Attitude

[speedpro]

I got an attitude readjustment on the way home tonight. Bike cop parked well back from the edge of the motorway on the NW motorway heading home past the Newton Road on ramp. Me idling past the cars between lanes 2&3 didn't see him till too late which of course was the point of him sitting so far back from the road. Ticket for $150

I let him write it out then had a grumpy discussion about what was achieved by ticketing riders for doing what I was doing. The cars were doing about 10Kmh and I was doing about 20kmh. Evidently they could swerve and knock me off and it is dangerous and it's also the law. I'm sure this is the same cop who has given me two warnings in the past.

Now I'm not going to enjoy my rides to and from work as much 'cause I'll be all jumpy about getting another ticket, just when I was beginning to think he'd been moved to somewhere I wasn't and I was happy tootling between the lanes of traffic. The car driving cops don't care, I've stopped and asked a few and I've rung a couple of stations as well and always got the same responce, they just can't be bothered with it in Aucklands traffic. It would appear to be just the one bike riding tosser.

Feelin' a bit better, must write to someone who does matter.

[spudchucka]

I got an attitude readjustment on the way home tonight. Bike cop parked well back from the edge of the motorway on the NW motorway heading home past the Newton Road on ramp. Me idling past the cars between lanes 2&3 didn't see him till too late which of course was the point of him sitting so far back from the road. Ticket for $150

I let him write it out then had a grumpy discussion about what was achieved by ticketing riders for doing what I was doing. The cars were doing about 10Kmh and I was doing about 20kmh. Evidently they could swerve and knock me off and it is dangerous and it's also the law. I'm sure this is the same cop who has given me two warnings in the past.

Now I'm not going to enjoy my rides to and from work as much 'cause I'll be all jumpy about getting another ticket, just when I was beginning to think he'd been moved to somewhere I wasn't and I was happy tootling between the lanes of traffic. The car driving cops don't care, I've stopped and asked a few and I've rung a couple of stations as well and always got the same responce, they just can't be bothered with it in Aucklands traffic. It would appear to be just the one bike riding tosser.

Feelin' a bit better, must write to someone who does matter.

What was the ticket actually for??

[Lou Girardin]

Gosh, speedpro. He saved your life!
Seriously though, what kind of cretin thinks a cage can suddenly change lanes in 10km/h nose to tail traffic. He's just after easy tickets.
Lou

[MikeL]

I assume the actual ofence is illegal overtaking?

Although most of us do it and think we're fairly safe, there is a slight chance of coming to grief, as I was reminded suddenly a couple of weeks ago when the passenger in the car ahead and to the right of me suddenly opened the door, jumped out and ran round to get in to the driver's seat. At the speed I was doing it wasn't a problem to jam on the brakes and stop in time, but a bit faster, or slower reaction time and I might have hit him (and it would have been my fault).
Hasn't stopped me lane filtering, though...

[RiderInBlack]

I got an attitude readjustment on the way home tonight. Bike cop parked well back from the edge of the motorway on the NW motorway heading home past the Newton Road on ramp. Me idling past the cars between lanes 2&3 didn't see him till too late which of course was the point of him sitting so far back from the road. Ticket for $150

I let him write it out then had a grumpy discussion about what was achieved by ticketing riders for doing what I was doing. The cars were doing about 10Kmh and I was doing about 20kmh. Evidently they could swerve and knock me off and it is dangerous and it's also the law.

You probabily could have contested that ticket. Read the following in the BRONZ web site (I think it was in the March Kiwi Rider mag as well): http://www.bronz.org.nz/news/bronz_writes_archive.htm

[pete376403]

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.

[speedpro]

What was the ticket actually for??

"overtaking when prohibited" was the stated offence

[jrandom]

"overtaking when prohibited" was the stated offence

Contest it. Take it as far as possible and establish a precedent if you can.

The regulations indicate, and we need to establish in court, that filtering is legal when:

- you pass on the right within a lane; or
- you pass on the left when the car is stopped,

provided that:

- all lane changes are correctly indicated; and
- the speed limit for the road is not exceeded; and
- the speed differential is not dangerous (eg, filtering at 95kph through stopped motorway traffic doesn't break the road's speed limit but is obviously dangerous).

Contest it. Please.

[sAsLEX]

I assume the actual ofence is illegal overtaking?

Although most of us do it and think we're fairly safe, there is a slight chance of coming to grief, as I was reminded suddenly a couple of weeks ago when the passenger in the car ahead and to the right of me suddenly opened the door, jumped out and ran round to get in to the driver's seat. At the speed I was doing it wasn't a problem to jam on the brakes and stop in time, but a bit faster, or slower reaction time and I might have hit him (and it would have been my fault).
Hasn't stopped me lane filtering, though...

is not in the law somewhere that it must not cause injury/damage to any vehicle/person the act of opening ones door?? Ie if you open you door and collect a cyclist it is your fault?

[MikeL]

is not in the law somewhere that it must not cause injury/damage to any vehicle/person the act of opening ones door?? Ie if you open you door and collect a cyclist it is your fault?

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

[k14]

When I lane split on a motorway I try to keep my right indicator on the whole time and try to stay to the left of the lane lines/bumpy things. Then you aren't doing anything illegal, it is white lines and you are passing on the right.

Did you have your indicators on speedpro?

[MikeL]

When I lane split on a motorway I try to keep my right indicator on the whole time and try to stay to the left of the lane lines/bumpy things.

If you can remain to the left of the white line consistently, you are
(a) a much more skilful rider than me
(b) riding a much narrower bike than me
(c) only riding on roads used by courteous, helpful cage drivers.

[speedpro]

Contest it. Take it as far as possible and establish a precedent if you can.

The regulations indicate, and we need to establish in court, that filtering is legal when:

- you pass on the right within a lane; or
- you pass on the left when the car is stopped,

provided that:

- all lane changes are correctly indicated; and
- the speed limit for the road is not exceeded; and
- the speed differential is not dangerous (eg, filtering at 95kph through stopped motorway traffic doesn't break the road's speed limit but is obviously dangerous).

Contest it. Please.

Referring to your own quoted provisions I have no grounds to contest the ticket. I was in the far right lane but on the left of the cars in that lane. As we are all aware, cage drivers in the right lane keep closer to the median barrier and away from fellow road abusers, which leaves a very useful "lane" for motorcyclists.

One thought I did have was that the cop was parked along the motorway some 50m or so and well off to the left. His view of me was hindered by other vehicles and when he inspected my licence he pulled out his spectacles, noted details,and put them away again. My thought was that if he needed his spectacles to read my licence how well would he have been able to see where I was positioned without them.

[MikeL]

One thought I did have was that the cop was parked along the motorway some 50m or so and well off to the left. His view of me was hindered by other vehicles and when he inspected my licence he pulled out his spectacles, noted details,and put them away again. My thought was that if he needed his spectacles to read my licence how well would he have been able to see where I was positioned without them.

Nice try but it won't work. He can probably show that he has good long-distance vision and only needs glasses for reading. Very common after middle-age!

[sAsLEX]

Arrghhh, splitting all the way from the bridge the other day coming home at about 1730 so traffic was backed up from half-way down the bridge, decide to skip esmonde and get off at northcote as I needed to go to milford. Just as I get past esmonde I suddenly notice a bike that had been hiding in the traffic flow. Having heard the rules I was just going to pass him anyway but the lack of a displayed L plate made me think twice, took F'n ages because of him!!