Relativity

[vifferman]

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

Hmmm.... I go past there every night, and usually accelerate hard (after tootling over the bridge) up the off ramp. A couple of nights ago, there was an HP ute parked at the end of the off-ramp, and as the Firestorm went "BRAARRRRP!!!" past him, it must've given him a start, and he started to move. Then I guess he realised I wasn't doing a bazillion miles per hour (just sounded like it) and stayed where he was. (Either that, or he realised he was in the wrong place to chase me from...)

Anyway, I've had 3 tickets in 30-odd years of riding: one for 41 in a 30 mph zone (cop followed me for ages), one for 38 in a 40 (I slowed from 75. Oops...), and one for no mirror (after they changed the WOF requirements). These three incidents were back in the 70's.

I once passed a cop parked on the other side of the road while doing nearly twice the speed limit, and looked in the mirror to see this huge cloud of dust as he spun it up to do a U-turn. He followed me for about 10 km, while I drove at 10 kph below the speed limit. Eventually he got bored and cracked another U-turn...
Once passed a cop in a line of traffic, doing about 130 kph or so. Nothing.

The only recent examples of trouble have been while commuting, and both a couple of years ago. The first was when 3 or 4 of us were lane-splitting down Onewa Road, and a bike cop rode up beside us and went mental, yelling, frothing at the mouth, etc. He said summat like, "If you rode like a proper motorcyclist instead of an idiot, you wouldn't give the rest of us a bad name!!" Then he pissed off.
Would someone care to explain to me what that was all about?!?

The second time (a couple of weeks after that), a very polite policeman parked on the other side of the road waved me over while I was overtaking two lanes of semi-stationary traffic on Onewa road. He said, "Do you know why I've pulled you over?" Nope. "Well, you were riding along in your own lane there, and you didn't indicate when you pulled out to overtake."
So, I questioned hiem about what was legal, and what was not, and he said that basically nothing short of staying in my lane was condoned, but if I undertook in the gutter, ONLY when the traffic was not moving, it wasn't illegal strictly speaking, but if I had a collision while doing so I would be ticketed.
So I thanked him, and off I went. Now I always use my indicators. Except when I don't.
And of course I've had no bother since then, because I'm always careful, considerate, and law-abiding.

I have talked to the police on two occasions since then - once as a witness to a scooter rider being bowled by a car, and once when answering questions in hospital after some genius did a U-turn into my VFR.
But like I said - I'm always careful, considerate, and law-abiding.

[k14]

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.

What about the warnings/let offs? Come on, you must have a bucket load of them.

[merv]

In the 1970's probably had about 3 tickets (only 1 on a bike) and about 10 warnings.

1980's had only 2 tickets (not on the bike) and probably about 3 warnings.

1990's can't remember any tickets except 2 speed camera tickets (not on the bike) and only 1 warning.

New century had 2 tickets and 1 speed camera ticket (not on the bike) and no warnings.

The pattern is warnings have disappeared - tickets are the rage. Recent tickets for me have been towing the trailer over 80 (zapped by HP going the other way about 2 year ago) and going over 100 south of Paremata roundabout by HP hiding behind toe toe bush with his laser gun about 6 months ago.

Luck so far has it that I have only ever had one ticket on a bike and that was from an old Napier City Council cop in 1973.

[Two Smoker]

Hey JR it isnt a fine for each individual breach of the conditions, it is one fine for "Breaching The Conditions Of The Licence"

As for me ive only been pulled over once on the bike for a "Routine Stop" where i didnt have an L-plate and it was 1030 at night... got a warning and i was on my way.....

As for the cage, i have been pulled over a few times.... Once for speeding, didnt have any speed recording equipment and got a bit of a yelling, then let off..... Doing 128kmh in a 100 (thankfully he didnt lock onto me at the speed i had previously been doing ) i was nice about it and so was he.... Another time was doing 145 in a 100 and got pulled over, once again didnt have speed recording equipment and got off with a warning.

Another time i was doing 135 around a 85 corner in a 100 zone, cop came around the corner flashed his head lights pointed and that was it...

The key is too think like a cop and where they would likely be hiding and be speed smart, ie doing it in safe areas and when safe to do so in those areas.....

[Andrew]

1 ticket no warnings. SUX

[Firefight]

1 ticket no warnings. SUX

Ok dick, how fast were you going ??,cause we know what an you are.

F/F

[erik]

I've been driving a car for about 7 years, and got my bike at the start of this year, and so far I haven't had a ticket driving either the car or bike. Have since sold the car, so I only have a bike now.

I tend not to speed to much, but I'm bound to get done for lanesplitting sooner or later...

[What?]

The pattern is warnings have disappeared - tickets are the rage.

Just what I was thinking. My big warning (100 over the 80 K limit) was partly because the cop in a cortina couldn't get near me until I slowed down (I didn't know he was there...) so couldn't clock me, also because I slowed significantly once I got to an area where driveways and side roads were. The cop accepted that whist fast, I was not necessarily dangerous. I'd bet two Moros I wouldn't get off with a warning for that these days, no matter what the circumstances.

[merv]

Bastards have got more technology these days too eh!

For me similar experience to yours What, got spotted by a cop heading South on the road between Kaikoura and Oaro in his Holden HQ Belmont (remember them?) when I was heading North in the 80km/hr days about 1975. I just pressed on enjoying the drive around all those nice curves then out onto the straight bit before the Kaikoura airport (yeah they have an airport!!) about 8 km later and bugger there he is in my mirror a way behind. Slow down, but bugger he pulls me up, but all he said was "You were going a bit quick around the coast weren't you? Take it easy."

The HP scum aren't that sweet these days - its all smart arsed young guys on a high making their quota.

[jrandom]

Hey JR it isnt a fine for each individual breach of the conditions, it is one fine for "Breaching The Conditions Of The Licence"

'fraid not matey. Was informed by an HP cop at one point while being let off for two breaches at once that it would have been $800 and 50 points. One hit for each condition not complied with. Also note Spud's response to my comment in this thread - *he* should know...

So yes, it's best to minimise the restriction breaches, because it really hurts when you're caught.

[Jackrat]

Bastards have got more technology these days too eh!

For me similar experience to yours What, got spotted by a cop heading South on the road between Kaikoura and Oaro in his Holden HQ Belmont (remember them?) when I was heading North in the 80km/hr days about 1975. I just pressed on enjoying the drive around all those nice curves then out onto the straight bit before the Kaikoura airport (yeah they have an airport!!) about 8 km later and bugger there he is in my mirror a way behind. Slow down, but bugger he pulls me up, but all he said was "You were going a bit quick around the coast weren't you? Take it easy."

The HP scum aren't that sweet these days - its all smart arsed young guys on a high making their quota.

My friend Jim is neither scum nor is he a smart ass young guy trying to make a quota. :eyepoke:

[jrandom]

My friend Jim is neither scum nor is he a smart ass young guy trying to make a quota. :eyepoke:

Yes.

I think it's time that we on this forum lost the whole 'the fuzz are bastards' attitude and realised that the majority of these guys are hard-working, genuine individuals that have to abide by orders from above in order to get paid. Same as we all do. If those orders state 'zero tolerance for traffic offenses' then, well, that's what we're seeing when we get pulled over.

We're lucky enough to live in a reasonably functional democracy. Do what you can to affect the nature of the orders these guys are receiving, and let's cultivate an image of bikers as intelligent citizens who understand the spirit of the law.

'Nuff sed.

[sAsLEX]

Personally I dont display my target identification plate to the cages around me, they just tailgate more and tend to get unwanted attention.

As for going only 70, thats damn right sucidial in my books, cruising along the motorway at said speed one cage dont notice you till the last second and swerves out of the way, cage behind speeding doing make up drinking coffee and talking on the phone dont see me as I was in the other cars shadow............and no more me. I like to keep as far away from other vehicles on the road as possible, not sit at the front of ques who are pissed at going 70 or being passed continually.

Cop did the license check recently in Ngarawahia? didnt ask about the plate or the bike just a thank you a little smile, nice lady cop.

Car two tickets and one using to annoyance infringement notice. 69 in 50 $130ish, 129 in 100 $160ish overtaking on the straightest flattest piece of road in miles, and driving my car at night and being seen by angry police $600

If they are going to have a zero tolerance they dont have to set up speed traps on the only place to pass saftely in miles, they are suggesting passing around blind corners in a way as they will nearly never be on a piece of road that is not safe and easy to speed on....big breath....I travell between dorkland and the naki often places they love are the new waikato expressways, straight on back road to otrohonga, ladys mile and the straights around mokau. Never have I seen a speed camera in a position where speeding would be dangerous.....breath......the HP use there ticket count as one of these new age performance indicators yet more people still die on our roads, they crack down on speeding and still people die, obviously their method needs a bit more thought..

[jrandom]

didnt ask about the plate or the bike just a thank you a little smile, nice lady cop.

Yeah, but we don't all have your sweet baby blue eyes and charming manner, do we

The unshaven smelly loud-mouth types tend to get cracked down on by the lady cops. Personal experience.

[maybe]

Over the last 5 years I have had one speed camera 62 in a 50 area......one ticket at a speed trap thingy where they were targeting vehicles in a 50 area....66 but he droped it to 65 which made a bit of difference to the fine.....about three warnings all for speeding......I have had none for over twelve months.......