My first motorbike speeding ticket.

[kave]

Got an infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit on West Tamaki Road. I was snapped by one of those sneaky, undercover mobile cameras. At first I thought, I did the crime-now pay the fine (even though it was on a relatively main road at 7am during school holidays) and I guess thats still what I will have to do.

The only thing about this that really bothers me is the fact that I have been burgled twice and the cops did nothing, mugged once and the cops did nothing (and made it perfectly clear that it wasnt really of interest to them). I have given police information about someone who was using stolen credit cards, including the address of the person and proof of what they were doing- the police did nothing. I have called 111 regarding a serious incident that was going on (and which involved weapons) and the cops took three hours to show up. I exceed the speed limit and there they are.

I'll still pay my fine, but if I see one of the boys in blue being bashed I will turn away and ignore it, I wont even make a courtesy call to their mates.

[Monsterbishi]

They're just doing their jobs dude, they don't get to pick what task they perform each day.

Instead of harbouring a gripe over the people who are just doing what they're ordered so they can feed their families, go smack Clint Rickards or summin.

[The Lone Rider]

Got an infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit on West Tamaki Road. I was snapped by one of those sneaky, undercover mobile cameras. At first I thought, I did the crime-now pay the fine (even though it was on a relatively main road at 7am during school holidays) and I guess thats still what I will have to do.

The only thing about this that really bothers me is the fact that I have been burgled twice and the cops did nothing, mugged once and the cops did nothing (and made it perfectly clear that it wasnt really of interest to them). I have given police information about someone who was using stolen credit cards, including the address of the person and proof of what they were doing- the police did nothing. I have called 111 regarding a serious incident that was going on (and which involved weapons) and the cops took three hours to show up. I exceed the speed limit and there they are.

I'll still pay my fine, but if I see one of the boys in blue being bashed I will turn away and ignore it, I wont even make a courtesy call to their mates.

It's because there is no quota at being a good cop

But still.. you know what happens if you speed so you can't be too surprised.

Next time they pull you over though, ask to see the calibration certificate on whatever they zinged you with. If it hasn't got a date on it in the last 7 days, it won't hold in court as well. They are suppose to be calibrated every week I am told.

[marty]

what a fucking wanker. i don't suppose you'll be crying to the cops when you get your head smacked in, or your house gets burgled again, or your one of your kids gets molested, or someone dies in your house, or you crash and are lying on the roadside broken, either?

[marty]

ps. what was the speed?

[jimbo600]

Got an infringement notice for exceeding the speed limit on West Tamaki Road. I was snapped by one of those sneaky, undercover mobile cameras. At first I thought, I did the crime-now pay the fine (even though it was on a relatively main road at 7am during school holidays) and I guess thats still what I will have to do.

The only thing about this that really bothers me is the fact that I have been burgled twice and the cops did nothing, mugged once and the cops did nothing (and made it perfectly clear that it wasnt really of interest to them). I have given police information about someone who was using stolen credit cards, including the address of the person and proof of what they were doing- the police did nothing. I have called 111 regarding a serious incident that was going on (and which involved weapons) and the cops took three hours to show up. I exceed the speed limit and there they are.

I'll still pay my fine, but if I see one of the boys in blue being bashed I will turn away and ignore it, I wont even make a courtesy call to their mates.

This is modern NZ mate. Speed and chances are you'll pay. Get mugged, robbed, or burgled and the only way you'll get any justice is to take it out yourself. Is the way it is. Violent crime is up circa 5% nationally and thats good apparently, according to Broad Howard and Annette King.

[kave]

what a fucking wanker. i don't suppose you'll be crying to the cops when you get your head smacked in, or your house gets burgled again, or your one of your kids gets molested, or someone dies in your house, or you crash and are lying on the roadside broken, either?

No I wont be, I have already seen that it is a waste of time and that I have a better chance of sorting those sort of things out using friends and contacts. People whinge that the police are just doing their jobs, but the fact is that they arent doing shit. If its going to take them 3 days to turn up to a burglary or three hours to turn up to a 111 call, they may as well just get on the TV and say "we have failed, we cant protect you, your family or your property, if you want to be safe you are going to have to protect yourselves".

Then again, perhaps I'm just angry and tired and will have a different perspective on this tomorrow.

[Karma]

Ah, the warm after-glow of speeding tickets.

[FJRider]

As I understand,speed cameras are done under contract.Cops arent the ones taking the photos.The "bonus" is speed camera fines DONT (as yet) have DEMERIT POINTS attached.You know the rules,we know the rules,get caught... only one person to blame.You want the rules changed...get into Goverment and do it (try) or Vote for someone who WILL (try).
__________________________________________________ _____________________
Experience is something you dont get... untill just after you need it

[norwester]

What a stupid statement......ya big baby....it really don't deserve a retort SLOW DOWN be a good cyclist...it's free

[_intense_]

wah wah... sob

dont speed up when you see a patrol car then.

SHEESH! woulda thought that would be obvious.

[cowboyz]

harden up. Did you not realise that police give you fines if they catch you exceeding the speed limit? It is a calculated risk every time you decide to speed.

[bull]

Good on ya for venting Kave, i read through your whole post and like you said at the end youll pay the fine, good to get the rest out their for people to see too. Im gutted you didnt get the police service you required/wanted/expected but lets hope your situation is the exception to the good work the police do, you know the cases that go right and dont make it into the media coz good media doesnt get the attention.

[kave]

As I understand,speed cameras are done under contract.Cops arent the ones taking the photos.

Thats true, but the vacancies are advertised on the police website, so those taking the photos are employed by the police.

Anyway, I am starting to calm down a little. I guess I shouldnt be aiming my vitriol at police officers, but rather at the policing organisation and at government (its hard to stay pissed off at police when the ones I have met socially have been pretty good blokes). I still stand by my comment that the police organisation is completely shite at solving crime (other than traffic offenses), but I guess its not the fault of the individual officers.

I broke the law, but I feel I did not do anything dangerous. I dont believe I endangered anyones life, I believe that a good traffic officer would have taken into account the location I was in, the lack of traffic, the time of day, the good weather etc. Cameras cannot make judgment calls, and thats probably a big part of what is pissing me off.

On the brighter side, I have now been caught breaking the law, which makes me a criminal. My wife will have to beat off all the ladies attracted by my new badboy status.

[jimbo600]

I dont believe I endangered anyones life, I believe that a good traffic officer would have taken into account the location I was in, the lack of traffic, the time of day, the good weather etc. Cameras cannot make judgment calls, and thats probably a big part of what is pissing me off.

Not a chance bud. A Highway patrol officer would ticket you regardless. Quota, quota, quota mate. No cerebral activity is employed by HP members.

NZ Police are very VERY good at homicide resolution, however, in my opinion they lack resource and hierarchal will in other areas. It is a fact that road policing takes priority over violent offending, youth crime, and burglary etc.