyone else had to defend themselves against a complaint from the public? Do they have to front in court if it is defended? This sounds like a good way to have a go at any segment of society that I happen not to like.

MEANWHILE SOMEWHERE THERE IS A RAPE,ASSAULT,MURDER OR BURGLARY HAPPENING YET THE PIGS FOLLOW UP THIS SMALL OFFENCE THAT WAS PROBABLY AN ACCIDENT , A REAL COP WOULD JUST GIVE HIM A WARNING , A COP MADE A DECESION TO TAKE ACTION , STOP BLAMING THE POLLIES BLAME THE FUCKERS ON THE COAL FACE FOR TAKING THE EASY OPTIONS

**Rainbow Wizard** · 20th September 2005, 18:47

Because I wasn't jammin'. And I didn't have my right foot jammed to the floor. And I wasn't playing Jamiroquoi on the stereo either. Now piss off and go after some real crims ya deadbeat waste of space.

Originally Posted by Jimmie

My son got a visit from the police yesterday who were following up on a complaint from the "public". They said he was doing donuts in his ute on a gravel road near Nelson when he was there a month ago. Son's version is that he parked on the grass at the side of the road and the back slipped slightly when he drove off (no big slide or anything) as it was slippery.......After talking with the cop, son was told that either he accepts a $600 fine (for loosing traction ...) or contests it in court....

Ask your boy if he took off in the direction he was parked or if he did a "U" turn. If he didn't then that's a unut not a donut!

Believe me, if the cops thought they had a case they probably would have charged him there & then. Let the bastards try and then contest it if they do. Bastards.

**myvice** · 20th September 2005, 19:01

Hmmm, Fun and games;
Get it moved to Chch,
3 days befor the date ask for an extension, say 3 weeks,
Repeat this as often as they will let you,
On the day walk in with a letter from a mechanic stating "Due to transmission problems this vehicle often "grabs" when pulling away from a standstill."
Ask for any evidence, an eyewitness? So? Was he/she an officer or a person of equal or higher standing?
Do they have any video or photographic evidence?
Tell them to stop wasting your time and that any further action can be directed through your lawyers.
After the run around then the "Prove it" statement only to be given a QC's name 99% of the bullying type back off.
If they don’t then make good on your threat and get a lawyer, charge them when you are found innocent!

**DevoDave** · 20th September 2005, 22:22

I would be inclined to defend such a charge and then claim costs after a successful defense. Members of the public are rarely trained to give evidence and it should be easy to pick holes in it. Listen carefully to the evidence given and relate that to the witness you are looking to see if they have been primed by the pols. It is is quite easy to pick.. "I was proceeding in a easterly direction when.." Then you can challenge them on there evidence trying to draw it out of them that the words used are not theirs but those of the pols..

**Biff** · 20th September 2005, 22:47

Do not let him admit anything or agree to accepting any charge/fine. They will then need to build a case in order to prove the charges. Chances are they wont, it'll probably be too much like hard work (getting witnesses into court etc), so the charges will be dropped.

But I bet you a packet of chips that your son was doing donuts. And I bet you another packet that, had you seen him do it, you would have been proud.

**Beemer** · 20th September 2005, 23:24

Definitely contest it. My husband and I personally laid a complaint with the police in Paraparaumu (after being on hold with *555 for 15 minutes) after witnessing the worst case of dangerous driving we had ever seen. Guy in a late model BMW was overtaking on double yellow lines, in some cases using the oncoming passing lanes (complete with two lanes of oncoming traffic!) and forcing other traffic to take evasive action. Both of us were prepared to stand up in court and give evidence - and what happened? We got a letter about a month later, saying the driver had been spoken to and made aware his actions were not on. Yeah, right!

Tell them unless the witnesses are prepared to stand up in court and swear he was doing donuts, he is not prepared to admit to anything. Hell, a month later and they come knocking on his door? Sorry, but I'd be telling them to piss off and investigate a burglary or something!