Crooked biker cop in Wellington - lane splitting

[R650R]

There must be about several hundred bikes that would pass that location during the morning rushhour. Given it takes about 15-20 mins these days to issue a ticket that means at most he could persecute 2-3 people an hour by the time he returns to his perch. Even when the Waikato highway patrol bragged about ticketing x amount of bad motorists in a one month campaign it only worked out to about 2 tickets per hour.

[Robbo]

Interesting point is that when a motorcycle does it that's classed as lane splitting and apparently illegal but when push bikes do it (which they do all the time) it is completely overlooked and nothing done about it. Discrimination???

[Tazz]

Sadly I don't think there is anything we can do about this prick but keep our eyes open.

Formal complaints. Few of those may bring some attention to him. Might as well make the most of them.

[MD]

Formal complaints. Few of those so bring some attention to him. Might as well make the most of them.

Yeah but there's no point making a complaint if we are technically in the wrong. He will always win the argument that we are passing on the left and/or lane splitting and in his opinion he could say it looked dangerous or likely to annoy the public. I know of a rider given a ticket for 'riding in a manner likely to annoy other road users' Actually the cop in that case was being super kind going for this lesser offence and the rider welcomed the amusing charge (instant fine no demerits).

Back on subject, this prick has the law on his side, end of story. Sure we know in tens of thousands of trips by bikes every year over decades into Wgtn no rider that I am aware of has come to serious harm while splitting. Exclude cyclist where two have died that I know of in this wgtn vicinity. We know most drivers don't mind us doing it and appreciate that we are reducing congestion by not opting for our cars. We know there are more serious matters he could be focusing on (cell phones, failing to indicate etc). We know that we are only endangering ourselves. None of this matters jack shit when he can state that we have made a road code infringement, however minor and unwarranted we may feel it is.

I don't know what I will say to him when we eventually meet, it's inevitable my turn will come as I can't see me sitting on my bike in a queue day after day. Worse case is he will drive me to take the car, slightly more time and petrol cost for me. Not so bad for me as I have a company car park provided anyway.

For now splitting the gorge is off the menu unless I have clear visibility way ahead. Irony thing there is I am now focussed on trying to spot Prick Dick, instead of my immediate surroundings where I should be focussing for safety. Prick Dick is actually increasing our chances of coming to grief.

[Tazz]

Yeah but there's no point making a complaint if we are technically in the wrong. He will always win the argument that we are passing on the left and/or lane splitting and in his opinion he could say it looked dangerous or likely to annoy the public. I know of a rider given a ticket for 'riding in a manner likely to annoy other road users' Actually the cop in that case was being super kind going for this lesser offence and the rider welcomed the amusing charge (instant fine no demerits).

You're complaining about his performance/stalker tactics etc. Ticket is irrelevant. If he is truly being an absolute cunt, point it out to his superiors and he might get moved onto something that involves less public interaction. Wishful thinking, I know, but it has the potential for more action than just talking about him.

Interesting point on the cyclists lane splitting too above. I have never thought of that.

[Erelyes]

So, did i read correctly that contesting a ticket doesn't cost anything extra apart from time to attend the court appearance? If so, contest, and as i understand it he is obliged to turn up to the hearing. Everyone he tickets does that and he's off the road?

To clarify. You can either:
- Write to the cops disputing the ticket. You do not necessarily have to admit or deny liability for the offence. (This is option '4(a)' on your ticket). This is free and without any drawbacks, really. You'll get a reply in the mail. You can often write back to their reply a couple times, eventually they may simply state the decision that the ticket will stand is final, if you want to dispute further go to court.
- Request a court hearing. (option 4(b) on your ticket). This is the actual 'day in court' with the ossifer concerned. If you lose you'll be charged court costs ($$$).

Can't hurt writing to them, but don't beat around the bush, write in sooner rather than later.

[nodrog:Me]

Hire the A-Team.

[willytheekid]

Back on subject, this prick has the law on his side, end of story.

REALLY??

...could someone please!, show me said LAW that "CLEARLY" states that lane splitting, and filitering at low speeds is illegal and a chargable traffic offense! (Its a pritty grey area that is open to "interpritation"...so its not a law that is set in stone and can be defended)

...Cos it sounds like the cop is just a power tripping ARSEHOLE!...thats end of story!

[MD]

You're complaining about his performance/stalker tactics etc. Ticket is irrelevant. If he is truly being an absolute cunt, point it out to his superiors and he might get moved onto something that involves less public interaction. Wishful thinking, I know, but it has the potential for more action than just talking about him.

Interesting point on the cyclists lane splitting too above. I have never thought of that.

Quite right there are two issues at play here.
1. He is issuing tickets that are unjustified (arguably)
and more importantly,
2. He is being a mean arsed prick stalking and repeatedly targetting the same people just for the buzz he gets from the power trip
I do not believe he is doing this to 'keep us all safe'. His intentions are anything but fair and righteous and that's what's most frustrating. As Spiderman's Uncle Ben said, with great power comes great responsibility. Clearly he was worried Peter Parker could turn into someone like this wanker Prick Dick with a badge. Discretion, common sense and fairness were clearly leatures he was absent from at Police College.

[ellipsis]

If he is truly being an absolute cunt, point it out to his superiors and he might get moved on...

...we have ended up with one of them in our area...thanks everybody who brought it to the attention of TPTB...

[Hitcher]

Please tell me if "passing on the left" is illegal in New Zealand, the world's elephant-racing Mecca. A place where motorists religiously hog the right-hand lane, particularly those Silverstream residents who think that being in that lane all the way from Petone is their legal right. A place where right-hand lane occupants believe that 100kmh is the legal limit and that being out there allows them to safely overtake those doing 98kmh in the left-hand lane.

Is overtaking Right-Hand Lane Meanderers(TM) by way of a lesser-populated and faster-moving left-hand lane illegal here? "Undertaking", as it is known in some other jurisdictions, is illegal there. Is that the case here and, if so, why isn't this law universally enforced?

[sugilite:Me]

My guess is he is aware of this thread and having a sneaky tug over it daily. He will be loving he is pissing people off.

If you guys seeing him pulling people over every day were to print a bunch of small fliers with this thread address (maybe even pointing to a definitive, cohesive point of action such as "contesting the ticket" post) and stop to give them to the riders getting tickets. (I'm assuming stopping on the side of the motorway is legal? If not place fliers on all the bikes parked in the city, hell do that anyways!).
Obviously you would all need squeaky clean legal bikes and riding.

A well coordinated focused effort putting this prick in the cross hairs for a change should bring about him either backing off or better yet being by his bosses and reassigned. Believe me, small minded egotistical twats like this would spend many a anguished sleepless night raging against those "bloody" bikers that got the better of him. Result.

[pzkpfw]

Please tell me if "passing on the left" is illegal in New Zealand, the world's elephant-racing Mecca. A place where motorists religiously hog the right-hand lane, particularly those Silverstream residents who think that being in that lane all the way from Petone is their legal right. A place where right-hand lane occupants believe that 100kmh is the legal limit and that being out there allows them to safely overtake those doing 98kmh in the left-hand lane.

Is overtaking Right-Hand Lane Meanderers(TM) by way of a lesser-populated and faster-moving left-hand lane illegal here? "Undertaking", as it is known in some other jurisdictions, is illegal there. Is that the case here and, if so, why isn't this law universally enforced?

I'm sure you know this, but I can be bad at picking up sarcasm, so perhaps redundantly ...

1. Passing on the left, in a separate lane, is legal in NZ. (British drivers are surprised by this when they visit).

2. Passing moving traffic on the left, in the same lane, is illegal.


So, 1., you can pass slow cars in the right lane, if you have a left lane to do it in. (Some people get a bit angry when you do this. Dunno why).

So, 2., since it's actually very hard to always be left of the lane divider when lane splitting, that arsehole cop can be pretty guaranteed that any lane splitter he sees can be ticketed.

[octanepwr]

Haha. I never admitted to speeding and I love the edit that someone made saying 140kph He thought I was (maybe I was?) but never ticketed me for it.

Gorge Bully was not there this morning but Friday's are always pretty free running traffic anyway.

This is the law:
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regul...DLM302188.html

Section of importance:
http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regul...DLM303050.html
Anyone speak legal here to clarify?
1) Doesn't appear to mean anything which seems to be typical of law.
2) Sounds all good - the 2 vehicles must be in different lanes; (note all clauses are OR)
3) Makes part 2) a bit more complicated

In summary how I read it, if you indicate right and keep in the LEFT lane without crossing the lane dividers, and ride at a sensible speed (I would suggest sensible means something like stop splitting at >40-50kph traffic and maintain >20kph speed above traffic speed) you cant be done for shit.
Hard in places where lanes are thin obviously.

While on topic of the Gorge, ill have a note about the replacement speed camera which of course has been placed in a high crash area that it is (nothing due to the fact that people might not want to ride the brakes the entire hill and happen to drift over the speed limit). Also note that it can get you on both sides of the road as per any of these new ones including Thorndon and Petone, but only Thorndon and Petone are at such an angle I think they could photo your rear on the other side of the road.
I also doubt the business case passed unless they are in tune with the speed signs which change with traffic, so when the speed sign says 60 instead of 80 it pay to slow down as I have no doubt they adjust the camera limit. Note how all 3 of these new cameras are in areas that they can change the rate as they wish to maximize revenue.

I doubt there are many bike cops in Wellington. A mate saw a bike cop splitting in central CBD with moving traffic (slow moving) yesterday. It was probably him.
Gorge Bully's home is probably the dog squad /semi unmarked cop shop up the road to the left (towards the quarry) if you take the exit at the bottom of the gorge when heading down. So he probably is a local as far as work is concerned.

Gorge Bully admitted it was fine if traffic was stopped (when he pulled me over). I guess he means here he doesn't mind if you pass on the left i.e. cross lane dividers, if traffic is stopped. Really this should be if traffic is <30-40 kph IMO to find a fair middle ground. Trying to balance a 200kg bike at <20kph is pretty stupid, not to mention defeats the point of riding a bike instead of sitting in a cage in the traffic.

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regul...DLM303041.html
Cunts doing 80kph on the motorway in the right lane is illegal as it also states that not keeping as left as possible is illegal, so arguably passing the slow cunts by going into the left lane could be considered self defense in a way . Australians seem to be very good at keeping left. Their cops obviously ticket for driving slowly in the fast lane which ours need to catch up on.
It could also be argued that all our lane splitting would be legal if people kept as far to the left as possible in their lanes (unless they are very skinny lanes obviously or very wide vehicles/trucks) and then we would never have to technically be in the right lane.
If you do have to go into the right lane to get past, make sure there are gaps in the traffic and then indicate each direction as you move through. This makes what you are doing simply normal lane changing which you cannot get done for as it is legal.

http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regul...DLM303048.html
Is also of high importance to us. 100m does not apply on multi lane roads.

Arm yourself with the law and try and abide by it. I am now more enlightened on the topic. A go-pro might also be useful. I have seen a guy regularly on a crotch rocket with one on the same route. If I get pulled again I will be asking for proof he is a police officer before he gets my license.
I also love how he told me not to ride in the left shoulder (I never would, I leave that for faggy scooter riders who cant split), but he did this when he chased the guy yesterday. Pulling people over for lane splitting lets you break all the rules. Important stuff clearly.
Not to mention he slows the traffic simply with his presence as all cops do. The economic wastage by him slowing down traffic is probably much more than the revenue the police get.

Also note that Gorge Bully likes to sit with his laser gun at:
1) Thorndon overpass heading into town
2) Ngauranga - Hutt on ramp. This is a good one for him as it is long and has a bend in it so you can't see him until it is too late. (weekends I know he goes there)
No I haven't been done by him at either point but seen him a few times. Did get done at 1) by a patrol car once a few years back, but he was a nice guy not an angry desperate and pathetic piece of shit.

And yes. I will now spend all my time looking for this faggot on the side of the road rather than watching where I am going.
Just like the 4kph holiday tolerance.
Cops want you to do everything you can to avoid concentrating on the actual driving conditions and driving to them.

[swbarnett]

Trying to balance a 200kg bike at <20kph is pretty stupid,

Mate, you need some lessons. I routinely balance my 200kg bike at a damn site less than 20kph at "give ways" while waiting for the road ahead to be clear.

not to mention defeats the point of riding a bike instead of sitting in a cage in the traffic.

Now this, on the other hand, I totally agree with.

And yes. I will now spend all my time looking for this faggot on the side of the road rather than watching where I am going.

I take it you'd rather get squashed than get a ticket?

Cops want you to do everything you can to avoid concentrating on the actual driving conditions and driving to them.

I very much doubt that this is their intent but it certainly ends up this way.