The world is now a safer place

[Shifty]

I haven't had a ticket in 2 years and 11 months, at which time I got a fine for accelerating past a car that was changing lanes on me. The copper didn't want a bar of it and wrote me up for a six pointer.

Prior to that I got a ticket about 5 years earlier, for doing 120 in a 70 zone when I wasn't even doing 100. The copper didn't want a bar of it and offered to write me up for dangerous driving as well, if I'd like (as I accelerated off a set of lights - note, no wheelspin).

Oh, and I neglect to mention the fine I received for walking across a red pedestrian light at 2am while stone cold sober with no cars around, save for the cop car parked 100m up the road.

So as you can imagine, I have a fairly low opinion of coppers who are in my personal experience absolute pricks. No offence to any forum members who are cops, but I'll reserve judgement until such a time as I meet you in your uniform.

Earlier this week, I did something pretty shithouse (wheelie) that resulted in me getting a speeding fine. First one in 10 years that I've actually deserved to get, copped it on the chin and that was the end of that.

Today, I was teaching a friend how to ride a (motor)bike in a completely empty carpark and the coppers drove past as I was turning the bike around for her. They promptly did a u-turn and parked up beside us.

They asked to see my license and asked if I realised I was required under the "Road Transport Management Act" (or something to that effect) to wear a helmet on a bike. I pointed out that I'd never ride a bike on the road without a helmet at which point they said "won't be a minute".

At this point I thought they were just checking my license for warrants etc... but true to form a minute later they resufraced with a fucking ticket for "öperate vehicle without helmet (motorcycle)".

No discussion, no nothing, just fucking *bang* here's your ticket. Once the ticket was written I objected but knew it was too late, the (lovely) female copper then gave me a lecture on how she was concerned to see that I was instructing someone on how to operate a motorcycle and being "incapable of even teaching the basics of personal safety".

Now, anyone who knows me will know that I'm a real safetycrat when it comes to gear. My girlfriend was standing there beside me in about $2000 of safety gear and was absolutely covered from head to toe. I pointed this out, and also that we'd just lay-by'd $1000 of gear for her at which point she gave me a lecture on the road toll, did her official two-line spiel on my right to pay the fine off in instalments and my right to a court hearing (which we all know is a sham unless you can afford $3k for a traffic lawyer).

I pointed out that I though the fine was unreasonable, and that a polite warning would have been more than enough. Cop didn't want a bar of it so that was when I dropped polite & friendly and pointed out that they were the type of scum and that made people hate coppers.

This fired her up a little but basically I was already rooted so I figured why not at least make her feel a litle bad by pointing out the scum that she really is. She then said she had a "three car accident" to attend (in a way that suggested I was lucky not to have been killed in such an accident while moving the bike in a carpark) and her apparently castrated male partner chipped in "hope we don't have to scrape you up off the road next".

I've been down the appeal in writing and the appeal in court routes before for earlier tickets and it doesn't work so I'm resigned to the fact that I'm rooted.

Best thing is that due to the timing, although I haven't had a ticket for 2 years and 11 months since my 6 pointer, I've had two 3-pointers in three days (one of which I'm happy to cop) so now I've lost my license!

But the world is now a safer place.

[red_dave]

You're a farken menace Shifty!

Seriously, that's just farked!

[trickz1000]

That's bullshit. The Army taught me that you have to earn respect not demand it and they certainly have none of my respect. Sick and tied of seeing them turn a blind eye to the real dangers on the road and going after the easy hits to fill their quotas.

Rant over

[aggerz]

That’s really is piss poor mate, hard luck...

I got done for 122 in 100 zone last month... I was driving a brand new falcon only 3 days off the line, not released to public so I had some couple pacing beside me trying to have a good look. I had pulled into the overtaking lane on the hwy to go past because I was worried when he was in front he was spending more time looking in the mirror than on the road, so soon as I come past on his right, he starts pacing me while him and his missus have a good gander at the car (not young couple either.. in 50s).. I speed up a bit more because the lane is ending and want to get away from this clown, it ends just before the crest of the hill, so we sort back into single file and across the top of the hill.. a copper is going the other way, I didn't even think much of it until 5mins later lights blazing he comes tearing up behind.

He gets out says ' let me see your license' I hand it over.
He says do you know why you were pulled over? I say No.
He says 'you didn’t see us back there?' I say 'Possibly not sure.' (Which was true at the time I didn’t really recall - they only flashed past as it was around a bend)
He says 'We observed you speeding (queue Police jargon) do you know what speed you were doing? I say: I don't believe I was speeding
He says 'Back in a minute"

I accept in hindsight I could have still been over 100 when they saw me, It was post-overtaking move and now starting to head downhill) to what degree I don't know but my lack of intent to speed would have been obvious when he came chasing me - I was 100 on the cruise control dead straight stretch of road could see for miles and didn't realise he was there until he was right up behind, he would have checked me again from miles and seen I was 100 bang on.

Anyhow, while tweedle dee was writing the ticket with my details tweedle dum was checking out the car from all angles.

I feel 100% targeted and these guys had nothing better to do with their day.

Just as you refer to in your post - this is another example that makes the public hate cops.

Apologies for the hijack post, just stories like this get me wound up too..

[Saki]

Its pretty farked if u ask me, reading this stuff is REALLY frustrating, because the system is made in such a way that you cant do jack shit about it. My father is a lawyer and all the times i get tickets and talk to him about it, basically his come back "well, sorry your fucked" why, because the cops make the tickets so vague and generalised it can mean anything really.

I got done for having NO Horn in my car.. Who the farken tests the horn. I explained to the cop that my front bar on the supra had been removed and the horn had been slightly altered, only problem is it worked, but wasn't quite as loud as they wanted it. SO i couldn't do anything there....

Anywhere heres the worst bit. The farken cop worked in Forensics so i thought here we go, this guy has some years under his belt he will write out a good ticket here to really corner me..... And wat do i discover....

8 Mistakes,
1. Date of Issue Incorrect,
2. First name wrong (had to copy from my licence)
3. Last name wrong (same again)
4. Date of Birth (wrong copy from licence)
5. Licence No.... Wrong
6. Type of car. Wrong (this was in the supra so maybe he didn't know, but he could have asked!)
7. Res. Address wrong
8. Place of TIN issue WRONG.


I got it and was like far out bummer hey, then my mate went over the ticket and started crying with laugher.... WTF i was thinking wats so funny about that ????

He pointed out every mistake and i was shocked... Honestly how could anyone fark that up, let along a cop in forensics.......

So bugger him i thought took it to court.... anyway this is the bit which makes my point.
The magistrate called me upto the stand ra ra ra, The procecutor starts reading the offence out and hte magistrate looks at him and says:
Mag."You sure you have the correct TIN (traffic infringment Notice, thats how many i have had!)"
Pros. "TIN no.xxx, on date xxxx"
Mag. "Sorry you have the incorrect information"
Me. Sitting there with a grin on my face and everyone in the court room chuckling and mr pros, getting all flustered.

Mag. Then asked me about the offence and me being mr honest i pointed out that the officer who wrote out the ticket wrote it all out wrong and incorrect.

Final judgement, i sitll had to pay the farker which was $80, but i didn't have to pay the court fee's so basically just bought myself about 60 days to pay a ticket! Woot!

Bastards! You cant win

[ZXRobyn]

Mmmmm. . . wot I can say is that my ex got done for assaulting a copper, for which he did not do - I was there, and I know wot went down! (and the copper certainly didn't - in fact he wasn't touched, anyway I will digress )
And FTR, I can also say as a GIRL no I haven't been given any favours either - maybe that's cause I didn't offer any 'favours' but hey . . . still reckon it SUX!
Truly sorry to hear of your misfortunes.

[ttc]

Shifty.. does the 12 need somewhere nice and safe to live for a while

[Rossi]

Do a check to see if the car park is listed as "private" land...... if it is, and not a public road there has been no infringement ( that could just be a pommy law but it's worth asking)

[aardvark]

Do a check to see if the car park is listed as "private" land...... if it is, and not a public road there has been no infringement ( that could just be a pommy law but it's worth asking)

Road related area under the Australian Road Rules. Unless the car park is fenced off and not readily accessible to the public that trick wont work.

[z900/zx9]

I wont go into details but the last fine i got was $300 tried all avenues but then decieded that they can wait for there money Cried poor filled out hardship form,bingo now this fine will take 7.5 months for them to get there money at $40 per month

[robracer]

Do a check to see if the car park is listed as "private" land...... if it is, and not a public road there has been no infringement ( that could just be a pommy law but it's worth asking)

Road related area under the Australian Road Rules. Unless the car park is fenced off and not readily accessible to the public that trick wont work.

True we have ppl in opur block of units at work, get busted all the time because they assume it is private property, but simple fact is that it is open for public access therefore the same as out on the road.

[bonester]

That sux Shifty! Maybe it is worth taking the helmet one to court? I got booked for failing to give way in Childers a few years ago in my HR ute at a cross-road. The cops were on my left (I was on their right) and both of us faced give way signs. I spewed somewhat (I am usually polite to cops) because the guy was such a smart arse. I should have taken it to court but Childers was 4-5 hours away and a day off work and accommodation would have cost me more so I paid the fine. I think this is what they rely on- people can't be stuffed going to court. I wrote to head piggy up there explaining the situation and his response was that the road I was entering was not 'gazetted' so it didn't exist, making the intersection a t-intersection where I had to give way to my left...... The road was the same design as the road I was travelling upon and physically a cross-road. They have since changed the design of the intersection, and every time I go through Childers I mutter 'dirty cunts' to myself.....

[Black Magic]

I can sympathise with you Shifty.

I am the daughter of a man who was a cop for well over 30 years, but this week I discovered a new low (bear with me)......


I am the only qualified nurse in the clinic where I work. I am currently mentoring two trainee nurses, and we have recently taken on a new Vet Nursing student who has only moved here from Russia about two months ago. In that time she has enrolled in her Vet Nursing study, her husband has found employment and she has attained her drivers licence (car).

We are in south-east QLD, the Russian students husband has taken up a job in North QLD. Last week she asked me if she could leave early for the Anzac Day long weekend to catch a train up to see her husband (VERY long trip up north.) I said "Yes! Of course- have fun!"

She arrived back at work Monday VERY upset. She was pulled up on her way to catch the train for a headlight that wasn't working. Despite explaining that she had only been in the country a very short time, and that she had no idea her headlight wasn't working, she was fined $350 and lost three points! Worse still she missed her train!

She waited until the next morning and DROVE to Bundaberg where her husband fixed the headlight. She has a week to report to the police and show that the light is fixed.

I was so ashamed, and felt so bad for her. Justice done! (NOT!!!!!)

[Possum]

Safe!!!!!!!!! Is this their answer to improving the motorcycle toll, by taking us off the road??
Unreal!...things are getting so sad! The courts take their (blue stinkers) "account" over ours, but how much corruption is there???... Its bullshit and everyone knows it - we are just soft targets...

I'm just waiting to be picked up on the Z .. shouldnt b too long now

Poss

[the kid]

Argue the ticket out even just by registered letter and buy some time . Might find that the 6 points come back before the 3 get "awarded" to you . Worth stalling as much as possible to try and get that time up to 3 years .

And in fairness to the coppers , a couple of weeks ago got done by a radar set up and the short story is that the copper booked me for an out of date rego label instead of a speeding fine . No points for the label . This was after I told him I only had 1 point left . Good Bloke .