[Sam B]

Well, I finished work late today, and I was driving home from Tokoroa in a bit of a daze, and the road is so long and quite boring and I do it every day, and well to cut a long story short I was doing 119k.p.h. and I got stopped by a police car.

I didn't realise that they could speed gun you when they are driving towards you in the opposite direction, but obviously they can, because he did. Well, I was really scared, because I'm scared of any authority figures in uniform and I had an irrational urge to cry, so I must have appeared v tight lipped or something. Anyway, he takes my details, breathalises me (luckily haven't taken to drinking at work yet), and then announced I would get a $120 fine. He handed me a ticket thing and it has a printed bit that talks about 50 points on the licence, but I was too scared of bursting into tears to ask him if I would.

He told me to just send the fine in in 28 days, and said "have a nice day". I'm wondering if I won't get points because I've still got a UK licence? Does anyone know?

[speckythecky]

naughty girl

[Cardy]

Hi Sam you wont get points if its your uk licence only if you have your nz one.
i ave had a few run ins with the traffic police and 2x:D $120 fines but both when i had my uk licence fortunately. I am now a very careful driver which is more than i can say for a lot of drivers here. Somebody reversed into me the other day in countdowns car park but lucky for me it was my company car not my personal one.

[Sam B]

Phew, thanks Cardy

[Cardy]

No problem. did you know you can pay it over the counter at westpac?:nice1

[Sam B]

I'm going to pay it online so I don't have to look anyone in the eye with my guilt.

[Cardy]

Must admit i did feel guilty when i paid mine too. :yes

[wiki]

I think I got zapped this morning on the way to work - my only consolation is that I'm hoping to be out of the UK before I need to renew my car insurance!

[Super_BQ]

He told me to just send the fine in in 28 days, and said "have a nice day". I'm wondering if I won't get points because I've still got a UK licence? Does anyone know?

I wonder if all the police officers have any idea of human psychology with a smart remark like that?

How is anyone caught for speeding going to respond with "Have a nice day" after being handed a traffic ticket? I wonder if this is the kind of attitude NZ police officers have with overseas tourists that drive with their overseas driver's license?

My father (driving his Maui Ford Transit Van RV) got a seat belt ticket about 2 years ago. He has no NZ driver's license so he used his Canadian (BC) driver's license. We sent a company cheque off for payment and after a month, they sent it back. Yes we could not believe they actually sent the cheque back with a letter describing how the clerk could not enter his overseas driver's license details into their database to reflect the current fine. :clap

In a way, it's difficult for the NZ police dept to chase after fines for overseas visitors. Perhaps impossible as their computers don't talk to each other (ie UK DMV <-> NZ DMV).

Now if the NZ police required overseas drivers to present their passport # and all, then the fines could be collected upon departure of the country (at the boarder) - like they do in US/Canada. Better yet, many US states make you pay the fine on the spot.

In the past 4 months, i've received 3 photo radar speed tickets. My most recent ticket caught near the Auckland airport - "Mt. Wellington" while I had to return the car rental. (nice how they catch all the speeders rushing to the airport). All tickets were $80 fines with speeds between 61 -> 64 in a 50Km/hr zone. Am I driving too fast?

Perhaps a more in depth look proves otherwise that speed is the killer

http://www.sense.bc.ca/research.htm

[wiki]

All tickets were $80 fines with speeds between 61 -> 64 in a 50Km/hr zone. Am I driving too fast?



Yes, you are driving above the national limit, so it is too fast - and unless the designation on that particular road changes you will always be driving too fast and losing a lot of money on tickets.

That website seems to only look at the number of crashes, which is hardly the full story when it comes to road fatalities.

If you hit a pedestrian, another car or a tree at 60km/h then you'll do a hell of a lot more damage than you'd do at 50km/h.
.

I do agree that driving at a faster speed makes you a more alert driver, but all the alertness in the world isn't going to save you in the majority of crash situations.

[Helsandfamily]

Hi Can someone tell me then how the system works in NZ?

In the uk you get 12 points or more and it is an automatic driving ban, does this occur over there?

Thanks in advance,

hels

[Croft]

I've recently been working on a large scale motor insurance project using telematics devices to collect vehicle data for later analysis. The customer was trying to identify what factors are involved in accidents. The finding that most surprsied everyone was that speed in itself had no bearing on accident statistics.

Personally, I believe it's inappropraite speed that's the problem. For example in the UK in town the 30mph limit on many roads can be too fast (70% of accidents, 44% of fatalities IIRC), yet on the motorway, where there is a 70mph limit, we have only 3% of accidents, and 3% of fatalities (explained by everyone going in same direction, at relatively the same speed).

[Oregonkiwi]

In the uk you get 12 points or more and it is an automatic driving ban, does this occur over there?

hope this helps -

http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/factsheets/33.html

Demerit points are given for all speeding infringements other than speed camera offences. If you get a total of 100 or more within two years, you'll be suspended from driving for three months.

Speed Demerit points
Exceeding the speed limit by up to 10 km/h
10
Exceeding the speed limit by 11-20 km/h
20
Exceeding the speed limit by 21-30 km/h
35
Exceeding the speed limit by 31-35 km/h
40
Exceeding the speed limit by 36 km/h or more
50

[zardell]

well to cut a long story short I was doing 119k.p.h. and I got stopped by a police car.

I'm wondering if I won't get points because I've still got a UK licence? Does anyone know?



No....like Cardy says, you won't get points....

But, I'm led to believe that if you have your NZ licence and were caught on a speed camera, that you would only get a fine.

However, if you are stopped by the police, you would be fined for speeding and get points.

Have I dreamt this or is it true ??

I'm presuming thats what the above post refers to.........

Julie

xx

[KerryS]

No....like Cardy says, you won't get points....

But, I'm led to believe that if you have your NZ licence and were caught on a speed camera, that you would only get a fine.

However, if you are stopped by the police, you would be fined for speeding and get points.

Have I dreamt this or is it true ??

I'm presuming thats what the above post refers to.........

Julie

xx

No Julie, that is correct. If you are zapped by a camera the police have no way of knowing who is driving, so the owner of the vehicle is liable for paying the fine.
If you are stopped then you will get the points on your licence. (Only if it's a NZ licence though!)

[CjChris]

How is anyone caught for speeding going to respond with "Have a nice day" after being handed a traffic ticket? I wonder if this is the kind of attitude NZ police officers have with overseas tourists that drive with their overseas driver's license?



In the US, it is normal routine to say "have a nice day" after giving a ticket. I don't think the police officers mean to be snarky about it; I think they are either just saying this out of habit or they say it to show that the business at hand is finished...They are just doing their job.

Although I hope to never get a ticket, I've been pulled over once with a warning. Quite frankly, I was glad that I didn't kill anyone in my rush to get where I was going.

That certainly made it a nice day. :yes

[Super_BQ]

If you hit a pedestrian, another car or a tree at 60km/h then you'll do a hell of a lot more damage than you'd do at 50km/h.

I agree, injuries are far greater among pedestrians with speed. However, this does not explain the need for speed cameras in areas that are not known for fatalities or crashes. Such as in my case, near the airport or upon driving from the freeway into city limits where the roadway is still 4 lane (and lack of pedestrian foot paths).

Logically, shouldn't there be speed cameras posted around schools where the risks are much greater?

[ruthyroo]

[QUOTE=Croft;124223]I've recently been working on a large scale motor insurance project using telematics devices to collect vehicle data for later analysis. The customer was trying to identify what factors are involved in accidents. The finding that most surprsied everyone was that speed in itself had no bearing on accident statistics.[QUOTE]

I recently had some Defensive Driving training at work and the instructor was of the same opinion as above. He said that driver error (not speed per se) was the number one cause of accidents - whether that error is driving too fast (or too slow) for the conditions, making a bad call when turning across roads, driving when tired / drunk, not noticing speed / corner sign, not seeing other cars or misjudging their speed.

[dharder]

He said that driver error (not speed per se) was the number one cause of accidents - whether that error is driving too fast (or too slow) for the conditions,

I just assumed that this was common sense/knowledge. I'm originally from Germany, where on large parts of the motorway system there is no speed limit. And yet, the Autobahn is not the most dangerous place to drive.

I had real problems getting used to the 100kmh speed limit when on holiday in NZ last year, I just don't think it is necessary. And the number of road deaths seems to indicate that other factors are far more significant (age of driver, alcohol consumption, etc)

Daniela

[Super_BQ]

In the US, it is normal routine to say "have a nice day" after giving a ticket. I don't think the police officers mean to be snarky about it; I think they are either just saying this out of habit or they say it to show that the business at hand is finished...They are just doing their job.

I've been pulled over many times and found the best examples were police officers that start the discussion in a polite manner. Unfortunately for most cases in NZ, they outline the reasons why ie. speeding is bad and after 5 minutes of lecture they give you the ticket. The best experience was when I was driving a bunch of friends from the pub in the day time back in Canada. I was doing 100Kms/hr in a 50 zone, none of us had seat belts on, I had the neon flash lights lit up on the car, I didn't carry my driver's license with me, in fact the officer could of thrown the whole book at me. But after some nice discussion, the police officer only gave me a standard (no excessive speeding) ticket. Furthermore, under the circumstances that my friends were imparred and drunk, he said it would of been the best decision for me to keep driving and drop them off safe at home - despite I didn't have my driver's license on me - though he was able to verify my address location. OH and a good handshake! Must I say a WIN WIN

We were all around 18 years old at the time.

To add the humour, the police officer had a very strong french accent. When he came back to issue me the ticket he said, "OK Mr. xxxxxx, Let's talk about the savings here" as he itemised all the offenses I could potentially have. All my mates in the car thought it was quite humours and still hound me about it today.

[stu70]

My beef is with the "strategic" locations of most of these police vehicles/radars for trapping drivers. I am all for traffic saftey and following rules but how come these things are not there where they are needed the most (near schools, people zigzagging at high speeds on highways for example). I see this as a money grab ONLY.
Here is Canada police have a quota and they set up their "shops" at places where it does not matter if you are speeding a tad and try to nab people and scare the daylights out of them. Go where it is necessary and leave others alone. Then they have the audacity to say "have a nice day"? I would rather be a pimp than a police officer just doing the ticketing for quota. Atleast pimps are honest about what they do for living.

[b&k]

Everyone I know seems to get caught doing 119km/h. Is this a coincidence?

[barryp]

I don't think it's a coincidence - it's the police cutting some slack.

120kph or less in a 100 zone costs you 20 points, but 121-130 costs you 35 points. 100 points and your licence is suspended (and of course the fines are higher for greater speed violations).

[leachio]

hi guys,

This is Danny, Amandas OH.

Its very interesting the different views on here regarding speed and the police.

I am a NZ officer, although yet to start on section i have experience in the UK police. I can appreciate all sides of the argument regarding this but please consider basic facts.

the speed limit is the speed limit so people should abide by it, whether you agree with it or not. Its like being a bit over the drink drive limit? 'oh well i had 3 pints and if i would of had 2 i would have been under' it dont matter - your over!

Plus if a bobby turned up at your door and said i'm sorry mr/mrs whoever but your loved one has been killed in a road accident, the driver was 20/30/40k over the speed limit but we are gonna let him off' i know what your all gonna say in response. OK so no-one died and thank god but it is a possibility and thats why the limits are set. people get killed on the roads and generally excess speed is a major factor.

As for cameras then i semi agree regarding static cameras but the same applies, if u speed then you are breaking the law so why complain. The fact that you were 'zapped' by an oncoming car means that we are being pro active regarding speed enforcement.

Ok you get a fine and u dont get points because you are a uk licence holder, if the guy lets you off and then zapps someone else down the road at the same speed and gives them a ticket then we are criticised. For the person with the ticket the bobby is a B***ard but if u get robbed, burgled or worse then who do you call for help...............

As for the 'have a nice day' i am sure the officer was genuine as most of us are a honest friendly lot. If he shouted at you for being irresponsible and not watching your speed you would be upset and probably complain, if he just left and dropped the ticket in your hand you would think he was being rude and obnoxious so how would you prefer he resumed???

Please understand we have a very difficult job to do, we DONT have certain crieria and figures to meet.

If u get stopped for speeding then please accept that ypu have been caught, correct you are not the only one but at the end of the day you are breaking the limit.

Thankyou for listening and i hope that this makes people think. If u have an opinion then i am always all ears, please dont give amanda a hard time if u dont agree.

Danny.

[Trigirl]

very very well said danny

no hard time for amanda from me - in fact some reputation instead

[aberdian]

well said indeed. The law's the law, if you break it, you break it whether you believe in it or not and have to pay the price whatever it may be.

Just accept that you got done, it may not be nice, but it's the rules :)

cheers

Ian

[zardell]

Thankyou for listening and i hope that this makes people think. If u have an opinion then i am always all ears, please dont give amanda a hard time if u dont agree.
Danny.




The only opinion I have is that I totally agree with your opinion - well said Danny...:clap

With posts like that, you'll soon be making your Amanda a double Green Blobber ....:laugh


Julie

xx

[StevieD]

Typical copper's answer - nick nick!! :laugh

Dan, pull the other finger matey :laugh

[Kim39]

Can only agree with you Dan. Well said on your points. Now remember folks we have our own resident copper here so behave yourselves.;)

Any news on joining forces this side of TA bud(meaning footie) am sure we can talk Amanda around;)

Kim

[Super_BQ]

Good words Danny. I hope you are one of the police officers that greet people with a hand shake and look for a win win consensus.

As for cameras then i semi agree regarding static cameras but the same applies, if u speed then you are breaking the law so why complain. The fact that you were 'zapped' by an oncoming car means that we are being pro active regarding speed enforcement.

I think the issue relys on the fact that speed cameras are a money grab for the police dept. As their annual budget decreases, the police dept. look for other ways in generating revenue. I'm sure if speed cameras were ineffective, they'll be quick at looking at other ways to generate revenues (ie red light cameras).

As for the 'have a nice day' i am sure the officer was genuine as most of us are a honest friendly lot. If he shouted at you for being irresponsible and not watching your speed you would be upset and probably complain, if he just left and dropped the ticket in your hand you would think he was being rude and obnoxious so how would you prefer he resumed???

The problems exists because we're all adults. Parents are good at giving lectures to their children. Then we learn by going to university and listen to the professor lecture to the classroom in an intelligent 2 way conversation. But in the case between (1 adult) a police officer and the driver of the car (the other adult), a lecture often sparks off. Some serious inter-personal skill is lacking here... (body language, choice of words "I feel statements" etc).

For the person with the ticket the bobby is a B***ard but if u get robbed, burgled or worse then who do you call for help...............

The only reason why a person would call the police after been robbed is so an insurance claim can be made. The victim goes through the inconvenience while the robbers have filled up their back pockets. When a police officer issues a traffic offense, he's off to poach the next person. Perhaps no better way to reduce crime than to issue traffice offenses? In another way, when was the last time we heard a police officer catch some robbers down the street vs. friends and familiy members who have received speeding tickets? Stats probably show for every person caught robbing a diary store, 100,000 speeding tickets would have been issued. Speeding kills? of couse. But don't forget dairy owners too get killed.

[leachio]

Super BQ,

In relation to your comment about being robbed I assume you never have been and do not understand the pschycological and possible physical injuries victims suffer. Having dealt with many robbery cases and encountered the vast number of processes used to try and catch offenders I feel it unfair that you should take such a blase attitude.

I agree it is a lot easier to catch speeders than it is to catch Robbers & burglers, that said road policing is a massive part of pur job and will often lead to arrests of burglers/offenders before they commit crimes. Stopping a car and speakin to occupants is a good way to detect offenses/find wanted persons thru vehicle checks etc as almost all criminals use vehicles to travel and commit offenses.

Im sure any revenue generated is put back into recruiting, resources, improving standards and other things to help officers continue to protect the public.

[Sam B]

Danny, I was in no way meaning to criticise the police and I hope my original post did not suggest this. I just wanted to know if I would get points on my licence and that was all. I did not think I should be let off, and I was not trying to justify the fact that I was speeding.

Good luck with your new job. Hope you are all settling in well.

P.S. if you see a black mazda bongo flying past your radar at 190kph, just turn a blind eye eh? Ha ha, just kidding, I am the 99kph girl these days!!

[leachio]

Hi Sam,

Its Amanda here, dont worry ur pretty little head, Dan wasnt makin any ref to ur post atall ;) Hope all's well in lovely Cambridge (although I saw it in the dark, and Dan took us the wrong way home, thru Whitehall, I wouldnt drive those roads in the light!!!)

Take care xx

[incredible hulse]

I was tailing a police car down SH1 the other day. He past me when I was doing 101 km/h and kept accelerating. I let him get ahead and then I sped up and tried to keep a static distance between us but gave up after about 4k's when I realised I was going 118km/h and he was still pulling away from me. He had no sirens on, and I past him about 10k's futher on outside a cafe getting a coffee.

I guess he was of the same impression as me that the 100kmh limit is too low (set historically when cars were slower and didn't stop so well), and that the excess speed he was doing did not compromise his or ohers safety. The laws the law but it doesn't mean it's often an ass, and the traffic camera's around Welly are revenue collecting and nothing more.

[Sam B]

Perhaps he's as bad a caffeine addict as I am?

[incredible hulse]

Perhaps he's as bad a caffeine addict as I am?

You should have tried that as part of your defence ;)

[Moorf]

The problems exists because we're all adults. Parents are good at giving lectures to their children. Then we learn by going to university and listen to the professor lecture to the classroom in an intelligent 2 way conversation. But in the case between (1 adult) a police officer and the driver of the car (the other adult), a lecture often sparks off. Some serious inter-personal skill is lacking here... (body language, choice of words "I feel statements" etc).

I've always felt like a naughty kid when I have been "caught" speeding by the police - not often I might add! And I've always found police very courteous and yes, they do lecture - but you've just been caught breaking the law goodness sake!

Did I read right - you want them to start sentence with "I feel you were...." ?? :uhoh

Had to laugh when I paid a fine in Westpac - I walked up to the counter and the teller said, as usual, words to the effect of "hi, having a good day?" and I passed her the fine and she said "oh, perhaps not!" :laugh

[Super_BQ]

In relation to your comment about being robbed I assume you never have been and do not understand the pschycological and possible physical injuries victims suffer. Having dealt with many robbery cases and encountered the vast number of processes used to try and catch offenders I feel it unfair that you should take such a blase attitude.

Oh yes I certainly do know what it's like coming home to a freshly vacuumed house (all but the kitchen sink). How about a case where the police officer thought I (MYSELF) was responsible for setting up a robbery in my home so I could collect the insurance? Do you know the psychological problems I had to go and fight through on this case? I'll tell you the police are not very good at catching robbers.. not in my experience.

No matter what, police officers are humans too. What's unjust is when they themselves believe they're above the law (ie. as the case where one has to speed to get their caffeine fix). They're out to serve the public but too often, they turn against the public. Where's the integrity and public confidence in the NZ police system? From sex scandals to $ corruption, such cases are well documented in the US. However for a country with 4 million people, it really amazes how messed up things can be for the NZ police. When a NZ citizen complains of a police officer's action (ie. speeding to that cafe shop), the NZ police onbudsman does not have to answer to the public, instead they answer to themselves as part of the kangaroo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kangaroo_court) police system. In Canada we often learn of a word that i've rarely seen used here in NZ. The term "impartial (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impartial)".

[leachio]

Oh dear Super BQ u clearly have a 'bee in your bonnett'. Its Amanda, forum member & user, my husband Dan was merely trying to give his experience of the situation from inside the job. I feel u will have lots to say on the matter but clearly 'you cant please all of the people all of the time'

farewell!!!!