Some people just don't get statistics...

[Lou Girardin]

Did you make a complaint about the bad driving? The cops can't be everywhere and they rely on receiving information from the public to apprehend dangerous drivers.

Why don't you start reporting bad driving to the authorities instead of writing letters to newspapers.

I've done that a few times in the past years, even when driver testing. After several 'it's your word (and witnesses) against theirs' replies. I've given it up as a lost cause.
Public exposure is always best.
Lou

[James Deuce]

I can't say what happens in other areas but I've seen heaps of traffic complaint forms going through for investigation, dozens every week. They can be a pain in the butt because the general public don't always understand the detail of information required but in my experience all the legit complaints get followed up and the offenders dealt with. It's still worthwhile making complaints in my opinion and there is a better chance of getting something done than just whinging to the editor of a newspaper.

FFS I can't win can I? If I bitch here to "mates", I'm whining, if people write to the newspaper you're whinging, but its OK for the police to waste my time by not following up on two complaints that could've killed me? I provided Vehicle type, colour, in one case year of manufacture, date, time, location with diagram, rego, and descriptions of the drivers. All as required on the form. It takes you 30 minutes to double check and fill it all out, and in my opinion were actions that required some form of prosecution. I was asked if I would be willing to go to court to give evidence and in both cases said yes. You can stick up for the process all you like but it doesn't work, in just the same way that turning up 4 days after a burglary doesn't work.

[spudchucka]

FFS I can't win can I? If I bitch here to "mates", I'm whining, if people write to the newspaper you're whinging, but its OK for the police to waste my time by not following up on two complaints that could've killed me? I provided Vehicle type, colour, in one case year of manufacture, date, time, location with diagram, rego, and descriptions of the drivers. All as required on the form. It takes you 30 minutes to double check and fill it all out, and in my opinion were actions that required some form of prosecution. I was asked if I would be willing to go to court to give evidence and in both cases said yes. You can stick up for the process all you like but it doesn't work, in just the same way that turning up 4 days after a burglary doesn't work.

I,m not saying the processes are perfect. I'm saying don't give up because of previous dissapointments. The whinging to newspapers comment wasn't directed at you.

[James Deuce]

I,m not saying the processes are perfect. I'm saying don't give up because of previous dissapointments. The whinging to newspapers comment wasn't directed at you.

I know it wasn't, its just that that appears to be the only outlet for justified rage at some moron trying to kill you.

From the process perspective I work in a process driven industry and if a process doesn't work, people won't use it. Its human nature and there is no point trying to address it by getting more commitment from the participants. If the process doesn't work once, people assume that you are either uninterested or incompetent.

[F5 Dave]

‘. . .either uninterested or incompetent’

in 4 words you’ve just summed up the Police Farce.

What’s that? Oh we seem to have lost the file. . . oh no he’s on leave now so we can’t do anything about it till then. . [insert usual inept dealings with the Police].

& that’s just the ones who are straight.



Hey look at this little ranting guy! he’s got a huge repertoire.

[spudchucka]

‘. . .either uninterested or incompetent’

in 4 words you’ve just summed up the Police Farce.

What’s that? Oh we seem to have lost the file. . . oh no he’s on leave now so we can’t do anything about it till then. . [insert usual inept dealings with the Police].

& that’s just the ones who are straight.



Hey look at this little ranting guy! he’s got a huge repertoire.

You should get to know Lou, you'd be best buddies.

[scumdog]

‘. . .either uninterested or incompetent’

in 4 words you’ve just summed up the Police Farce.

What’s that? Oh we seem to have lost the file. . . oh no he’s on leave now so we can’t do anything about it till then. . [insert usual inept dealings with the Police].

& that’s just the ones who are straight.



Hey look at this little ranting guy! he’s got a huge repertoire.

Police are base on a cross section of the community, heaven help us if that cross section happens to be you :disapint:

[Hitcher]

I guess half of the population of New Zealand has below average intelligence, so that should come as no surprise...

[F5 Dave]

No the cross section is people who can handle doing a crappy job under-resourced in difficult circumstances for little money.

People who you would like to be cops would never apply or don’t last. The others stay & either become demoralised, misguided or evil.

Try getting a bike stolen or a house broken into & see how keen you are about the state of play.

[spudchucka]

No the cross section is people who can handle doing a crappy job under-resourced in difficult circumstances for little money.

People who you would like to be cops would never apply or don’t last. The others stay & either become demoralised, misguided or evil.

Try getting a bike stolen or a house broken into & see how keen you are about the state of play.

Actually the police force is an organisation that depends totally on the good will of its staff to function anywhere near efficently. No one joins up for the money because they are all reasonably smart and have done the maths before they apply. The majority of the people in the police do the job because they believe the work they do can make a difference. Theres always the bad apples that shouldn't be there but you get that in all walks of life.

Sure, cops become demoralised and cynical over time but evil, come on, that is totally wrong.

[F5 Dave]

Well the evil ones are in the papers at present so that is obviously the opposite of totally wrong.

No I don’t think it is a large proportion. But I do know people who have left due to the culture.

As far as misguided; a friend who was looking at joining went on observation. They pulled over & breath tested & failed a driver. OK good job I applaud.

But when back at the station they were not near over the limit when tested there, they let her go with a warning. The breath wand thingies get contaminated or uncalibrated apparently.

So friend says ‘So we get a new breath test thingy?’

Why? Was the response.

[spudchucka]

Well the evil ones are in the papers at present so that is obviously the opposite of totally wrong.

No I don’t think it is a large proportion. But I do know people who have left due to the culture.

As far as misguided; a friend who was looking at joining went on observation. They pulled over & breath tested & failed a driver. OK good job I applaud.

But when back at the station they were not near over the limit when tested there, they let her go with a warning. The breath wand thingies get contaminated or uncalibrated apparently.

So friend says ‘So we get a new breath test thingy?’

Why? Was the response.

The road side breath testing equipment is an indicator only, not a conclusive test. They only give an indication as to the level of alcohol and they can sometimes give inaccurate readings depending on how long it was since the last drink, skull a double bourbon and then blow in the bag or electronic tester and it will say you are over, wait 20 minutes and it probably wont even register. Also the electronic testers can be set off by cigarette smoke, strong aftershave, mouth wash etc, thats why they are an indicator only, not an evidential test.

As for the evil officers you mention I wont comment because that matter is under investigation, other than to say that you are talking about 3 or 4 men, not the entire police force, so put it in perspective.

[Big Dog]

I did the 555 thing twice once I followed an obviously drunk driver ( i saw him swigging from a bottle of Jack as he passed me) for 2 hours giving a running commentary to the operator. I became doubley sus when they changed cars and went back the way they came.

Turned out they were on the run from a armed holdup earlier... at a liquor store..... where they only took whiskey & one packet of cigarettes.

Got a pretty letter three months later advising me they got 6 (out in three was the prediction) years.


The other was after witnessing a particularly dangerous pasing maneuvre that caused an accident that the offender was not even involved in.

I didn't get the plate but reported it anyway as it had somewhat distinctive sign writing on the red ute and trailer. Wee tip when doing stupid things on the road don't do them in a vehicle that says team ****** while on the way back from cemetery cuircuit.

3 years passed no news, completly forgot about it. Changed my address on my license when I upgraded it. got another letter telling me they had pleaded to Dangerous causing injury, and pleaded not guilty to fleeing the scene on the grounds that they had not known there was an accident.

Oops I hope team ****** is either not on this forum or has forgiven me.

The system works, at least it has for me. I don't do it anymore now that the it costs money (even though they deduct it of your next bill if the get to prosecute or warn the offender), its the pricipal, why should I pay to do my civic duty?

[Ms Piggy]

Well I'll let you all know how I get on b/c I called up about a guy who ran a very red light on that intersection of John St, Adelaide Rd & Riddiford St and just about ran me down. I was a pedestrian crossing on Adelaide Rd and the buzzer had gone I had stepped out onto the road & had to step back b/c of the crazy driver!! If there's one thing that gets me hot under the collar it's ALL the Wellington drivers who run red lights!

Hey Big Dog - do you mean the *555 number costs money?

[Big Dog]

Hey Big Dog - do you mean the *555 number costs money?

The third time I called it it was about a woman meditating on the median barrier (well sitting cross legged looking panic stricken). A police car was dispatched to pick her up, turns out (got a call from the patrol car) her husband had pulled up the hand brake and hold her get out and walk as he was sick of her back seat driving (fair warning naggers ).

My phone bill showed a charge for three minutes at $1.99, then a reversal three days later. When I called to question it they said they were overloaded with claims about "a blue car" that they now charge $1.99 pm unless 70% of a complaint can be filled in (which must include either a complete plate or a partial and model and colour). If at a later date they are able to charge or issue a warning to the offender this is refunded, in the form of a credit.

I don't know what happened to the husband as they did not need my testimony once they had rescued her.