Police discretion

**PuppetMaster** · 22nd February 2005, 11:47

Originally Posted by vifferman

My son was given a ticket last year for crashing one of our cars

A copper could answer this, but I think that if the cop turns up they have to give you a ticket ???
I got a ticket for dangerous driving after an accident. A bit unfair, no-one else involved, no witnesses, no nothing, until the next day when the cop turned up at the same time as the tow truck. Its like putting in the boot, isnt crashing bad enough.

**madboy** · 22nd February 2005, 12:16

A lot of the problem is the "shoot the messenger" syndrome. They are responsible for delivering the bollocks that the suited minority have declared an integral part of our road safety policy. And there's a few too many messengers not using any discretion that don't help their public perception either.

I personally fluctuate on a good day from not liking the traffic police, to on a bad day where I think hatred would be an accurate description. And sometimes I admit I take very deliberate actions to express my opinions to them. Hey - that's just my opinion, deal with it how you choose. At the end of the day, they may well be human beings, but they are tasked with a thankless job that they will get little help or respect for - and that's just the way it is. If they don't like the fact that people don't like them, they're in the wrong job.

Where I have sympathy is for the non-traffic guys and girls - the ones who get shit solely because of their better funded cousins. Those guys deserve a bloody medal.

**Lias** · 22nd February 2005, 12:36

I said in another thread and I'll say it again here, the majority of cops are alright, and they do have a shit job, but they also have plenty of assholes in uniform, and that minority ruin it for the rest of them.

I try to not prejudge coppers, but I mostly find myself slipping into thinking of them as "pigs' without giving them a fair go.. Tisn't fair to the good ones, but i've just had too many experiences with the assholes that all cops make my defenses go up.

Not just my opinion either, the majority of my friends think along similar lines.

**Lias** · 22nd February 2005, 12:41

Oh and just to stick with the initial thread, I had an encoutner with a decent copper last year.

I'd just got my GN250, and I was practising around the back streets near my place before I went and sat my BHS test, just to get confidence on the bike. Low and behold I turn a corner and theres a cop car sitting on the side of the road. He pulls me over, asks for my license. I politely explain I dont have it yet, I'm practising to get my BHS. Cop gives me a $400 fine, but hes decent enough to write on the ticket that if I get my learners with 30 days the fine is waived.

Went and got my BHS a week or so later and theory a few days after and wrote off to the fines peopel and it was all waived.

That being said I think thats the ONLY good encounter I've had with the police in the last few years (and I've not been arrested at all during that time LOL)

**spudchucka** · 22nd February 2005, 12:54

Originally Posted by vifferman

He crashed because he was inexperienced, a hawk flew up from the side of the road at his windscreen, and he got a fright and jerked the steering wheel a bit hard when he swerved. He was charged with careless operation of a motor vehicle.

Well I wouldn't have charged him, sounds like a load of old wank on the cops part. Good thing the judge saw it that way too.

**Joni** · 22nd February 2005, 13:01

Yes at times the police are great....

We all remember my case that Zed published all over KB where I was caught doing a stupid speed down Hobson road in Auckland central, and I was not ticketed... I was very lucky that day!

I owe that gentlman a big thank you!

Once again you can never generalise about anything, inluding the police. I would have slapped me with the ticket, because I deserved it fully....

**Da Bird** · 23rd February 2005, 08:44

Originally Posted by PuppetMaster

A copper could answer this, but I think that if the cop turns up they have to give you a ticket ???
I got a ticket for dangerous driving after an accident. A bit unfair, no-one else involved, no witnesses, no nothing, until the next day when the cop turned up at the same time as the tow truck. Its like putting in the boot, isnt crashing bad enough.

Generally a crash is caused by someone not obeying the road rules - failing to give way, going through red lights etc etc. If an offence has been committed, then yes, a ticket will be given out in most circumstances, regardless of whether it is one vehicle involved or more. However, there is no rule that says "if you attend a crash, you must give out a ticket".

BC.

**hobdar** · 23rd February 2005, 12:52

Yup my best experience was as a student in Dunners....

Just finished practice for Anzac day 11 pm running down George st on my FZR 250 not at 50 kph in fact probably closer to 80 + and on my learners and a cop appears from no where ....pulls me over asks if i knew what speed i was doing.....

No idea...

Asks to see my licence and explain i am on my learners...we discuss a few other things and being a few mintues from home, he says to me bugger off and i don't want to see you riding around again tonight....

Very nice bloke...seeing as i would have lost my licence and being in ?Army Uniform probaly got dragged before a military court as well...