Here's a question - how fast are cops allowed to drive?

**Lazy7** · 7th June 2006, 23:35

so - its about 11:30 at night.

i am out having a smoke and zooooooooommmmmm

3 cop cars blast past. lights flashing. 2 station wagons and a sedan. obviously responding to some kind of serious call. i dont know what it was but they were in a hurry with a capital H.

my eye radar isn't as finely tuned as it could be, but the road is a (50) and i would estimate they would have been doing 120+ quite easily

i could hear them turn into the end road and accellerate, change gear a few times before they passed me and they were still pushing hard when i couldn't hear them anymore so i am guessing my estimate is about right.

now. if i had just had some guys bust into my house and threaten to kill me i would want the police there as fast as humanly possible. BUT. at the same time its a reasonably quiet suburban street and i am sure i heard somewhere cops aren't allowed to break the law when responding to calls?

**Da Bird** · 7th June 2006, 23:44

Originally Posted by Lazy7

BUT. at the same time its a reasonably quiet suburban street and i am sure i heard somewhere cops aren't allowed to break the law when responding to calls?

You've been watching too much TV. Under the old urgent duty driving policy, it was 30km/hr over the limit. Now we have the Gold, Silver, Bronze thing. If you are Gold you can basically go as fast as you need to (and I said "need" not "want") depending on the circumstances... unless you know what they were going to, you are not really in a position to judge whether the speed was necessary or not. If the cop crashes at high speed, then there is a lot of paperwork so they need to be able to justify it if things go wrong... time, place, circumstances has a lot to do with it.

BC.

**SPORK** · 7th June 2006, 23:48

I *heart* Bykey Cop

Dispelling urban myths one thread at a time

**Lazy7** · 7th June 2006, 23:50

right. so. question of the day then is where do i purchase one of these Gold passes you speak of?

fair enough though. as i said - i would want them there as fast as humanly possible.

**Da Bird** · 7th June 2006, 23:55

Originally Posted by Lazy7

right. so. question of the day then is where do i purchase one of these Gold passes you speak of?

fair enough though. as i said - i would want them there as fast as humanly possible.

For Gold passes, please see the www.newcops.co.nz website and you will be well on your way.

Basically consists of a 2-3 hour theory lecture and test on driving / pursuit policy plus a 2-3 hour practical driving assessment... just like sitting your drivers licence all over again but slightly more complex. If the instructor isn't happy with your driving, then you get a Silver or Bronze (which limits what you can do, mainly in pursuits). You can apply to be re-assessed every 6 months I think if you want to try again for Gold.

**boomer** · 7th June 2006, 23:57

As fast as they 'like';

The gold, Bronze & Silver are about as useful as a blue peter badge

**Lazy7** · 8th June 2006, 00:02

Ahh... is this the new thing they highlighted on the news the other night where they said the training program had been going for a few years but since its inception the incidents of Police car crashes where the police was at fault had actually increased?

there was also a good shot of a police car drifting through a patch of deisel on the news tonight. little bit of over correction there...

**Shadows** · 8th June 2006, 00:26

Originally Posted by Bykey Cop

For Gold passes, please see the www.newcops.co.nz website and you will be well on your way.

Mmmmmmmm

I need an eye clearance, a medical clearance, and somebody to hack into the Wanganui computer.

There's got to be another way. Can you send me a scan of one? I'll give you 10 bucks for it.

Failing that can I challenge one of you guys to a race up the Rimutakas and back for a pass? http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...ad.php?t=30473 (post 7).
I'll have it in platinum, thanks.

**Edbear** · 8th June 2006, 08:10

Ah the Gold Card! So often the answer to a situation, eh? We should all have one! What interest rate for Govt employees?

**Krayy** · 8th June 2006, 08:18

Originally Posted by Bykey Cop

For Gold passes, please see the www.newcops.co.nz website and you will be well on your way.

Basically consists of a 2-3 hour theory lecture and test on driving / pursuit policy plus a 2-3 hour practical driving assessment... just like sitting your drivers licence all over again but slightly more complex. If the instructor isn't happy with your driving, then you get a Silver or Bronze (which limits what you can do, mainly in pursuits). You can apply to be re-assessed every 6 months I think if you want to try again for Gold.

Is this just for cages or bikes as well?

(Mind you, if you can do a P.I.T. maneuver on a boi racer on a bike, you be legend)

**Lou Girardin** · 8th June 2006, 08:33

Originally Posted by Bykey Cop

For Gold passes, please see the www.newcops.co.nz website and you will be well on your way.

Basically consists of a 2-3 hour theory lecture and test on driving / pursuit policy plus a 2-3 hour practical driving assessment... just like sitting your drivers licence all over again but slightly more complex. If the instructor isn't happy with your driving, then you get a Silver or Bronze (which limits what you can do, mainly in pursuits). You can apply to be re-assessed every 6 months I think if you want to try again for Gold.

Yes quite. But the crash rate has increased since this programme began.
And if the skid pan driving they showed on TV is typical, I think they should stick to 30 km/h on the road too.