Thread: Irate police hunt 'missile moron' motorbike rider

Originally Posted by Disco Muppet

Something that's only been mentioned rather sparingly in this thread is attitude and education.
Yes, Germany has great roads and you can scream up and down them.
But, my understanding of the German license process is you start with something like 6 weeks of theory, and then you move on to driving in ALL conditions, including bad weather and the autobahn.
And you're not allowed to be taught by mum and dad.
It's all well and good to say "The roads can take it".
That's fine, but if the driver can't then you've got a big problem.
A lousy driver on a fantastic road is worse than a good driver on a lousy road IMHO

. . . VicPol Media Release . . . MOTORCYCLIST CHARGED IN BENALLA . . . SUNDAY, 23 JUNE 2013 08:40*
A man has been charged after being detected speeding on a motorcycle near Benalla last Sunday.
A member from the Benalla Highway Patrol was performing traffic duties on the Hume Freeway on 16 June when he detected a motorcyclist travelling over the 110km/h speed limit.
When the leading senior constable attempted to intercept the rider, the rider allegedly reached speeds of around 273km/h.
Due to safety concerns police ceased following the motorcyclist.
Around 2pm yesterday police from the Benalla Highway Patrol, Benalla Crime Investigation Unit and local uniform members executed a search warrant at an address in Swanpool.
A 37-year-old Swanpool man was arrested and later charged with conduct endangering life, conduct endangering person, evade police, drive/ride in a manner dangerous, drive/ride at speed dangerous, exceed speed, possess cannabis and use cannabis.
He has been bailed to appear at Benalla Magistrate’s Court on 27 August, 2013. Natalie Webster Media Officer VP28027/2013
. . .
So far, I agree with majority of views expressed, and would like to add that it is highly unlikely the 'alleged' offender was avoiding the time in motion camera's on the Hume, as they finish/start at Broadford North/South bound. Given he was arrested at Swanpool, one would have to assume, if they've got the right rider, that he's a local to Benalla, in which case, he should have had more sense, as Traffic Op's there have always been dedicated; anyone remember 1080, and 540, his off-sider who was 1/2 as bad? Oh, and 1079, who was nearly as bad!

I was born in NE Victoria, and moved back 6 years ago after 12 years in Southern Tasmania, and previous couple of decades from South Coast NSW to FNQ. Have just returned from a few weeks in Tas, and drove a lot of it in my Disco tdi Something I always notice about driving there, as opposed to my usual track the 'Doom' (Hume), is all drivers, from trucks (mainly semi's, not B doubles), to small cars & motorbikes, seem to have more respect for each other on the roads, are largely more considerate, polite, less hurried, and not distracted by numerous in-cab' toys, (like mobiles with Facebook, coz you can't possibly be away from it for a minute!), GPS, watching your speed to 2-3km etc. Interestingly, the majority of highways in Tasmania enjoy 110km limits where Victoria is 100km limits, and asides from Qld, tragically, has an incredible number of road kill of their native animals. TasPol, incidentally, despite TasGov being the most economically challenged in Australia, seem to exercise common sense in traffic management. Despite this, statistics show, that Tasmania still enjoys the lowest road toll per capita in Australia. Also, I would never bag VicPol; it's VicGov who's made the revenue raising ridiculous, in recent years.

I may be a bit 'last Century', but having been raised on a farm, and learnt to drive tractors, old Series 1 & 2 Land Rovers, Ford Prefect, (inclu double clutching non synchro gearboxes), Motorbike, Classic Range Rover, Defender & now Disco tdi, I would class myself as a better than average competent driver of 40+ years, and firstly believe Learner Drivers' should still have to learn in a manual vehicle; secondly, attend mandatory Defensive Driving/Riding Course, and thirdly, until over the Insurance deemed dangerous age group ie 25, not be permitted to use any items of distraction whilst driving, enforced as strictly as the '00' blood alcohol level for 'L' & 'P' plate drivers/riders. I'm sure most of us would agree we got away with some stupid stuff when we were younger, less experienced, and not subject to as strict penalties. We thought we were invincible, and stuff always happened to someone else; of course, we weren't, we were just plain lucky.

As a current lobbyist for rider safety in Victoria; I have no time for riders who ride with blatant disregard for their own lives, let alone those of others on a public road, especially when they can do so safely, in the controlled environments of the likes of tracks at Winton, Broadford, Phillip Island, or any of the drag strips in Victoria. However, like others, I understand the position he found himself in, when in actual fact he may not have originally been exceeding the 110km speed limit in a dangerous manner, when first clocked. Regardless, due to his subsequent behaviour, this rider has further jeopardised our cause, as if it's not already an uphill battle to achieve equitable, sensible, responsible legislation that recognises the vulnerability of motorbike riders, including better education for other vehicle drivers' on sharing roads with riders. Trucks also suffer the frustration of other drivers' lack of understanding of sharing the roads with heavy vehicles.

So in summary, Disco Muppet has hit the nail on the head; we need better education, a massive change in attitude to sharing our roads with different users', (some more vulnerable than others), an injection of some good old fashioned courtesy, and common sense - rarely found in this Century of Nanny & butt covering mentality!

Sorry this is so long, and I hope the fonts are the right size, as I've had problems with them in previous posts. They look huge on my computer, but apparently are microscopic at times. Apologies in advance if too small, or too big!

Cate
Independent Riders Group (IRG)

1996 Land Rover Discovery tdi - The Duck
1981 Classic 2 door manual Range Rover - Strangey

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

Something strange going on here. The police have the first two numbers/letters of the offenders number plate.

The person that they have arrested denies it was him, and his number plate does not match.

Does not match the plates that were on the bike at the time of the offence

Originally Posted by Treads

Does not match the plates that were on the bike at the time of the offence

Unless the plates on the bike at the time of the offence are found in his possession, wouldn't that make things difficult?
Or is that Secret Squirrel business

Originally Posted by Treads

Wrong. At 140 detected he'd be written up at 138 alleged.

Penalty Code 1929 - Exceed speed limit in a vehicle other than a heavy vehicle by 25km/h or more but less than 30km/h. $387 and 4 demerits against RR20.

He would have lost his licence for a month after 28 days.

What a load of tripe. I must have been dreaming while my partner did CPR on that bloke in the car that time, or when I was picking up the bits of that teenager that other time, or......

I do note however that you've never been a copper; but you still know how it all works

I stand corrected on the penalty, however, on my understanding of the 'hoon' legislation the rider could possibly still have had that used on him by the officer. Regardless, people run because they believe the actual or perceived punishment worth attempting evasion.

No, I haven't been a police officer. I regularly interact with them though and have several immediate family that have or do serve across many branches including GD, transit, TMU, crime squads and homicide. That's a fair pool of experience to draw upon.

Regarding roles as MVAs, it is not the job of police to perform first aid as a scene. Their job is traffic control and security of the scene. I am in an emergency services role and do get to see this up close and personal as a matter of course, not in the case of being first on scene. I'm yet to see police do the emu bob for body parts with my own eyes. Not to say it doesn't happen but its far from being in your duty statement.

The comment was made previously about the road rules being written to the lowest common denominator. I agree that they are but I also believe that the bar needs to be raised. Driving is a privilege, not a right so if someone patently lacks the motor skills to operate a vehicle then too bad. Walk, get public transport, ride a pushie.

Originally Posted by CapableCate

. . .
As a current lobbyist for rider safety in Victoria;
Independent Riders Group (IRG)

1996 Land Rover Discovery tdi - The Duck
1981 Classic 2 door manual Range Rover - Strangey[/SIZE]

Cate, could you please invite Damien to do something really useful for riders and never show his face in public again?

Originally Posted by PeterM

I stand corrected on the penalty, however, on my understanding of the 'hoon' legislation the rider could possibly still have had that used on him by the officer.

No, no it could not have. These are the only offences applicable to impounds:

• speeding where a vehicle is driven at 45 kilometres per hour or more over the applicable speed limit (or 145 kilometres per hour or more if the speed limit is 110 kilometres per hour)
• loss of traction
• street racing
• deliberately or recklessly entering a level crossing when a train is approaching
• refusing to stop when directed by police
• carrying more passengers than there are seatbelts
• repeat offences of unlicensed or disqualified driving
• repeat drink driving where the Blood Alcohol Content is 0.1 or more
• repeat drug driving.

Originally Posted by PeterM

No, I haven't been a police officer. I regularly interact with them though and have several immediate family that have or do serve across many branches including GD, transit, TMU, crime squads and homicide. That's a fair pool of experience to draw upon.

Originally Posted by PeterM

Regarding roles as MVAs, it is not the job of police to perform first aid as a scene. Their job is traffic control and security of the scene. I am in an emergency services role and do get to see this up close and personal as a matter of course, not in the case of being first on scene. I'm yet to see police do the emu bob for body parts with my own eyes. Not to say it doesn't happen but its far from being in your duty statement.

Thanks for the clarification on my job. I'll be sure to tell all my colleagues to cease what we've always done immediately. No more saving lives or picking up bodies, etc.

PeterM said so....

Originally Posted by CapableCate

anyone remember 1080, and 540, his off-sider who was 1/2 as bad? Oh, and 1079, who was nearly as bad

1080 was in Mansfield when I was younger. He once picked up a driver in Bonnie Doon and took him back to Mansfield to breath test him. The driver was under 05 and was released. He had to find his own way back to Bonnie Doon

Originally Posted by Treads

Thanks for the clarification on my job. I'll be sure to tell all my colleagues to cease what we've always done immediately. No more saving lives or picking up bodies, etc.

PeterM said so....

Oh your wit and repartee are so good. Let me know when I'm meant to be impressed so I can feign appropriate interest.

According to the Emergency Management Manual Vic 2012 Vicpol don't even get a look in as a support agency in a RAR (Road Accident Rescue) incident.

The rescue authority; CFA, MFB, SES are primary and AV support.

AV has the responsibility for triage and patient care. That doesn't mean that others can't and don't assist.

I was at a rescue job last night, funnily enough the police sat back and set up witches hats while they let the professionals do the patient treatment and rescue jobs. The paperwork says I was there so it wasn't a figment of my imagination.

Get over your own sense of self importance, its one of those traits among some police that **** people to tears.