Gutted...

**Fat Tony** · 16th August 2006, 00:14

I signed up to this forum a few weeks ago to find out a bit about what it's like to own and ride a sportsbike in New Zealand, full of dreams that moving over there would be a refreshing change for the better with regards to over zealous policing, inappropriately low speed limits etc.

You've shattered my dreams (still hoping to make the move like - I'll just have to take up extreme ironing or something ay?)

So come on, seriously, how much do you get away with on the roads over there? I mean, you ride sportsbike so you ride them like sportsbikes right? What sort of trouble does it get you in to? Fines, points, bans? How does the penalty system work over there? GATSO cameras everywhere? Mobile units? Is it just around cities and rural roads you get away with what you can? Ohhhhh.. so many questions...

Cheers,
Tony

**Karma** · 16th August 2006, 00:24

Fuck all gatsos... mostly roving HP orificers...

As with all things, time and a place.

You'll find areas you can bend the law a little... not that I'd ever do such a thing

**onearmedbandit** · 16th August 2006, 00:36

Fines vary from I think $80 to over $500 depending on your speed. If you're in the $500 zone you're no doubt facing a careless or dangerous driving charge, which will no doubt mean you're losing your licence. 6 months minimum for dangerous. Anything 40km/h over any posted limit and you're walking for 28 days immediately. Then you'll probably face a further ban depending if it's considered (which it will be) dangerous.

We have a points system called 'demerit points'. More than 100 in 2yrs means you'll lose your license for at least 3 months. Demerit are given for everything from speeding to other more general traffic offences (but not all). The more serious the infringement, the more demerits you get. If you get a ticket in Janurary 2004 for speeding, and say 35 points and you stay ticket free until December 2006 but receive another in December, the points you got in 2004 stay with you for another 2yrs. Once you've been clean for 2yrs your points get returned to zero.

We have speed cameras over here, but they only work in one direction!

They used to be sign posted, but no longer are. There is also mobile units as well. Police populate the cities pretty heavily, less so the back roads (the best). Don't be stupid in town and on state highways, and you'll be pretty much okay.

But forget all that, keep your wits about you, don'tbe overly stupid, and you can enjoy the great roads over here to your hearts content. And if you decide it's too risky, track days are very common over here and very cheap. Heck, on Tuesdays and Fridays you can pay either $50 for a half day or $80 for a full day to ride around our local track. Can't get much better than that!

While the emphasis is on speeding at the moment, I'm keeping my bike and using it well, and those I know with similar bikes are of the same mindset. Been having shitloads of fun, but been ticket free for 2yrs now. Zero demerit points, now there is a new feeling.

**mynameis** · 16th August 2006, 00:59

" onearmedbandit " has pretty much covered everything you'd really need to know. He's either a cop

or knows too much from his past experiences with so much knowledge

about the system.

In either case, sure you will enjoy it here. Having said that I just racked up $1400 fines and 110 demerit points so licence will be off for 3 months

Contemplating if I should still ride in that 3 months or not as I know a few mates who did when theirs were off.

**Karma** · 16th August 2006, 01:02

Originally Posted by mynameis

Having said that I just racked up $1400 fines and 110 demerit points so licence will be off for 3 months

Bummer...

Well frees up a space for me

**mynameis** · 16th August 2006, 01:09

Originally Posted by Weasel

Bummer...

Well frees up a space for me

Bastard ! Lol there goes my STI payout

sob sob sob .. I am really angry now feel like punching a few cops !! Grr anger management issues man.

Nah it a bit depressing reflecting on stupid things you do on bikes

0oh well can't moan too much aye.

**Korea** · 16th August 2006, 01:10

I think that I would have lost my licence several times over today if I were in NZ. Damn but I had fun

I'll have to stick to 125's when I get back or there could be... trouble.

Basically, if you want to ride like a complete nutter with the only repercussions being permanent DEATH, then why not give S.Korea a go?

**mynameis** · 16th August 2006, 01:12

Originally Posted by Korea

I think that I would have lost my licence several times over today if I were in NZ. Damn but I had fun

I'll have to stick to 125's when I get back or there could be... trouble.

Basically, if you want to ride like a complete nutter with the only repercussions being permanent DEATH, then why not give S.Korea a go?

Grrr .. un yung hoo siyaoo lol...

**Fat Tony** · 16th August 2006, 01:40

Thanks gents - doesn't sound that much different to the UK then really, and I've learnt to live with that. Zero points on the licence for the last couple of years (the wife took a few for me, lol) and as you've said there's a time and a place and as long as you respect that you're ok over here generally - I'm often well in to three figures (in mph) but as long as you know the area and where the law hangs out it's not too much of a problem. It's the unmarked cars that are the problem

There's only the odd sneaky cop that'll hide behind a bush to get you, the majority seem to abide by the guidelines (a little too rigidly on occasions - no room for consideration of road conditions, time of day etc)

Is insurance optional? And do demerit points and bans effect insurance premiums?

**cowboyz** · 16th August 2006, 06:11

A note on the insurance. At the moment it is optional but stilla good idea. There is some talk about making 3rd party compulsary. I got told by my insurance co last week that becuase I am on 90 points my excess has gone from $300 to $1300. I have not had a claim for 9 years now. Just because I have been caught speeding a few times my excess has jumped by $1000. Also they said if I do get another ticket and lose my licence then they will not insure me for 2 years after I get my licence back.

Oh, and yes I am looking at other insurance companies.

**Blackbird** · 16th August 2006, 07:43

Originally Posted by Fat Tony

It's the unmarked cars that are the problem

There's only the odd sneaky cop that'll hide behind a bush to get you, the majority seem to abide by the guidelines (a little too rigidly on occasions - no room for consideration of road conditions, time of day etc)

Tony,

Buy yourself a top of the line radar detector when you get here and that will help no end. (You'll find heaps of threads on the subject). If you want to take extreme measures, get yourself a Blinder laser jammer at the same time. Best of all, be careful on the major arterial routes and cut loose on the back roads!

**RiderInBlack** · 16th August 2006, 08:00

Originally Posted by Fat Tony

It's the unmarked cars that are the problem

Yep agree with that. Have been done by a Cobalt Blue Demante in South Is for doing 115KPM in a 100KPM. Dead straight road no-one but me and him on the road (and he popped out of his hiding place). Discretion seems to be a thing of the past here now, and seems to be more about filling their Quota. Because of this I have since gone to using a radar detector. Back roads are good, but every now and again out of the blue ya might find one hunting them.

Originally Posted by Fat Tony

Is insurance optional? And do demerit points and bans effect insurance premiums?

As Cowboyz said, yes and yes.

**Lou Girardin** · 16th August 2006, 08:07

Originally Posted by Dynamytus50

How does a laser jammer work??

They don't, not at all, don't worry your head about them.

**Lou Girardin** · 16th August 2006, 08:09

From what I gather, you guys get away with much higher speeds on your motorways, but you start from a higher limit any way. Your biker roads seem to be less Policed, whereas our coppers will have blitzes when they hear about ours.
The fast guys rely on magic mirrors over here, law-abiding people like me rely on electronic couter-measures.