Radars detectors legal?

[madandy]

One thing that might help get a bit of confidence in the Police might be in-car datloggers/cameras that tell when the speed detecting device (eg radar) is used and maybe a GPS unit for location. At the moment the cop has to stand up in court, tell what happened and eveybody is supposed to believe him, even things that may have happened years ago.

In other countries like Germany they have 2 cops per traffic car and an in- car video linked to a calibrated speedo. When they pull over a boy racer they can make the shitbag sit in the patrol car and make him watch his offending. They issue many more tickets for careless/dangerous use and there is virtually no chance of getting away with it once stopped especially as there are 2 reliable witnesses. They still issue speeding tickets but the main focus is on driving behaviour and improving skills, not just slowing down the idiots. Banning radar detectors here will make fuck all difference. I reckon they have it right and we do not.

First Cop I see pull over one of these sad sacks that think it's ok to sit out in the middle of the road doing 65-70km/h in a 90 or 100km/h zone and issue them demerits & a fine for holding up traffic and increasing the chance someone will attempt a dangerous overtaking manouvre will get a box of his/her favourite beverage from me.
If Police enforced the keep left mantra some more, the 2-4 second following distance and a few other common sense habits (like cell phones etc) were encouraged plus allowing people a fair margin of pace above the limit for passing I reckon there'd be far few accidents resulting from poor overtaking decisions and there may be less need for people to bother with RD's in the first place

[denill]

BTW: Where did I say I was in a position to say how the law will be interpreted in the future?

Sorry. That was Spud.

[davereid]

It certainly won't ever happen in my world, I'd be willing to take his chocolate fish wager. +1 kph tickets, (while possible now), will not become a common event regardless of whether detectors are banned or not. Simple wear and tear on tyres can result in a few kph incorrect readings on speedometers. Which is one of the reasons they have a tolerance in the first place.

Some cops are like you. They will treat the law sensibly, and will only issue tickets when speeding deserves a ticket.

But not all cops are like that. We have a couple of plods here, that seem to cover the highways around Ohakea who have a completely attitude.

Examples ?

I have seen them using dodgy techniques like radaring half a dozen bikes, and writing then all tickets off one radar ping. Pretty clearly more that one vehicle in the beam, and very unlikely everyone was doing the same speed but good enough for these guys!


And this is VERY common - I see this every week..

For whatever reason, cloth cap wearers seem to dawdle at 75km/hr then they spot a passing lane, and then magically find the gas pedal.

Most people will just accelerate to pass them. And it makes good sense, cos you can pass now with a high level of safety. While marginally over the speed limit, you are not crossing the white line, not attempting to judge your acceleration, the speed of oncoming traffic, and how quick the gap will close, as you are in a normal passing situation.

But Nope ! these champions of road safety wait at the end of the passing lane, busting people for using it !

The end result is that Normal Joe Citizens like me, who meet very few cops socially, end up assuming all cops are like the clowns around Ohakea.

So please forgive me if I am a fraction skeptical about what may happen. Or get a job here, and get some sense into the locals.

[onearmedbandit]

Ahhh, the old 'wait at the end of the passing lane trap'. Been caught in that one myself. Cop even said he knew what I was trying to do, ie pass slower trafffic that had sped up (his words), but he still had to ticket me, road safety and all. (although I must add he did lower the speed he caught me at by about 10km/h).

[ipod1098]

fuck it.. they should all be in camo i reckon

[scumdog]

Ahhh, the old 'wait at the end of the passing lane trap'. Been caught in that one myself. Cop even said he knew what I was trying to do, ie pass slower trafffic that had sped up (his words), but he still had to ticket me, road safety and all. (although I must add he did lower the speed he caught me at by about 10km/h).

Never, ever done that, even if speed exceeds 120kph - as long as they slow down on passing I'm ok with that.

However another km down the road is a different story, the "but I was just passing those cars" doesn't extend that far..

[ManDownUnder]

However another km down the road is a different story, the "but I was just passing those cars" doesn't extend that far..

Oh come on! You're not giving the "I hate cops" threads any ammo at all. Do play fair LOL

[Pixie]

It certainly won't ever happen in my world, I'd be willing to take his chocolate fish wager.



+1 kph tickets, (while possible now), will not become a common event regardless of whether detectors are banned or not. Simple wear and tear on tyres can result in a few kph incorrect readings on speedometers. Which is one of the reasons they have a tolerance in the first place.

They do tickets for 1km over in Victoria - where all NZ Police traffic enforcement ideas originate

[denill]

Never, ever done that, even if speed exceeds 120kph - as long as they slow down on passing I'm ok with that.

However another km down the road is a different story, the "but I was just passing those cars" doesn't extend that far..

I'm confused?? So tell, what is the directive from on high then, regarding that?? Or are you just the odd one out??

Perhaps YOU should be the policy maker.
With more like you I would feel more like playing within the rules.

As ManDownUnder said "Oh come on! You're not giving the "I hate cops" threads any ammo at all. Do play fair LOL"

[Holy Roller]

First Cop I see pull over one of these sad sacks that think it's ok to sit out in the middle of the road doing 65-70km/h in a 90 or 100km/h zone and issue them demerits & a fine for holding up traffic and increasing the chance someone will attempt a dangerous overtaking manouvre will get a box of his/her favourite beverage from me.
If Police enforced the keep left mantra some more, the 2-4 second following distance and a few other common sense habits (like cell phones etc) were encouraged plus allowing people a fair margin of pace above the limit for passing I reckon there'd be far few accidents resulting from poor overtaking decisions and there may be less need for people to bother with RD's in the first place

One of our Ulysses members was pulled over for going too slow and it wasn't that slow for the road.

[spudchucka]

They do tickets for 1km over in Victoria - where all NZ Police traffic enforcement ideas originate

Regardless of what Victoria does I don't believe that the Judiciary would allow it here. There is still a basic requirement to be fair while upholding the law and I am quite satisfied that this won't happen, purely in the interest of fairness alone.

[spudchucka]

Sorry. That was Spud.

No it wasn't I stated a belief based upon my knowledge and experience. And if you are going to knock me for allegedly predicting how the law will be interpreted in the future then go ahead and knock everyone else in this thread, (especially Ixion) because that's exactly what they are doing.

[denill]

Regardless of what Victoria does I don't believe that the Judiciary would allow it here. There is still a basic requirement to be fair while upholding the law and I am quite satisfied that this won't happen, purely in the interest of fairness alone.

Fairness? They may have brainwashed you into thinking the current enforcement protocol is fair.
But - Ohhh forget it. I'll just have another

[scumdog]

Fairness? They may have brainwashed you into thinking the current enforcement protocol is fair.
But - Ohhh forget it. I'll just have another

'Protocol' and what actually happens are two different things a lot of the time..

[scumdog]

I'm confused?? So tell, what is the directive from on high then, regarding that?? Or are you just the odd one out??

I play the 'directive' as I see fit, don't see any from 'on high' sitting in the car with me.

Yeah I'm the odd one out - but I'm sure you'll find like bikers it's the small number of twats that get the attention on KB, the silent vast amount of 'odd ones out' never get noticed.