Thread: Can the police hide whilst doing speed checks (NSW)?

Originally Posted by MickS

There's an old copper's saying - "did he pass the attitude test...?" Remember that and you may save a few bucks.

They are only people under the blue
I once got busted doing 11* kph in a triple road train, (genuine speedo error) I put my hand up to 103 kph (90 kph limit, ok up to 100) after 10 minutes of friendly arguement and suggestion that a warning would be suitable, my good advise was declined. No point getting stroppy so I agreed to cop it on the chin, he'd shown me his speed and mine recorded in the car. I left him to do what he had to do without malice. Unbeknown to me he followed me up the left hand side of the truck, told me he knew I travelled up and back each week, and I could consider myself to have just recieved my first, last and only warning. That copper, and others like him who I have met in similar circumstances have left a legacy, not only for themselves, but every cop who follows them to that area. They will have my fullest co-operation and any assistance should it ever be required.

Ian,
that is pretty much spot on. Most coppers are good blokes, just like you and me. They can sometimes make mistakes, be a bit overzealous. Usually it is the bad ones we remember and most of us have had an encounter with one that is a pain. Most of the population only deal with them when they have committed a traffic offence, a criminal offence, been on the receiving end of criminal activities or they are delivering bad news or summons.
At the end of the day if you have commited the offence take responsability for your act and cop it sweet. I have learnt this is the best way and no use denying it (of course unless you have really not done anything as it does sometimes occur). My last ticket on the Duke was just that and the officer was a bit suprised when he asked if I had an excuse and I said I did not. Be straight up.
Most police are great and I have got to know a lot through emergency respons activities, just give them a bit of a chance and treat them with the respect you would want to be treated with. Even with a bad one, dont get sucked into arguing, gather any evidence and present it in a rational manner.
I have no issue with speeding fines etc normally. Where I do have issue is when they place cameras at the bottom of hills where they know most people may have a bit of unintentional overun or they defect vehicles without any real mechanical knowledge and it costs you wether they are right or wrong or for something really minor and not related to safety of the vehicle. I think the plus or minus 10% leniant stance is fair and gives people the benefit of the doubt and also allows for detector errors.
I am not a saint and have sped, but cop it sweet if picked up. I dont like it but it is my fault. Speedo error in excess of 10% and other vehicle errors or distractions are not excuses or the police officers concern, they are ours as we must by law keep our vehicles in compliant order.
As said most police are great if you treat them with some respect and talk to them rationally and politelly. Get abusive and you may cop the wrath.
I for one do not envy them. Attend a couple of bad MVA's and you will see why some do not have much humour for speeders, dangerous drivers and drunk drivers.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

As someone who has had more than the average "liasons", wearing various hats, with the police, I believe they vary little from the rest of the population; ie 10% fundamental orifii/ 90% ok blokes/girls.
Wearing a truck drivers hat, the majority (particularly in large centres/cities) of coppers range from obnoxious to condecending and rude.
As an SES volunteer, every cop has been friendly, decent and compassionate.
In the role of Joe public, complainant; I have experienced varying degrees of professionalism in the investigative stage, but only the highest standard in the reporting phase.
A mate had a high ranked (Police Officer) relative, who once told me most of the a-holes either get posted or request traffic or watch-house duties.
Another Inspector opened up a Police-being-trained-by-SES night, by saying that every one had a gripe about a copper, 95% of the population have only ever met a traffic cop. That Senior Seargent over there is in traffic, take your bitching to him!
My view is that, as the Inspector implied, we (as average citizens) are mostly dealing with the bottom of the barrel. Don't judge the entire service on the action(s) of the pedantic little twerp who just wrote you up. Attitude goes a long way, the copper who pulls you up is not going to feel inclined to let you off with a warning for a minor infringment, if you approach him/her in an aggressive manor. I have got more warnings than tickets with this approach.
Most coppers are dedicated to society, they are doing a hard job that most of us either cannot or do not want to do.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

My flatmate is a Occ Health & Safety consultant and one of his colleagues has become a WorkCover inspector. About 18 months ago the Police pulled him over for a minimal infringement and gave this guy the patronising lecture about the danger of speeding etc. The inspector accepted the ticket, then put on his WorkCover Hi Vis vest and issued the Police Officer a WorkCover infringement for not wearing his hit me vest when working on a road including the patronising lecture about the safety of the matter.

Diana

This was approx 4-5 years ago on Melrose Park Drive Tullamarine in Melbourne.........

I posted this on the forum then,, Have done a search, but to no avail
Also was shot down as it was supposedly an urban myth

G'day all.

This is based on my experience, so rather than quoting i'll do it in points (all relating to NSW Police Force).

- signs are not required to be displayed during any speed enforcement duty. This used to be the case with 'camera cars' - within 50m of the camera - but they (all 19 of them) have been withdrawn from service. They were very old and no amount of money was getting Police to sit in them for eight hours.

- 'hiding' - well, you can't make the Police car look like its broken down and you can't put a net over it either, but other than that, it's fair game. If the signs are clear - you've got no excuse (see clause on tolerance and attitude).

- if the thing on a tri-pod looked like a bit of 4" pipe, it was an ANPR system.

- Light Distance and Ranging (Lidar) has an infinate range but an effective range of about 600m. The ability to track a target depends on a steady hand and a mono-pod or tri-pod is too much of a pain to cart around - with all the other crap. The process is to sight a target, estimate it's speed, check its speed by lidar or radar for not less than 3 seconds whilst maintaining sight of the target at all times. Clearly, it's going to be easier to stop an approaching target rather than a receeding one because of the catch-up speed.

- tolerances are chosen by the operator. Usually 20kph for most areas, 10 for school zones and work zones. The work zones remain in force even when no-ones there 'because' of the changed road conditions..... i know, i know. Also the manner of driving and 'attitude' determines the outcome.

- speed enforcement can be done solely on observations. Training, assessment and on-going assessment is done to not more than +/- 5kph tolerance. It's obviously going to rely on a time/distance analysis and is harder to prove beyond a reasonable doubt but the Lidar/Radar is only a tool to support an estimate.

- there is currently NO legislation requiring Police to wear a reflective vest when conducting a 'mobile' vehicle stop - that is, pulling somone over with a bike or car. Vests must be worn at stationary sites - for RBT, RDT (drug testing), ANPR, sign enforcement and Lidar/Radar. That one is an urban myth.

- changes is speed limit signs are considered restriction/derestriction boundaries, so where the sign is, is where the speed limit is. Speed enforcement should not be conducted within 50m of a sign change. Down hill is up for grabs too.

I think that's it. I'm not giving away any secrets, all this stuff is open to the public - and i'm more than happy to answer anyones question as accurately as I can and if i can't i'll find out and let people know. It shouldn't be secret squirrel and certainly not outside of the guidelines or community expectations. We all know what it's like to get carved up by some jerk or be victims in one way or another of a collision, no matter how big or small.

A better standard or driver training isn't going to happen because it costs too much - that leaves a huge role and responsibility for (us) parents, but thats what being an adult and parent is all about eh. It's up to all of us to put the HWP out of business...... and don't get me started on speed cameras - give me a balaclava and drag chain anyday




Matt.

Was wondering when you might pop up Mudmouse...