Fine or no fine?

[Cr1MiNaL]

Going to work in the rain 7.30 am in the recent wind that just hit Auckland blown all over the m-way was doing 111-112kmph spotted marked police car didn't try n slow down as I was swerving way too much... he pulls me over shows me speed of 121! issues me $175 ticket and 35 demerits (1km over the 20 demerit range) same time says my no plate is not displayed in the appropriate manner and fines me another $200 for it...im still asking him why he cant read it when I can...(were sitting in his cruiser as its raining.) total of $375 that morning. I took tickets and rode to work.

12 days later same place, same cop, unmarked honda accord this time. I wasn't speeding after my recent fines was pretty broke. Still pulls me over, recognizes me, asks for license. I give him same license he ticketed me on 12 days ago, (overseas valid license, I came back to NZ in feb so its valid till next feb). Says its not valid and gives me $400 for riding on an inappropriate license.

Leaves to go to an accident up at the Orewa lights, offers no explanations.. I'm standing there dumbfounded. Since I have had my license converted to a NZ full... did that 2 days later. Put that in my appeal letter too.

I'm appealing the following:
$200 number plate fine,
$400 overseas license fine and
also requesting the 35 demerits be reduced to 20 demerits as its over by just 1km! and cud have been error (weather,fog,inaccurate instrument calibration or wind even?). I've written to them, but feel i will mostly have to fight it out in court...

Resident and fellow knowledgeable members I really do appreciate your responses...


Cheers and thanks in advance.

[jimbo600]

Reckon you'll get off the rego and license fines, but will have to pay the speeding one.

Fuckin' snakes aye. Doing the force proud, but hey they're not damaging public opinion at all. Nooooooooo!

[MidnightMike]

Maybe thats his daughter in your profile pic, so he felt like revenge.

[babyblade250rr]

yeah sounds pretty stupid raj,

think you will get off everything except for speeding fine, i think they should probably reinstate some of the taken demerits as you requested.

Cop was just being an ass i reckon

good luck with it anyhow bruda!!

[boomer]

The 12 month overseas licence law doesn't get reset every time you leave and enter teh country..! Busted

as for the plate.. i got done for the same except he said my bike wasn't upto standard for a wof. so i spent $20 for a new wof on a 6 month old bike and sent that in... job done.

speeding ticket.. well with the list of your excuses you submitted your likely to have non of the offenses revoked as you come across as clutching at straws. Busted .. is my vote.

good luck but i'd be prepared to take it on the chin.


and at "Sorry officer... the wind made me go over the limit by 21k's... "

[skidMark]

Maybe thats his daughter in your profile pic, so he felt like revenge.

not much holding thems boobies in :|

[Cr1MiNaL]

The 12 month overseas licence law doesn't get reset every time you leave and enter teh country..! Busted

Actually it does get reset every time u exit the country and re-enter.
The LTSA web site states:

1. Must have a valid overseas license. (is valid till 2022).
2. Must be in english or need to have an english version legitimately translated. (not an issue).
3. must not have stayed in NZ more than 12 months at a stretch (I didn't).
4. resets for 1 year every time u exit and re-enter NZ. (re-entered after holiday in Feb 06).

U can ride/drive if these conditions are met.

and Cheers for ur views. Much appreciated.

[boomer]

Actually it does get reset every time u exit the country and re-enter.
The LTSA web site states:

1. Must have a valid overseas license. (is valid till 2022).
2. Must be in english or need to have an english version legitimately translated. (not an issue).
3. must not have stayed in NZ more than 12 months at a stretch (I didn't).
4. resets everytime u exit and re-enter NZ. (re-entered after holiday in Feb 06).

U can ride/drive if these conditions are met.

and Cheers for ur views. Much appreciated.

are you a nz resident? if so you might be flouting teh laws

still.. have fun

[marty]

If you do have a current overseas driver licence or international driving permit, you can drive using that for a maximum of 12 months from the date you arrive in New Zealand. (Note: if your overseas licence or permit isn't in English, you must carry an accurate translation. See Other information you need to know below for more information.)

Each time you visit New Zealand, you can drive for a further 12-month period on a valid overseas licence or international driving permit.

What happens after one year?

If you wish to drive after one year, you must first gain a New Zealand drive licence. We recommend you apply early to make sure you have a new licence before the one year is up.

from the LTSA website. must have changed recently - i guess the cumulative rule was too hard to police

[boomer]

If you do have a current overseas driver licence or international driving permit, you can drive using that for a maximum of 12 months from the date you arrive in New Zealand. (Note: if your overseas licence or permit isn't in English, you must carry an accurate translation. See Other information you need to know below for more information.)

Each time you visit New Zealand, you can drive for a further 12-month period on a valid overseas licence or international driving permit.

What happens after one year?

If you wish to drive after one year, you must first gain a New Zealand drive licence. We recommend you apply early to make sure you have a new licence before the one year is up.

from the LTSA website. must have changed recently - i guess the cumulative rule was too hard to police

yeah i just read that, it has changed recently. But the bit someone could argue if they so wished was 'visit' if your a resident then the terms of that residency is that NZ is home..

[Kittyhawk]

Good luck - but you are fighting with the law.

Will be interesting to see the outcome.

[Cr1MiNaL]

yeah i just read that, it has changed recently. But the bit someone could argue if they so wished was 'visit' if your a resident then the terms of that residency is that NZ is home..

TRUE, I'm just wondering if that is strong enough to win them the case...I'm hoping not... It was no biggie converting it (maybe they'll c that I have a full NZ now) and take pity?

[xgnr]

sorry to hear that buddy... How much was due to failing the "attitude" test ? (honest self appraisal required)...

[boomer]

who knows.. but what i do know is.

a) you must have pissed of said officer
b) when writing in to get of an offense you need to think logically and state facts.. i'm sure the 80 year olds at teh court have heard ALL the sympathy votes under the sun.

i use to show my UK licence all the time and state my entry date into NZ as the last time i arrived, i just happened to leave NZ every month with work... the coppers fell for it.. would a court or rather the old girl behind the counter... ? its not exactly crime of the century is it.

that being said.. you hear a lot of complaints on here about foreigners and there driving skills . so maybe you should get done as you fall into that category

[Grahameeboy]

Well what do you expect on a rickshaw licence Raj......mind you the Police would have a field day if they stopped Kiwi's for driving on an inappropriate licence eh............

I wonder how it works that at the time of the offence you did not hold a converted licence..what licence gets pinged?

Anyway, don't get too smart with the system Raj........but as you have a digital speedo and if you were doing 111-112kph then a bit dubious about what the cop says but then it was windy/rainy and are you sure it was not 121kph and you just got the numbers wrong??