The cops get even craftier

**MikeL** · 29th April 2003, 19:18

Speed camera in red van last couple of days on airport motorway near Mangere Bridge, both sides on alternate days. Used to be a good stretch for testing out the speedo...

**What?** · 30th April 2003, 09:51

Be warned guys 'n' gals, the Kaimai (SH29) is policed HEAVILY on weekends - generally 2 patrols, 1 unmarked car and the aforementioned van with camera. There is usually one car cruising the road during the week. Believe me, I live on that road.

There is another van (dark blue I think, but could be dark green) in the Waikato, usually haunting SH1 around Karapiro.

You know what really pisses me off? A while back the LTSA (a bunch of nongs if ever there was one) tried to ban tinted windows. Now all their new camera vehicle have their glass tinted. Hypocritical filth!

**MikeL** · 30th April 2003, 11:54

More evidence that the cops work for the Department of Road Revenue: in Auckland (and probably in other large cities) they won't bother investigating road accidents in which no serious injury results. Even if your $20,000 bike gets demolished through no fault of your own by some f*ckwit who got his licence off a cereal packet, but you emerge unscathed and you track the offender down through his licence plate and present the information to the police, don't expect any help from them to see that justice is done. They'll put it "on file" and tell you to seek redress through the civil courts. In the meantime they're busy setting up vans with tinted windows and speed cameras...
How can they expect to retain any vestige of respect or support from those of us who take road safety seriously but from time to time, on a good road, with good tyres and light traffic allow our speed to creep up a little? Are we criminals? Have we caused actual harm? Have we made anyone's life tangibly less pleasant or happy by our actions? Have we been responsible for an injustice that needs to be put right?
I know where the injustice lies...

**Coldkiwi** · 30th April 2003, 12:40

Right,

So we're all pissed of with the bunch of them. Who do we write to? I suspect a great deal of the problems originate in Wellington with the Govt and Police Heads of staff so perhaps we should be bothering our MP's?? Who knows about this?

**SPman** · 30th April 2003, 22:58

It could be tried, but knowing beauracracy,(sp?) they would merely blether on about road safety (HAH!) and how if you dont want tickets then obey the traffic laws and what do you mean we are after the money, its for your own good etc, etc., blah, blah, puke!

Cynical? Moi?

ar15:

**Marmoot** · 30th April 2003, 23:03

Why not try have a class-action? All we have to find is a cause, and large-enough follower to present it to a bike-friendly MP.
With large enough follower, arguments can be made, and statistics can be bended.
All it counts is just the majority

**Kwaka-Kid** · 1st May 2003, 08:36

haha yeah!

and sorry - i forgot to post, or maybe i did post sumwhere? taht the cops were getting vans months and months ago, i was told, and didnt think it had come in yet as i havent seen one.

btw what do radar detectors go for/do u guys find them effective?

**wkid_one** · 1st May 2003, 12:22

There are also a White Holden Rodeo and Black L200 Utes being used int he centre of the north island (Taihape/Ohakune) as mufti-vehicles - be careful when passing as the read lights are a lot more difficult to see than the lights in the mufti cop cars.

Anywho - it was still a marked car that pinged me in Ohakune on Monday doing 129 - bugga...good reactions on the front brake however rescued me from a higher fine.

**MikeL** · 1st May 2003, 13:25

... or instant suspension of licence??

**SPman** · 1st May 2003, 17:05

Which of course brings up the interesting question of, what would you do if you were pulled over in the middle of nowhere on your expensive machine and issued an instant suspension!

**Coldkiwi** · 1st May 2003, 17:31

if you have an expensive machine (ie. fricken fast) in the middle of nowhere... you really oughta be answering YES to the completely UN-PC vote!

Why on earth would you be stopping?

**wkid_one** · 1st May 2003, 18:45

The thought of running crossed my mind - however down the National Park road - there was little chance of escape as the nearest turnoff was Ohakune - 19km away and as fast as the bike is - I can't get it to outrun the police radio yet!

I

**merv** · 1st May 2003, 19:27

Bummer I got the $80 speed camera fine in the mail today for doing 63 in our 'burb and the worst thing is I don't even remember seeing the bastard so he must have been well hidden and this was in the car going to work in the morning. I cannot believe, and doubt I ever will, that this approach improves road safety no matter what rubbish the cops write on the cover letter to the ticket.

**bikerboy** · 1st May 2003, 20:21

Great quote SPman.

Did you know there are no laws granting freedom of speech in NZ?
One can also be arrested for swearing in public. Swearing is regarded as "any language the state deems offensive". Nice and vague.

Thomas Jefferson once said "any people willing to forgo freedom in the quest for security neither deserve freedom nor gain security"