Demerits... Damn...

[cowboyz]

Ok. so Wasn't on my bike but yesterday I took the family up the mountain. Stayed in National park and came back today. A few months ago I had a bad run with Mr Police and clocked up 80 points inside 6 weeks. Not happy.

So coming back today I was coming through Okakune (sp?) and right on the 100k sign was a cop waiting for me. 64k/hr. I thought that was me toast but after a nice little chat he decided to book me for 59 giving me another 10 points. So that makes 90 so far. Got a nice little speech on how I am going to be fucked with one more ticket too. Damn.

I was kinda grateful I wasn't on my bike cause those who know the area know that most accelerate after the bridge (which is what I did) and in the car it was 64 but on the bike it would have been closer to 120.

2 things really.

1. I don't think cops should sit right on the 100k zone to nab people as they are leaving town. Even though the cop was nice about it I still felt hard done by.

2. They should have seperate licences for bikes, cars, HT and such. And when you get booked in a car your points go towards that licence. On a bike it goes to that licence repectively. Seems a whole lot fairer.

[Mr. Peanut]

You must be a crap driver. I have no demerit points.

[cowboyz]

not surprising considering you ride a honda.

[VasalineWarrior]

You must be the slowest nana out there, or you do a lot of runners. Dont worry, your ticket(s) will come eventually!

[Mr. Peanut]

10 Characters.

[onearmedbandit]

1. I don't think cops should sit right on the 100k zone to nab people as they are leaving town. Even though the cop was nice about it I still felt hard done by.

2. They should have seperate licences for bikes, cars, HT and such. And when you get booked in a car your points go towards that licence. On a bike it goes to that licence repectively. Seems a whole lot fairer.

Have to disagree with you on both points sorry.

1. I used to live in a small township 100m before the 100km/h zone. Everyday we would have people roaring past our house (in the 50 zone) at speeds in excess of 80-100km in either direction. Real safe for crossing the road etc not. Once you've experienced a situation like that you'll understand what I mean. 50 zone is there for a reason, and that's not too piss you off. Whenever I enter a small town or anywhere for that matter that goes from 100 to residential speeds I make an effort to slow down appropiately.

2. It's not the vehicle at fault, it is the driver. So if driver a has shown a lack of respect for the road rules in his car, how do you think he'll change when in control of his motorbike, or even worse, truck that requires an HT licence.

I'm the first to admit I'm not perfect, shit I own a thou, try keeping that at legal speeds. But I'm the first to put my hand up and admit fault. It's your choice to speed, your choice to break the laws.

[cowboyz]

I hear what your saying but there are alot of areas where the 50k zone stretches out a long time past where it needs to be. I too make an effort to slow down coming into towns. This area in Okakune is a good example where the 50k speed limit is streched out too long. I actually saw the cop a long way off and I accelerated up to 65 (from coming through town at 40) and my wife mentioned the cop sitting on the 100k sign. I said, what a bastard sitting in a 70 so close to the 100 as he put his lights up. It *felt* like a 70 zone. There is no sign saying 50 or 70 which makes it still in town even though it is near 1km to town.
I too live in a small town and 30m up the road is an 80k sign. I live in a 50 zone. There is a park right across the road and I have 2 small kids. There are some cars that try to set a world speed record when they turn into my street. I am well aware of people who intentionally speed.

And yeah, That is exactly the reason I havent got a thou. I am just not responsible enough to ride one. I have no doubt that I can handle one without falling off. It is just I have a difference of opinion to what *safe* speed is defined at.

[Madness]

It is just I have a difference of opinion to what *safe* speed is defined at.

There is no problem with your opinion of a "Safe Speed" unfortunately though the speed limits are not subject to opinion. We all know what the rules are and choose to play by those rules. We all get speeding tickets (those of us that are not Ghey and live in Thames) and bitch like hell when we get them.

The copper gave you a lesser ticket than what he could have?? This seems to almost becoming a common phenomenon. They don't always agree with the penalties, but are paid to police the rules that we all agree to play by. Fortunatley the coppers opinion of "Safe Speeds" worked in your favour this time.

Oh, I personally think that Demerit-points are more an indicator of the amount of time one spends on the road and how (un)lucky you are, not your driving/riding ability.

[Mr. Peanut]

You must be a crap driver. I have no demerit points.

Have you no sense of humour?

[onearmedbandit]

As we all do (re your last statement) but the law is the law. We have 3 choices, abide and live a boring yet safe existence on the road (I'm not talking residential here), ignore and risk your license, or make our case heard for increased speed limits (ain't going to happen). So with that knowledge, unfortunately we have no-one to blame but ourselves.

Sorry if I'm coming across self-rightous (sp?), that's certainly not me. All I'm saying is that while I might not agree with certain speed limits if I err then I realise I only have myself to blame.

And I have the drivers history to back that up, unfortunately. (although I've pulled my head in over the last few years.)

[onearmedbandit]

Have you no sense of humour?

Quoting yourself now?

[MD]

I was coming through Okakune (sp?) and right on the 100k sign was a cop waiting for me. 64k/hr.
...
1. I don't think cops should sit right on the 100k zone to nab people as they are leaving town. Even though the cop was nice about it I still felt hard done by.

Welcome to the demerit club. I'm a life member. Some great perks apparently but I'm buggered if I've found any yet.

If you were going from the 50 to 100 zone I'm pretty sure you are allowed 250m leeway either side of the signs to adjust your speed. What a prick standing by the 100 sign pinging people trying to build up to the limit.
I agreee goin ginto the 50 I always make sure i drop the speed down having lived in small country towns as a Kid I appreciate why the traffic should be slowed. But getting stung when exiting town, that stinks.

Sounds like that arsehole "Cash register" Cop from Taihape.

[yungatart]

hXc got pinged in similar circumstances - doing 64 as he came into the 50 zone. The cop was hiding just past the sign. Do you really get 250m leeway or is that a discretionary thing, where when the cop is having a bad day he pings you anyway..

[onearmedbandit]

Question. Why should you be allowed to increase your speed 250m before the limit change in a residential area?

I do remeber SD saying there was a little area for discretion when changing from 100 to 50, but if you were already above the speed limit in the 100 zone you'd get pinged. But come on, what is it going to cost you if you slow down a little bit earlier. Even if there is discretion, will that make it easier to sleep at night after killing that little girl who (wrongly) ran out onto the road and you were still doing 76km/h, meaning you were unable to brake in time. Shit now I sound like a fucking speed-kills ad!

[Lord Derosso]

My question is simple.

If you can see the sign are you allowed to begin speeding up to that limit, or do you have to wait until you actually pass the sign?? I mean common sense prevails in that the open road sign should be located so that traffic is allowed to speed up as soon as they approach the sign as they are generally sited outside townships etc. I would be interested in the legality of this case because I have always sped up as soon as I approach the open road signs ever since I have ridden. As to needing to own a 1000cc before you have problems with speeding, I can assure anyone that the mere 600F keeps me sweating even with taking off from inner city traffic lights, and we now have this 30kph zone in the city to contend with too. I am hitting 50 kph to get into 2nd out of the blocks unless I take care, and thats just 86 horsepower.