What cost to the taxpayer?

[zzzbang]

haha. well, thats what you get when your an idiot.

[spudchucka]

However, there were more cops present than was required to get the job done.

That's not really for you to judge, no one comes to your work and tells you how to sweep up!

[peasea]

That's not really for you to judge

Perhaps not, I just don't like seeing public money being wasted.

[spudchucka]

Perhaps not, I just don't like seeing public money being wasted.

If their presence caused some people on the roads that day to ride or drive more appropriately they may well have saved the country millions through having prevented a crash that could have cost mega bucks in rehab and ACC.

An ounce of prevention is worth a gallon of cure.

[Max Preload]

If their presence caused some people on the roads that day to ride or drive more appropriately they may well have saved the country millions through having prevented a crash that could have cost mega bucks in rehab and ACC.

An ounce of prevention is worth a gallon of cure.

Following that philosophy to it's logical conclusion the use of unmarked cars for traffic duties should cease immediately.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Following that philosophy to it's logical conclusion the use of unmarked cars for traffic duties should cease immediately.

That is a traffic safety initiative I can support.

[spudchucka]

Following that philosophy to it's logical conclusion the use of unmarked cars for traffic duties should cease immediately.

Quite right and the vast majority of cars are marked. The plain cars however are a very good deterrent factor too, there is an equally strong argument to support their use.

[Mikkel]

I just hope that the police invested, at the very least, a comparable effort in deterring drunk drivers at the Hokitika Wild Foods Festival this weekend as well. However, I didn't encounter a single police car going over Arthur's Pass last night. I saw one police checkpoint of sorts about 5-10 kms north of Greymouth... not really the right place for it though.

Plenty of people driving erratically over the pass as well and unlit trailers in the dark and other goodies too.

[peasea]

If their presence caused some people on the roads that day to ride or drive more appropriately they may well have saved the country millions through having prevented a crash that could have cost mega bucks in rehab and ACC.

An ounce of prevention is worth a gallon of cure.

I couldn't agree more but I still say it was OTT, half the number of officers and vehicles would have got the job done. Unless, of course, they are only doing half the job; then you'll need twice as many.

[MyGSXF:Me]

Last Friday night (March 13) there was a huge, and I mean huge, road block on SH6 just north of Nelson at Hira. Ok, WOF checks, breath tests and so on don't bother me but surely one or two squad cars could handle that. I didn't have my camera that evening but we can recall about 7 or 8 squad cars there, an unmarked one at the top of the hill and another squad car just on the downward leg on the northern side. They also took my photograph for whatever reason. It was clearly a sting pointed at visiting bikers who'd come to Nelson for the poker run on the Saturday, this was denied by the officer that checked my details. Liar.

Then came the poker run the next day. The assembly point was host to several squad cars and a few unmarked cars. The route was dotted with patrol cars and several unmarked cars. At Tapawera there was a police photographer, unmarked and marked cars etc. They also used video cameras throughout the day. At one intersection (not far from the Riwaka Hotel) they had positioned cameras about 100m up the road to photograph those who did not come to a complete halt at the stop sign. Fortunately I saw the rider in front do a double take, both his feet hit the ground and I followed suit.

Then came the prize; a major operation on the Appleby Highway that saw hoards of bikers pulled over for WOF and Rego checks with breath tests thrown in for good measure.

I don't have a problem with these operations pre se but I did think that the taxpayers money was being wasted here with the scale of these operations. Do the police really think that at such an event anyone is likely to get turpsed-up? If you did that, and proceeded to knock someone off their bike, the law would be the least of your worries.

When I stopped to reverse the situation and take pics of the coppers I got the twenty questions routine; "what do you think you're doing" etc. Had my machine checked out, me checked out and so on. I also didn't get any straight answers to my questions; double standards.

It was over the top, as per fucking usual.

Kinda requires the situation to be kept in perspective... coz there's a bit more to it..

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/n...gers-gang-fear

[Okey Dokey]

Perhaps not, I just don't like seeing public money being wasted.

Well, thousands of dollars in unpaid fines collected sounds good to me.

Patched gang members or police? I know which side I support!

[peasea]

Kinda requires the situation to be kept in perspective... coz there's a bit more to it..

http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/n...gers-gang-fear

Interesting article. I see that McGurk is quoted as saying the run was held "to mark the establishment of the Red Devils gang in Nelson". That's funny, for the last seven years the run has been held to raise funds for the St John Ambulance. There's no doubt about the Red Devils making an appearance though.

Also of note is that McGurk has already decided that the Red Devils and the Lost Breed being in the same town would lead to "competition and confrontation" yet this was denied by a Red Devils member who said there was "no possibility" of that.

I sincerely hope there isn't.

Thanks for the link; I knew there'd be something in the NM as I spoke briefly to their reporter and photographer on the day.

[mikeey01]

They also took my photograph for whatever reason.

Did they do this to every biker they stopped?
Was there any reason or logic as to why?
After all they have it on drivers....

One wonders why they would be doing this and then what data base it may well end up on.

[Max Preload]

Did they do this to every biker they stopped?
Was there any reason or logic as to why?
After all they have it on drivers....

One wonders why they would be doing this and then what data base it may well end up on.

Whatever the reason, that's an appalling and insulting practice and although it's perfectly legal being a public place it's also perfectly legal for you to not submit to it and cover your face. I'll be damned if I'd allow them to take my photograph like a common criminal for undisclosed purposes. Next we'll all have to wear arm bands...

[MarkH]

Such class. I have fuck all time for drink drivers - be it on a bike or in a car. All the same to me. Selfish faggots that will only care when its too late.

I am in 100% agreement there mate - so is my mate with half of his right leg missing who hasn't ridden a bike in the last 2 decades, thanks to a drunk driver.

However, there were more cops present than was required to get the job done. Or, perhaps it takes dozens of NZ coppers to do the job that cops from other nations take in their stride. (?)

Were there? Or maybe they were training new recruits? I don't know and I don't think you do either!

Following that philosophy to it's logical conclusion the use of unmarked cars for traffic duties should cease immediately.

Of course they should - when I keep seeing police cars I am reminded to behave myself, the more marked cars I see the better. I support the idea of getting rid of unmarked police cars 100%!

It's not like they need mufti cars to catch speeders, I have seen someone speed past a parked police car (not mufti) and then get pulled over and ticketed. I paid attention and slowed down, they passed me and got taxed for being stupid (why can't drivers pay more attention to the road ahead and things like a car with disco lights parked on the side of the road?).