Attitude

[Big Dog]

My most recent experience with mr plod goes somink like this.

Cruising home.

Feeling the zone.

lean forward to better enjoy the lunge of a pass.

Grin from ear to ear.

Tip deep, thow her on her ear.

Whats that in my wing mirror?

F%$#@n disco lights.

No problem. I don't think I am speeding?

Quick speedo check as I hit the bakes and stand her up all at once and try to steer out onto the safety shoulder to pull over.

Just about lose the whole bike to the a^$e pucker as I realise I am doing 150 while heavy on the brakes.

Deep sigh of relief as they go thundering past.

Dawdle home at 100 ( feels bloody slow when your in the zone).

See Cop car pulled over helping stricken cagers ( so why the 170kmph pass to help a cager who probably just ran out of gas?)


Gravy!

[sAsLEX]

See Cop car pulled over helping stricken cagers ( so why the 170kmph pass to help a cager who probably just ran out of gas?)


Gravy!

Cause they can and no one can stop them.

[What?]

... unless the cyclist/motorcyclist is "illegally" overtaking on the left? I'm not sure I would want to test it in court...

Hmmmmm. One thing I learned from a week of jury service is "If you want justice, steer well clear of courts".

[Skyryder]

At the risk of sounding ingnorant what is FILTERING?

Skyryder

[riffer]

At the risk of sounding ingnorant what is FILTERING?

Skyryder

Jeez, its funny how its always the Cantabrians ask this question.

Filtering, or lanesplitting, is basically overtaking using the same lane as a car or other vehicle thats already in the lane.

Essential stuff in Welly or Aucks if you need to get to work on time....

[Two Smoker]

At the risk of sounding ingnorant what is FILTERING?

Skyryder

Don't worry, alot of Southern people seem to ask that.... Filtering is when you lanesplit between cars on the motorway and the cars are moving as you are splitting between them, so you basically straddle the centreline between two lanes...

Damn Edit..... Celtic bet me too it lol

[Lou Girardin]

"overtaking when prohibited" was the stated offence

You will need to find out the details of the offence. Then decide whether to contest it. Prohibition sounds like a catch-all, what exactly was prohibited?
Lou

[Marmoot]

Seriously though, what kind of cretin thinks a cage can suddenly change lanes in 10km/h nose to tail traffic.
Lou

?? ?? ??
Lou, you should've known better. The keywords being: AUCKLANDERS

[spudchucka]

That's a good link, RiB.
This bit is especially scary "and remember the officer does not have to hold a motorcycle licence and may not even hold a full car licence yet." Would be interesting to know the licence status of the cops who have been involved in fatal chases, what their experience levels are.

Out the latest group of "cadets", (17 - 19 year olds as I recall) to graduate only a few of them were still on restricted licences. They have to observe the same licence restrictions that apply to any restricted drivers. Other than these few cadets a full class 1 clean licence was a pre-requesite for recruiting.

[spudchucka]

"overtaking when prohibited" was the stated offence

I will research the offence details for you and PM you if I find anything that may help.

[speedpro]

I will research the offence details for you and PM you if I find anything that may help.

Thanks (too short to send on it's own)

[spudchucka]

Thanks (too short to send on it's own)

You have a PM re this offence.

[speedpro]

You have a PM re this offence.

I"m going to contest it.

Not on the grounds that I wasn't breaking the law but that common sense should have prevailed in this situation. I'm going to get some video footage of typical traffic flows and car positioning within lanes at the approximate time of the "offence". It works out good that there are two overbridges in the immediate area of the "offence so I will be able to get good footage and shots illustrating my contention. I should be able to get someone to come for a cruise in the car around that time as well and get a driver/rider eye view of the traffic.

A celebrity endorsement of the "offence" might put a good light on it as well if anyone lives next door to a bike riding celebrity - John Banks???, Aunty Helen???

If nothing else it will make the issuing officer work for his $150. Maybe if a few more "offenders" contest it as well it might discourage him from issuing tickets for this "offence".

One worry - what are the chances of an increased fine in retribution for contesting this?

[MikeL]

One worry - what are the chances of an increased fine in retribution for contesting this?

Don't worry. You have nothing to lose. Provided you don't delay so long that it becomes overdue you can't be fined any more than the original ticket. If there is ongoing correspondence because you dispute the facts then the original deadline for payment can't apply. How long you can prolong the whole thing depends on how confident you feel about your case. If it were to end up in court and your case was demolished you could be up for additional costs. This could be seen as punitive and a way to discourage other timewasters but I don't think "retribution" is quite the right word.
It's your right to contest the charge and within reason the police and the courts have to allow you the opportunity to do so.
FWIW I contested a $150 ticket for riding in the emergency stopping strip of the Southern Motorway. I sent in a videotape showing how widespread the practice was, along with a semi-humorous letter. No acknowledgement of my submission other than a form letter saying that in this instance they had decided to let me off. Well worth the effort, the cost of a videotape and a 40c stamp!

[wkid_one]

I"m going to contest it.

Not on the grounds that I wasn't breaking the law but that common sense should have prevailed in this situation. I'm going to get some video footage of typical traffic flows and car positioning within lanes at the approximate time of the "offence". It works out good that there are two overbridges in the immediate area of the "offence so I will be able to get good footage and shots illustrating my contention. I should be able to get someone to come for a cruise in the car around that time as well and get a driver/rider eye view of the traffic.

A celebrity endorsement of the "offence" might put a good light on it as well if anyone lives next door to a bike riding celebrity - John Banks???, Aunty Helen???

If nothing else it will make the issuing officer work for his $150. Maybe if a few more "offenders" contest it as well it might discourage him from issuing tickets for this "offence".

One worry - what are the chances of an increased fine in retribution for contesting this?

Make sure you film it with the traffic coming towards you by god. As I would hate to be a biker while you are playing Steve Spielberg as in all likelihood you will be providing the cops with video evidence to ticket every biker splitting at the time you film. Don't laugh too hard at this - sillier things have happened.