Received a $570 fine. But I feel there are some double standards.

**caesius** · 19th March 2007, 21:41

An obscure argument I am about to bring up but I was stopped on the way to Masterton a week ago for doing 126kph. I accepted I was in the wrong, and the cop even helped me out later in the trip (those who've read my thread in Bike Mechanics section will know this). Today I received the notice for:

$170 exceeding speed limit by 20kph
$400 not displaying "L" plates (the cop never said anything about this when I was stopped)

Aside from being horrified at the magnitude of the latter fine (that's a political issue...) I see some obscure double standards.

I have been fined for exceeding 100kph BUT I am a learner! My limit is 70kph! How can I be fined for not having L plates and exceeding 100kph! It's ludicrous.

I realize you will say the best (or not) outcome I could hope for would be the court to realize the cop's error and fine me for exceeding 70kph! But doesn't it seem strange that I'm effectively being fined...

UNDER TWO SETS OF RULES!!!!

**nodrog:Me** · 19th March 2007, 21:44

i would pay it and keep quite, 126kph on your learners is bye bye license, count yourself lucky.

and 126kph is fuckin fast for a mountain bike!

**Hitcher** · 19th March 2007, 21:51

Pay the fine. If you take this to Court a magistrate may not see the humour.

**Kinje** · 19th March 2007, 21:54

I would have thought cop should have mentioned something about L-plate at the time??? And what Hitcher said as...

Now, I may have this quite wrong but another way of interpreting it could be that you exceeded the posted road speed limit (100 km/hr) and for breaching a learner licence condition (exceeding 70 km/hr) you should be liable for another $400 and 35 demerits.

Or maybe the cop is unaware of the special (stupid) additional restriction for motorcycles?

**JimO** · 19th March 2007, 21:56

you were 56 ks over your limit 40 ks over is walking and impound of the bike that will be way more than the fine

**Ixion** · 19th March 2007, 21:57

No indeed. 70 kph is not a speed limit, it is a condition of your licence. So the cop could have added ANOTHER $400 and 25 demerits for that.

Exceeding (100kph) speed limit . $170
Breach licence cndition (exceed 70kph) . $400
Breach licence condition (No L plate) $400

Just as well it wasn't at night eh

Incidentally I think that speeding fine goes along with 30 demerits, and the no L plate is another 25 demerits. So that knocks you back by 55 demerit points. You don't want to risk doing that again.

**McJim** · 19th March 2007, 21:57

Did you give that copper a blow job or something?

126kph = $230 + 30 demerits
Not displaying L plate = breach of licence conditions $400 + 25 demerits
Exceeding 70kph = breach of licence conditions $400 + 25 demerits

All in all $1030 + 80 demerits

You're a lucky lucky ...see life of Brian for the rest of this sentence.

**Da Bird** · 19th March 2007, 21:57

The cop has not made a mistake as you allude to.

If he had given you a ticket for "Exceeding 70km/hr on a learner licence" and also a speeding ticket for "Exceeding 100km/hr", then yes, that would be considered "double dipping" and you would have a right to feel agrieved.

You could have been given the "Exceeding 70km/hr" and the "Failed to Display L Plates", a total of $800.00 so you should really consider yourself as having received a discount....

BC.

**caesius** · 19th March 2007, 22:13

I would have thought cop should have mentioned something about L-plate at the time???

Yes. I was wondering about that?

**0arbreaka** · 19th March 2007, 22:43

You got out on the lighter end mate, like everyone was saying you could have been fucked on by the cop.

Btw; What type of steroids have you been taking mate 126kmh on a mountain bike is fuckin fast, can you even get your leg to go to a right angle or is it too muscly?

**caesius** · 19th March 2007, 23:07

Fair point about the distinction between speeding/license conditions.

I wonder if I could justify this as a course-related cost?

**Pathos** · 19th March 2007, 23:15

Is this some kind of joke? You broke multiple laws and got caught ... what else is there to it ?

I just put like $700 transport + $300 books each year in course related costs...its about what it costs anyway.

**Beemer** · 19th March 2007, 23:17

Originally Posted by caesius

Fair point about the distinction between speeding/license conditions.

I wonder if I could justify this as a course-related cost?

Sure, if you like throwing good money after bad! You've got two shows of not pissing off the law - shit's show and no show!

I don't know the legalities of being charged with exceeding 70kph on a learner's licence - I'm assuming you only get charged a set fine for exceeding the limit, rather than a scaled fine depending on the speed you were clocked at. If so, I would imagine the cop decided to go with the charge of exceeding 100kph by 26kms to ensure this was recorded against your licence, otherwise he would have been quite within his rights to charge you with exceeding YOUR speed limit by 56kph and make you walk home.

As pointed out, you could have been up for an even greater fine and there would have been no one to blame but yourself. If I were you, I'd pay the fine and count my lucky stars I still had a licence - and a bike.

**caesius** · 19th March 2007, 23:37

To the last two posters, read my original, I had no intention of fighting this in any way I just found it odd what happened. It's been explained now and I understand how the law works a little better.

I deserve the fine(s). Not denying that. Yes. I'm lucky. Yes I'm grateful.