Charged with Dangerous Driving - You got to be kiddin me?

[HenryDorsetCase]

errrr WOT?

Free only if it mean $400/hour divided into 6 mins time chunks an a minimum 1/2 hour fee...

Good luck chap.
MDU

$400 an hour ??? I want to come join your firm!

my charge out rate is SIGNIFICANTLY less than that. $400/hr would be a senior person in a big firm, or barrister rates (QC's would get more...)

but I do agree with the thrust of what you are saying.

[XP@]

i hit the brakes and pull over and the cop car comes out beside me and runs me off the road, no joke, my knee and elbow were pressed hard against his car. It took all i had to keep the car upright.

Does anyone know what the legal implications would have been if the cop had knocked FF off the bike?


PS hope your dad is ok?

[HenryDorsetCase]

Does anyone know what the legal implications would have been if the cop had knocked FF off the bike?


PS hope your dad is ok?

sounds like careless use (possibly causing injury) to me.

unless of course the force was justified because of the perp resisting arrest....

[HenryDorsetCase]

just to veer off on a tangent slightly, my view is that there shouldnt be any such thing as demerit points.

if you choose to break the speed limit, you pay the (in)appropriate fine. Its velocity tax. If you do something stupid, its either careless, reckless or dangerous, and punished appropriately.

demerit points are just some form filler's attempt to stop anyone having any fun.




I have a clean licence (at present) by the way.

[spudchucka]

tis a well known fact that most police patrol cars will take any oppurtunity to 'legally' speed... if that means waiting a minute or two before turning aroung to chase you, some of them will just so they can go a bit faster.

What TV show did you pluck that bullshit from?

[Patrick]

tis a well known fact that most police patrol cars will take any oppurtunity to 'legally' speed... if that means waiting a minute or two before turning aroung to chase you, some of them will just so they can go a bit faster. Of course this doesnt go for all of them - there are some good cops out there too.

Sometimes we just gotta rush to get to the donut shop, especially when the specials are on...to beat the crowds, you know?

[Zed]

... i hear this almighty siren and look in my mirrors to see a cop right on my tail, like 1cm off! i hit the brakes and pull over and the cop car comes out beside me and runs me off the road, no joke, my knee and elbow were pressed hard against his car. It took all i had to keep the car upright.

If this account is true, I'd fight it with every breath I could muster!

Get a good lawyer son, and I hope you can get off some of the erroneous charges!

[Pixie]

Sometimes we just gotta rush to get to the donut shop, especially when the specials are on...to beat the crowds, you know?

Mmmmmmm.........donuts

[Funkyfly]

You have witnesses. You have their details. You saw 121 on the radar. He was probably doing 180 to catch you? You also have the PCA. The cops number will be on the ticket. (PM me on this if you want...) What you also have is the option of requesting a copy of the radio transmissions from this cop and the Communication Centre of the "pursuit." These are kept for one month only though (I believe) so make the PCA and demand a copy of this "transmission" and of the file under the Official Information Act. Verbal request is fine, don't need written (and if they argue this, point that out to them...any request must be acted on within 20 working days).

Thanks for that patrick, and others for your imformation. Most appreciated.

[Oakie]

just to veer off on a tangent slightly, my view is that there shouldnt be any such thing as demerit points.

if you choose to break the speed limit, you pay the (in)appropriate fine. Its velocity tax. If you do something stupid, its either careless, reckless or dangerous, and punished appropriately.

demerit points are just some form filler's attempt to stop anyone having any fun.

I have a clean licence (at present) by the way.

As a deterrent, I disagree

I got my first speeding ticket in 23 years last night and the $120 it's going to cost me wouldn't slow me down but the 20 demerit points has. $120 is nothing much, but with the demerits I'll remember that for the next two years my licence is 20% gone.

[marty]

The other thing you can try is bargain. Go to court and tell the prosecuting Sergent you will plead guilty to Exceeding 100kph. No lose of licence.. just a fine and court costs.. maybe an option.

that would be my advice too.

how far from where he pinged you til where he stopped you?

at 180km/h (that's 3km/min), someone catching you would have to be travelling at 240km/h (4km/min) for about 10kms, before they caught up. 1, that's impossible; 2, that does lend weight to the 111 callers story (which may or may not be in your favour.)

what is in your favour is the 120-odd speed you were tracked at (2km/min), taking a patrol car at 180 (3km/min) about 8 to 10 k to catch you.

and i'd be appealing the 28 day suspension asap. you have to go to court for that though.

[marty]

and i'd be talking to that prosecutor loooong before you got to court. is it new plymouth or te kuiti? probably new plymouth.

another thing to ask is, did he call in a pursuit/fails to stop? the audio makes for interesting listening, especially the speeds he's calling (can hardly say he caught a bike doing 180 if he never called going over 160....). you'll want to get onto that one - PCA can get it straight away (for them to listen to - you (may) get a transcript)

[Postie]

Slowing down coming into Mokau i hear this almighty siren and look in my mirrors to see a cop right on my tail, like 1cm off! i hit the brakes and pull over and the cop car comes out beside me and runs me off the road, no joke, my knee and elbow were pressed hard against his car. It took all i had to keep the car upright.

if the police can charge someone as using a car as a weapon here then surely you should have a similar case

[Funkyfly]

and i'd be talking to that prosecutor loooong before you got to court. is it new plymouth or te kuiti? probably new plymouth.

another thing to ask is, did he call in a pursuit/fails to stop? the audio makes for interesting listening, especially the speeds he's calling (can hardly say he caught a bike doing 180 if he never called going over 160....). you'll want to get onto that one - PCA can get it straight away (for them to listen to - you (may) get a transcript)

This is all good stuff, but i have spent the last 2 hours on phones and got nothing.

I called the PCA (0800 503 728) and the lady said they dont give out any information, all she could give me was the P.O Box to write too with my complaint and they would consider it. I would have to talk to the police, not the complaint auth

I then found out the officers names and called his supeior officer (Hamilton), he said i cant get anything (officers notes or audio) until the court summons and that would be about 8 weeks!

Its like im getting the brush off!

[HenryDorsetCase]

This is all good stuff, but i have spent the last 2 hours on phones and got nothing.

I called the PCA (0800 503 728) and the lady said they dont give out any information, all she could give me was the P.O Box to write too with my complaint!

I then found out the officers names and called his supeior officer (Hamilton), he said i cant get anything (officers notes or audio) until the court summons and that would be about 8 weeks!

Its like im getting the brush off!

my advice is do not phone anyone. Make written requests. a) because you have to and b) because you are dealing with the gummint, and they only respond to writing. Also paper trail and written submissions might be useful later.

It also would look better (maybe) coming on a lawyers letterhead. Shows you are serious.

that 8 weeks (just before christmas, yeah right...) will fly by. Dont worry, the wheels of justice grind slow, but they do grind very fine.