Charged with dangerous driving. What's going to happen?

**avgas** · 30th August 2007, 11:15

Guy that hit me got charged with dangerous driving causing harm.
Do the courts still have wet bus tickets?
Cos all he got was
4 months license disqualification,
$400 fine.
And he didnt have his vehicle impounded.

**avgas** · 30th August 2007, 11:18

Originally Posted by mbazza

Oh well, if it was just a build up of demerits then it wasn't your fault was it? It was the fault of the naughty rossers for catching you and writing you up! You poor thing! GROW UP! Chairs.

Harden up - we aint all saints.

**fireball** · 30th August 2007, 11:36

Originally Posted by skidMark

well there was no cop
and i could see if the guy drives like this hes going to cause a massive accident...his occupation was a professional body builder....maybe hes on sterpoids or testosterone fuck i dunno

it was a silly thingt to do and i regret it.

just think about that point you have raised mark.....

im sure we often think the same thing about you, some great people have died for lesser things, just count your lucky stars that you are alive and well and pull your head in, as next time i see you on a bike and you are riding in a manner in which i deem is unsafe and will cause a massive accident
guess who will be showing up.....

at least you get a second chance, some of the best guys i have known didnt.

RIP James 21/7/86 - 31/8/05

**Coldrider** · 30th August 2007, 11:45

I don't know you, but you have reached a crossroad in life, and you know that, only you can decide which way you are going to go, choose wisely.
There is still some positives to take out of this.
We've all done stupid things in the past and we've not been caught, that we should not be righteous about.
It is only a big deal now, front up to the court, deal with it and get on.

**Renegade** · 30th August 2007, 11:58

Well im gonna say it, i think you have a reasonable defence, but your going to need a decent lawyer.

You wont get off the charge but you could get it reduced to say reckless driving...maybe.

the witnesses that had it in for you could be discredited due to them knowing you, the driver of the other car? what happened to him? he will have to get up in court and say that he passed all that traffic to and cut you off prior to.

that other driver is going to try and get you to repair his car, you need to prove that you couldnt have done the damage hes claiming.

you need to hop down to the police station and get your bike back out, if what you say is true they cant impound your bike like patrick said and they will have to foot the bill and release...sort it out now.

Get off your hands and start doing something to help yourself, theres been some good advice on here in amoungst the free shots at you, ive never met you but from what people say you had it coming but your a nice guy, so help yourself this time.

**marty** · 30th August 2007, 14:31

dangerous and reckless are found in the same section of the LT Act, and therefore carry the same sentence. a reduction to careless would be his only hope.

as Dangerous and Reckless carry a minimum sentence upon conviction of 6 months disqualification, there is no diversion.

i doubt whether he could get it reduced to careless and then diverted (possible but not common). the biggest issue here is the manner of driving for no good reason other than a blood rush. if mark wants to do police work, then he should join the police.

**inlinefour** · 30th August 2007, 15:47

Originally Posted by Steam

You better hope and pray no police officer has linked your skidMark profile to your number plate, they'll see all your videos of yourself doing illegal stuff, they'll read all about you boasting of your speeding and the other illegal stuff you do.
They'll come down extra-hard, crush the bike, massive fines, community service, oh boy you made a big mistake bragging about all that stuff and posting that incriminating evidence.
Hope and pray...

The problem I see is that Mark has even admitted in this instance that he was breaking the law, yet he feels justified in doing so because of his (bullshit) excuse? Sounds like Mark was trying to be a vigilantie(sp) and cannot/willnot see the reality of his situation. I'd say if what is posted above comes into play, not only will Mark have his bike sold, the possibility of no licience for along time (or no licience ever again) and alot longer than the original 6 months quoted by Mark. I think Mark is at risk of some inmate marrying his arse...

Originally Posted by skidMark

i see myself as not guilty as i was just trying to help and i wasnt fanging it to catch him was only in 2nd gear....

but i mean in reality what can i do when i have witnesses on his side that have grudges against me....

You keep believing that Mark and not take responsibility for your (stupid) actions and any judge will just come down even harder on you boy...

Edit: I see that there is a mention of others giving Mark a bit of (unnessary?) stick. I think if you look far back enough that you will find that the majority of those dishing some out are in fact the ones who used to try to help Mark and offer him advice. However for whatever reason Mark has chosen to carry on his (not so?) merry ways. There comes a time and place when continual stuff ups and ignoring good advice will cause others to give out a bit of stick, eh...

**swbarnett** · 30th August 2007, 16:25

SM, I feel for you. You're young, foolish and idealistic. I can say this because you remind me of myself in the past (quite recent past). I still find it very hard to leave things be and mind my own business. Youth will take care of itself given time, you seem to have taken a huge leap away from foolishness after this incident, don't lose your idealism but learn to temper it with realism.

I've learnt a few things from my run-ins with idiot drivers that I've chased (or that have chased me):

- Their usually bigger than me.
- Before you chase anybody be certain you can outrun them.
- Leave policing to the police. Yes, try to get their plates and a look at the driver, but not at the expense of your own safety or that of the innocents around you.
- Think about the next time you "make a mistake". Do you want someone chasing after you?
- Driving while angry is not a good idea.

I wonder, given the same situation, what would others do? Me, I think I would've honked, maybe taken the number if I saw it, and carried on my merry way forcing myself to calm down (at least that's what I'd like to think I'd do). Any other suggestions?

**Boob Johnson** · 30th August 2007, 16:54

Originally Posted by swbarnett

I think I would've honked, maybe taken the number if I saw it, and carried on my merry way forcing myself to calm down (at least that's what I'd like to think I'd do). Any other suggestions?

That's exactly what should of happened, why on EARTH Mark tried to pass this turkey I have NO idea, what you were trying to achieve by stirring up the hornets nest ill never know Mark but yeah simply take the plate number and call it in, all you did was make yourself look as bad as if not worse than the body builder & it looks like you got the tuff end of the stick for looked like a well meaningful act. Them's the brakes kiddo.

**Patrick** · 30th August 2007, 17:49

Originally Posted by skidMark

it was dangerous and nothing else....

from whati have rread prior disqualification does not apply (was just build up of demerits)

andi do not have an impound notice they ndid not give me one when they relqeased me the said they should have given you one or it should be in your bag....

but it was not.

they said i will have to ask at court.

There is no "authority" I know of where your bike could be impounded for dangerous driving. The "file copy" of the impound form will be at the cop shop and quite obtainable by the Senior Sergeant... The court has nothing to do with the impound.

You should have been given 2 copies... one for the driver and one for the owner, but hey, maybe they are in the post?? TUI.... Not being given them means very little.... the other 2 copies go to the tow provider and storage provider (usually the same tow firm).

Your prior driving history, including licence suspensions, may be taken into consideration by the judge.

People have been and still are trying to tell you to tone it all down SM... heed the good advice... too many threads on here about dead bikers SM. Don't add to the list!!!!

**Kiwifire72** · 30th August 2007, 18:10

Hopefully Both SM and all of us will learn from this

**skidMark** · 30th August 2007, 18:22

Originally Posted by Deano

You were formally arrested ? Was it pretty serious or did you give them some lip ?

no lip whatsoever but they said it was tstandard to cuff me take me to the station and process me....

going to try get my bike out of impound, tried for diversion, cannot get it on a traffic offence.

**Swoop** · 30th August 2007, 18:33

Originally Posted by skidMark

because i wanted to be able to identify the driver at a laterc stage if need be.

Fair enough. I can comprehend following a vehicle and obtaining their licence plate, but then overtaking that vehicle?

Originally Posted by Patrick

Your prior driving history, including licence suspensions, may be taken into consideration by the judge.

WILL. The judge will have ALL of your file on hand (unlike a jury).

The VFR Preservation Society is happy that you have sacrificed a lesser form of bike. Whoever worked on that bike, rode it, looked at it, is immaterial to the judge. It is an "object" that will be sold to defray expenses owed to the courts - IF necessary!

Many years from now, you will look back at these times and ponder what happened...