I think I'm very lucky, some police are great!!

[mark247]

So i was coming through a round-about in Tauranga today on my Honda GB400 and a lady in a car failed to give way and i met with her front right. I was on a 400cc bike on my learners with no insurance and she was driving her friends car and didn't know if she had insurance or not. She pulled out because she though because i had turned my head around to look at my rear tyre really quickly to check if it was alright ( had just got it repaired ) that i was going to sit in the middle of the road for a while. Then i car got in the lane to the right of her ( one of those two lane round-abouts ) and then 5 seconds later she assumed that it was all clear and just drove out. But i had actually turned around and pulled out ( because it was clear, what was i ment to do? dah? ) I got half way into the round-about and she just pulled out and gave me about 3 meters to go from 40k to 0k, which didnt happen. I Bent my front forks but they are repairable, smashed my front light and dented my guard. Police came, i explained my licence situation and they said that was fine and they came to the conclusion that it was her fault. ( OH REALLY? ) They gave the bitch a ticket and off she went to find out if she had insurance. The police ( two very friendly woman ) offered to take me to polytech and leave the bike on the side of the road, but i said i would like to take it to the shop to see what could be done. So they followed me to the shop very slowly and waited there while the mechanics went over the bike. Then the offered to give me a ride home. ( a 20km drive ) I said that i would ride the bike home ( its still rideable. ) They said they will send a letter to the lady to make her pay up even if she doesn't have insurance. And i went home with a few dents and bends and a bruised leg. Bike should be back on all fixed up in a weeks time hopefully.

I think I am pretty lucky considering I had the wrong licence and no insurance. I police were fantastic. The bitch driving on the other hand tried to blame me and said i was speeding ( I didnt know my 18 year old GB400 could go 0 - 50km+ in about 5meters, V8 conversion maybe? )

Anyway, all up a few hundred bucks should fix it and hopefully the driver will pay.

I just think the police were fantastic. I hear stories of them being horrible, but they were fantastic! Anyone have a simular story about the police?

I'm also happy i still have a moving body and a semi-okay motorbike.

[98tls]

Glad your ok.........yea theres heaps of good coppers out there.....dont fancy your chances though if her insurance company finds out you were on the wrong licence.....................

[crazybigal]

did you find out their names? send them each a box of chocolates!
we need as many cops like that as we can get!! most of them dont last cos of all the cunts in the force!
well done lady cops!

[Duc]

What were you doing on a 400 on a learners licence? It is unlikely that you will win this one no matter how cool the cops were to you. (although the law can be an ass at times).

My daughter lost a court case in the small claims court to a biker riding an un regoed, un warranted bike. The cops thought it was ok that he was riding this bike and it could not have been a factor. (eg brakes)

Good luck.

[Toaster]

I know many fine policemen and women. While I was in the job myself, I met the odd poor one too, but that is the same as any large employer with both the good and the bad - we are all human.

[mark247]

What were you doing on a 400 on a learners licence? It is unlikely that you will win this one no matter how cool the cops were to you. (although the law can be an ass at times).

My daughter lost a court case in the small claims court to a biker riding an un regoed, un warranted bike. The cops thought it was ok that he was riding this bike and it could not have been a factor. (eg brakes)

Good luck.

The reason why the police said it was alright i was riding a 400cc on my learners was because i explained why i was riding it, I have owned two 250cc bikes and they are too small for me ( im 6ft 3" ) and the 400cc bike i was riding isnt even as fast as one of the 250cc's i owned. I am riding it because my height fits it better and I am much more stable on it. I have applied for an exemption so i can ride it but it hasn't come through yet. I explained that to the police and they said that was okay. They also said in the small claims court i have a good case because it doesn't make any difference what licence i am on, it had nothing to do with the accident, it would of happened if i had my full licence and i was riding a 250cc anyway. They also said if i do get asked about it they said that the police are dealing with it. I think i will call the the officers and thank them, they were fantastic.

[onearmedbandit]

Sounds like they dealt with it exactly the way they should've, with commonsense. Good to see it is still being used out there.

[mark247]

Yeah man, i thought i was a goner. Guess not!

[samo]

prity lucky to come through unscaved! I dont no how many times people have pulled out on mea and iv only been riding for a couple of months! good to hear that the cops might be on my side if i get swiped

[Duc]

Let us know how it all works out.

Question : why not just get a full licence instead of the exemption?

[mark247]

Let us know how it all works out.

Question : why not just get a full licence instead of the exemption?

I have only been riding for 3 months. I cant get my full. That's why. But when i say riding for 3 months that means on the road, i owned a dirtbike before that. The exemption was my only option.

[Hans]

Yeah, it's good to know there's people out there doing a good job for the wages we pay them. Touch wood I've only come across pretty reasonable cops in NZ so far. I think a lot of it depends on how you behave towards them as well. My rule of thumb is: If you've done something "wrong" then behave VERY politely and you may just get away with a warning or some such. When they are clearly in the wrong be firm, but still polite. No point "losing it" in a situation that involves the cops. They'll take you much more seriously if you maintain a level head.

[Squeak the Rat]

You should have invited them inside! Oh, and bring your battons....

Glad you are in one piece.....

[crazybigal]

what did she fail to give way or something? or run a red light?

What were you doing on a 400 on a learners licence? It is unlikely that you will win this one no matter how cool the cops were to you. (although the law can be an ass at times).

My daughter lost a court case in the small claims court to a biker riding an un regoed, un warranted bike. The cops thought it was ok that he was riding this bike and it could not have been a factor. (eg brakes)

Good luck.

[Ralph]

Great that you didn't get seriously injured from it and there are some great cops out there that do their job right, it's just to bad that a lot of people usually remembers the bad ones.
However I still wouldn't believe what they tell you about it all working out, hope it does but if it goes to court the 400cc on a learners may become an issue. I mean she may have to pay the damages but you could still end up with a fine if they wanted too.