Relativity

[What?]

Just wondering; what experiences have people had with tickets vs warnings.
I have been ticketed for 14 K over (open road), and got away with a warning for aproximately (before mobile radar) 100K over limit. And my first ever ticket (46 over) cost me less than it would have had I been doing 6 K slower...

[Kickaha]

In 13 years of riding and driving I have had two tickets,one for 30km over which was a $80 fine at the time and one for not wearing a helmet which was a $50 fine.

I have had two warnings in the same time,one for 24km over and the other for no WOF.

I look at it like this,I know the rules and if I choose to break them and get caught I'll pay the fine and you won't hear any bitching from me,if I get away with a warning thats a bonus!

[Skyryder]

Two tickets on the bike, no warnings. The first outside Reefton. No traffic perfect riding conditions at 117. That one just not cricket. Still think the fuz was pissid off because I was riding he was driving. The second in the city 61 k's. OK a fair cop I was in the wrong and caught by a hidden camera. I have a simple philosophy in such cases as this. If you can not say something in someones face you should not say it at all. Feel much the same way about hidden camera or speed traps of any kind.

Skyryder

[Marknz]

In 1996 I got done for 114kph in the cage between Wanganui & Bulls and was fined something in the region of $120.

In early 2003 in Canberra I was pulled up for 137kph on the 'Storm in an 80 zone in the middle of the night and got a warning.

Go figure

[jrandom]

Hmmm. Never had a pull-over-stylee ticket in the car. Got a warning some years back for fanging it (car) up Mt Wellington Highway. Must have been doing a solid 35 over at the time but the copper was in a benevolent mood. Maybe he just didn't get a radar lock.

Two pull-over tickets, both $150 for going nortily where I shuddnae bin (emergency shoulder and motorway bus lane) on the bike. One warning and let-off for riding outside license restrictions while on learners (he could have hit me for $800 and 50 points - phew).

Lost count of laser camera tickets in the car, never had one on the bike.

[jrandom]

And...

While we're on the topic of relativity, does anyone else think the license restriction transgression penalties are a little on the harsh side? Let's say Joe Learner is taking the missus for a spin down the motorway on his mate's Bandit 600 and gets flagged. That would be

- Not displaying L plate: $400, 25 points
- Exceeding 70kph: $400, 25 points
- Carrying a pillion: $400, 25 points
- Riding over 250cc: $400, 25 points

That's his license gone and $1600 down the toilet.

I think I'd rather take my chances pulling a wheelie past the Northcote traffic headquarters.

[Motu]

Probably 50/50 for me,had a few tickets,had some warnings too.The last time I was stopped was doing 80 in a 50 in the Diamante - he didn't have the radar on but knew I was going way too fast,just told to keep the speed down.The last ticket was on a bike and he got me at 80kph,but gave me a ticket for 69kph as I was doing that steady thinking I was in a 70kph zone....and that's the way it's been down the years,win some,lose some.

[k14]

And...

While we're on the topic of relativity, does anyone else think the license restriction transgression penalties are a little on the harsh side? Let's say Joe Learner is taking the missus for a spin down the motorway on his mate's Bandit 600 and gets flagged. That would be

- Not displaying L plate: $400, 25 points
- Exceeding 70kph: $400, 25 points
- Carrying a pillion: $400, 25 points
- Riding over 250cc: $400, 25 points

That's his license gone and $1600 down the toilet.

I think I'd rather take my chances pulling a wheelie past the Northcote traffic headquarters.

No, if anything they are way too soft. Who knows someone that has broken one or more of their conditions (including me), it is a joke. Also, who knows someone that has been let off after getting pulled over while breaking a condition.

If someone is dumb enough to break 4 conditions at the same time, then they get what they deserve.

P.S. They would have also got a speeding ticket for doing 30 or so over the limit (another 25 points and $230).

Back on topic, I have had one ticket for 130 in a 100, overtaking some slow asses that sped up in the passing lane, just took it. Thats the only time i've been pulled up for speeding.

[Wonko]

Since getting a bike I haven't gotten a single ticket, pull over or camera. Camera ones might have something to do with the small ding in my number plate rather than not being flashed though. Have only had one warning, that was going to be a ticket, but the cop was called away to an accident while doing a walkaround the car.

[MikeL]

No, if anything they are way too soft. Who knows someone that has broken one or more of their conditions (including me), it is a joke. Also, who knows someone that has been let off after getting pulled over while breaking a condition.

But this shows up the whole problem of setting and enforcing arbitrary limits. If the conditions are a joke because they are widely ignored, is it an appropriate response to increase the penalties? Perhaps they are widely ignored because they are perceived as being too restrictive or because compared to other riskier behaviours they are seen as relatively minor?
The idea that if people don't obey the law you simply increase the punishment until they do has a certain logic to it that appeals to people in authority, and it can be effective up to a point, but it is not the most intelligent approach.

[pete376403]

I thnk the last warning I got was when a bunch of us were doing about 140 - 150 on the Napier Taupo road, on a clear day, with no other traffic in sight. Cop coming the other way turned around and pulled us over. Possibly cos he couldn't identify any one particular speeder (can they do group bookings?)
I just stood behind my bike the whole time so he couldn't see the number plate (and take note of the expired registration).

Apart from that, haven't been pulled up on the bike for years. In the car, though... and never a bloody warning, either, always a ticket. Even for 120 on the Himitangi straight at about 2:30 am

[Firefight]

In the last couple of months I have witnessed the following.


1) waving hand indicating for us to slow down( 160ish)
we were a group of 4-5 old GSR Ramarama

2) giving myself and another rider the fingers (190ish)
priceless. SH/W one Rangariri

3) pulled over, did QVR & QP, got mild lecture ( 135ish)
old GSR Ramarama

4) Myself & another got the slow down wave (120ish)
just gone from 100kph to 50 kph HW31.


Have been pulled over a few times in the last couple of years, on bike,
cage, and in truck&trailer only probs have been with CVIU guys(CWS), had a few warnings re speeding on bike and when I get pinged will accept it as part of the deal.


Firefight

[Jackrat]

never had a speeding ticket or a warning.
Have been done for careless use when I parked a car in a ditch.
I got pulled from a line of cars outside Hamilton once.
The conversation went like this,,You were speeding,No I wasn't,Yes you were,
No I wasn't,Yes you were,Right bloody prove it,I'm giving you a warning,Shove ya' warning I wasn't doing nothing wrong,Your a bit of a smart ass aye,Yeah so what you gonn'a do about it,Fuck off.
And then I watched him pull up the next biker that came along.This was from a constantly flowing stream of traffic all doing the same speed.This was in the days of MOT,,Some of those guys really were too thick to be real cops.

[PuppetMaster]

When I was a young man living in auckland, it was a common occurence to recieve at least one ticket per week. I have had shitloads. back then ofcourse the fines were alot smaller and being young it was all part of the game.
But, i didnt recieve a ticket in a cage until I was over 30.
My best let off was for doing 178kph (in an HSV), lady cop coming other way, turned around and caught up with me 20 mins later. It was xmas eve and she was nice and gave me a ticket for 130kph, $400 fine.

Talking of fines. I got a call from the courts a while back about a fine that I had incurred back in 1991, $350. They had finally caught up with me.

[spudchucka]

And...

While we're on the topic of relativity, does anyone else think the license restriction transgression penalties are a little on the harsh side? Let's say Joe Learner is taking the missus for a spin down the motorway on his mate's Bandit 600 and gets flagged. That would be

- Not displaying L plate: $400, 25 points
- Exceeding 70kph: $400, 25 points
- Carrying a pillion: $400, 25 points
- Riding over 250cc: $400, 25 points

That's his license gone and $1600 down the toilet.

I think I'd rather take my chances pulling a wheelie past the Northcote traffic headquarters.

4 hundy and 25 points for each offence are big pills to swallow for anyone but they know the conditions and if they are stupid enough to flaunt them then stiff shit.

As for tickets, I got pinged for 95kph in about 1984, the speed limit was 80 kph then, (can't remember the fine). I got a speed camera fine for 65 in Napier when the cameras first came out. These are the only two occassions that I've been fined in nearly 23 years.