Untimely infringement fine!!

[martrix]

Hi all,
had a VERY unfortunate run-in with the Law Enforcement today. Driving along minding my own business, when all of a sudden the flashing red and blue light's appear in my rear view mirror, and I am pulled over. No idea why they had pulled me over, wasnt speeding, perfectly roadworthy '96 Toyota.....until they told me my rego had run out 3-days earlier, unbeknowns to me, yes I know my fault! I paid the rego over the phone in front of the officer, but before I had a chance to cough, he had already written out the $511 finehttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon13.gif!!

Before he left, he basically told me I would have a good chance of getting out of the fine by writing a letter explaining the situation and stating my excellent driving record and 7 year Rating 1 insurance record. Can any one give me some tip's and/or pointer's on writing this get out of jail letter? Has anyone gone through this experience? thanks in advance...

not very happy Jan!http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon8.gif

[ozwinner]

You have to say in the letter, ( cover your ears Dan :D )

You no good mother ******* of *****, who **** ***** and eat **** out of ******* *****.

That should get you off.........

Al :D

[gatiep]

Quote:"Can any one give me some tip's and/or pointer's on writing this get out of jail letter? Has anyone gone through this experience? thanks in advance..."


If you lived in South Africa you could have tried either a $100 bill or pointing a 375 Magnum........not to write with though.

[Ashore]

Wear a lower cut shirt


The trouble with life is there's no background music.

[Chesand]

Martrix
My Wife and daughter have both got off speeding fines by writing in - a warning was issued.
Simply state the facts and ask that in view of your previous record could the fine be waived.
In respect of speeding fines drivers are allowed one let off every 3 years if their record is clean. It is not widely known - I was told when I went to view a photo for a speeding fine I received some years ago. Fortunately have not been pinged since.

[ozwinner]

or pointing a 375 Magnum........not to write with though.
Why not?
Its got lead!!!!

Al :D

[craigb]

Don't know what it's like in Vic but in NSW I reckon you'd have Buckley's of getting it waived.

They (the gumment) want the revenue too much.

Besides, you were bang to rights after all. What would have happened if you'd had had a prang in those three days do you reckon?

[Sturdee]

Besides, you were bang to rights after all. What would have happened if you'd had had a prang in those three days do you reckon?

You were driving without any insurance , neither your comprehensive or even third party, so if you had an accident you would have to pay all costs.

Had a mate who did the same and had an accident, seriously injuring the passenger of the other car, the Ininsured Driver ( a government appointee ) paid all cost of the injured passenger and then made my mate pay all its costs and interest. Took him 15 years working to pay it of as they garnisheed his wages.

I doubt if they will remit the fine as they only seem to remit speeding fines done by cameras, and now after recent publicity only very seldom.

Peter.

[bsrlee]

If you are in the RACV, their legal Department should be able to help with the letter. If you aren't in the RACV, join. Replace with NRMA or RACQ as appropriate.

In the case of NSW, you have 7 & 14 day 'grace' periods for the various unregistered/uninsured offences - you are officially 'covered' - just in case the Govt. have screwed up the paperwork. :)

[RETIRED]

If you are in the RACV, their legal Department should be able to help with the letter. If you aren't in the RACV, join. Replace with NRMA or RACQ as appropriate.

In the case of NSW, you have 7 & 14 day 'grace' periods for the various unregistered/uninsured offences - you are officially 'covered' - just in case the Govt. have screwed up the paperwork. :)

It ain't so in Vic. The Rego expires on midnight of the day it expires.

[Toggy]

Jeez , that's one way of getting your point across.

Re-enforce it with double posts.:D

Ken

[RETIRED]

All fixed now. :o

[Robert WA]

In WA the 14 day extension is just for renewal purposes. Within that time you can renew the licence/registration and it is backdated to the original expiry. Outside that period and you start from scratch, tests/inspection etc.

[Guy]

I got out of a speeding ticket this year that was from 2 years ago. I requested that the matter be dealt with by the courts, 6 moinths later i get the letter requesting my attendance so i waited till 2 days before and rang up and made appologies that i could not attend that date due to work. Well this happened 3 times on the last time i spoke with the prosecutor and she ask what my objection was so i pointed out the following:
1: my details on the summons were incorrect.

2: the speed sign clearly stated 60, to which i was told the defalt where no sign is visable is 50. to which i nicely pointed out rule 22 clearly indicates that where a speed limited area finish's it must be indicated.
I can name many major roads in melbourne that are not signposted for over 1500m..

3: for the operator of the camera to have been able to take my picture he would have had to have been parked at an angle of 81degrees to the curb, and if he had been would not have been able to get that shot of me.
(he had not correctly stated the direction of camera)

4: I have a clean driving record in 2 countries for the past 22 years.
Well she umd for a while and said they will get back intouch. well a week later i got a letter stating that the case was dismissed.
It is worth checking there photos against the melways for the direction of travel.

But in you case just tell them the truth and mention that you had not received the renewal notice and you were on you way to vic roads at the time to pay

[Iain]

You were driving without any insurance , neither your comprehensive or even third party, so if you had an accident you would have to pay all costs.


Not quite correct, even if you are driving an unregistered vehicle you can make a claim through TAC, they do not advertise this though.
I spent several years working with TAC and have seen several claims processed, it is also a no fault system so regardless of whether you are right or wrong you can still claim.
Very few recoveries are launched against individuals.
Comprehensive insurance will cover against property damage if the car is unregistered, we drove an unregistered car for 12 months (I thought she paid, she thought I paid until next renewal) and I enquired with RACV as to what would have happened if we had a prang during that time, their response, in writing was that we were covered.

[DanP]

1: my details on the summons were incorrect.


Then the details on your licence must be incorrect. Thats where they get them from.



2: the speed sign clearly stated 60, to which i was told the defalt where no sign is visable is 50. to which i nicely pointed out rule 22 clearly indicates that where a speed limited area finish's it must be indicated.
I can name many major roads in melbourne that are not signposted for over 1500m..


Are you talking about a 60 zone or a 60 area. They are two totally different things. A 60 AREA applies to a network of roads and signs must be established at each entry point to the network of roads. Also END 60 AREA signs must be erected at each exit of the network of roads. A plain 60 sign applies to a length of road (no matter how long or short) and is effective for the entire length of road, until the road ends or a different speed sign overrides it. It does not matter if you get on a road somewhere in the middle and haven't passed a sign. But that's ok, your bluff worked :rolleyes:



3: for the operator of the camera to have been able to take my picture he would have had to have been parked at an angle of 81degrees to the curb, and if he had been would not have been able to get that shot of me.
(he had not correctly stated the direction of camera)


How the hell could you possibly know what angle the camera was on? The camers does not point directly forwards so the vehicle does not need to be at an angle. If the vehicle is at an angle to the direction of travel it can only be to your benefit as the camera will receive a reduced reading.



4: I have a clean driving record in 2 countries for the past 22 years.
Well she umd for a while and said they will get back intouch. well a week later i got a letter stating that the case was dismissed.
It is worth checking there photos against the melways for the direction of travel.


Seems to me that you managed to bullshyte your way through this one. I don't really care as I hate cameras anyway.


But in you case just tell them the truth and mention that you had not received the renewal notice and you were on you way to vic roads at the time to pay

Martrix. Write the letter stating that it was an honest mistake and tell them about your good history and ask for a warning in this case. Don't tell them that you didn't receive the notice if you had. They can check with Vic Roads to see if it was sent. It is legislated that if it was sent it is taken to be received. Just remember that they may send the file to the police member for their opinion and if you have told them lies about being on the way to pay it etc and the copper reads that, he will recommend that you wear the fine. So YES, tell the truth. Not some wierd made up version of the truth.

Dan

[Sturdee]

Not quite correct, even if you are driving an unregistered vehicle you can make a claim through TAC, they do not advertise this though.
I spent several years working with TAC and have seen several claims processed, it is also a no fault system so regardless of whether you are right or wrong you can still claim.
Very few recoveries are launched against individuals.
Comprehensive insurance will cover against property damage if the car is unregistered, we drove an unregistered car for 12 months (I thought she paid, she thought I paid until next renewal) and I enquired with RACV as to what would have happened if we had a prang during that time, their response, in writing was that we were covered.


Thanks for the update Iain. The case I knew occurred about 30 years ago and I didn't it was changed.


Peter.

[dazzler]

Hi all,
had a VERY unfortunate run-in with the Law Enforcement today. Driving along minding my own business, when all of a sudden the flashing red and blue light's appear in my rear view mirror, and I am pulled over. No idea why they had pulled me over, wasnt speeding, perfectly roadworthy '96 Toyota.....until they told me my rego had run out 3-days earlier, unbeknowns to me, yes I know my fault! I paid the rego over the phone in front of the officer, but before I had a chance to cough, he had already written out the $511finehttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon13.gif!!

Before he left, he basically told me I would have a good chance of getting out of the fine by writing a letter explaining the situation and stating my excellent driving record and 7 year Rating 1 insurance record. Can any one give me some tip's and/or pointer's on writing this get out of jail letter? Has anyone gone through this experience? thanks in advance...

not very happy Jan!http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon8.gif
Hi Matrix

If it is an honest case of forgetfullness then I would suggest the following;

Write a polite letter leaving out any attitude about him writing the ticket quickly or the amount and explain that you have a very good record and on this occasion you simply forgot to send in payment. The officer may be asked to give his view on the matter.

Attach a bank statement showing that you did have the funds available at the time and perhaps whatever was going on in your life at the time that may have caused your forgetfullness.

Send it in. If it is rejected ask for the matter to be heard before the court.

Attend court on the day dressed appropriately, explain to the magistrate that you committed the offence and repeat the reasons outlined above.
Perhaps suggest that you feel that the fine is rather high for forgetting something and that you caused no danger to anyone and perhaps he could consider a section 556A which is basically that offence is proven without conviction recorded.

Offer to make a donation to a charitable organisation such as the brain injury foundation or similar. Something to maybe raise a smile on the magistrates bored life on the bench. Remember he hears this a lot.

You would be giving this under oath so ensure that what you say is true. It may have ramifications in the afterlife!!!

good luck and rembember be polite


good luck

dazzler

[craigb]

Bet you never forget to pay your rego again.

[Guy]

Then the details on your licence must be incorrect. Thats where they get them from.
Dan
My address details are on my licence and are 100% correct, the infringement notice and the summons had part of my old address on it and it created a new subburb called "Mal Iris".




Are you talking about a 60 zone or a 60 area. They are two totally different things. A 60 AREA applies to a network of roads and signs must be established at each entry point to the network of roads. Also END 60 AREA signs must be erected at each exit of the network of roads. A plain 60 sign applies to a length of road (no matter how long or short) and is effective for the entire length of road, until the road ends or a different speed sign overrides it. It does not matter if you get on a road somewhere in the middle and haven't passed a sign. But that's ok, your bluff worked :rolleyes:
Dan
I agree with your comments, however where a road terminates at a cross road where all roads have give way signs then all roads out of that intersection must have the speed limit stipulated.




How the hell could you possibly know what angle the camera was on? The camers does not point directly forwards so the vehicle does not need to be at an angle. If the vehicle is at an angle to the direction of travel it can only be to your benefit as the camera will receive a reduced reading.
Dan
If you get a photo from them it has a box that states the direction the camera is facing, on mie it said "N" infact he was pointing nearly to the east. And by doing some maths and using a compass it was easy to work out the angle. Accuracy in records is important whether my estimated angle is +/_ 10% in error the camera operator had written the wrong thing down and is not an accurate account.

[dazzler]

Hi Guy

I am an expert at this. DanP is correct at law.

However I agree totally with the fact that IF the notes the operator made were incorrect then it should be withdrawn.

There is NO place for sloppy work with regard to Radar operation. This is where all the problems with radar have come from....sloppiness.

Now next time you get booked, take it with a smile hey?;)

cheers

dazzler

[Sir Stinkalot]

How did the police car see your rego details if they were travelling behind you? I read this story yesterday which sparked my interest as I had paid my rego but the sticker was still on the fridge .... never got around to putting it on the car, didn't get caught though. While I was driving today I tried looking at the rego stickers of cars around me ..... it is very difficult to just see the month (6) and impossible to see the date. If your rego expired three days ago it would still be a 6 .... so even if the officer did notice a 6 why would they bother to pull over every car which may still have 4 weeks of rego left to run .....

Are you sure you didn't do something to attract interest that you aren't telling us about? :confused:

[Iain]

It could have been TMU doing a search on a car they were following, a blitz on unreg vehicles or whatever they are doing this week.
Generally though they want a reason to pull you up.
I got pulled up the day I had a new windscreen fitted for no rego label, it was TMU and I told them what had happened and they were quite happy to accept that, after they did a radio check to verify that the car was indeed registered.
TMU can be hard to get on with and once pulled over you are usually relieved of a bit of the hard earned.
To add a bit to that I heard someone having a whinge once for he was towing an unregistered boat trailer, he had a box trailer full of camping gear and a canoe on top.
I spoke to the Sgt in question at a small country town and he recalled the incident, it seems that our friend was pulled over for a roadworthy, along with everyone else travelling the highway that day.
He decided he wasn't happy and gave the coppers a real spray and got himself a ticket.
Theres a moral here somewhere but I'll let Dan run with that one :D

[Sir Stinkalot]

I did see plenty of unusual police bhaviour this week so perhaps it was the blitz.

For three days they were pulling over peak hour traffic at random, just before the Tulla interchange, and then yesterday on Pascoe Vale road they shut down one lane and diverted it into a carpark for checks.

Makes you wonder where these cars are for the reast of the year .... I spend 2.5hrs a day on the road and can go for weeks without seeing a police car.

[craigb]

Pardon my ignorance, what's a TMU?

[Schtoo]

The colour of the sticker is how you can quickly check wether it's good or not.

Say the 2004-2005 one is red, the 2005-2006 one is blue and has a 5 on it.

If you have a nice big 5 and a red sticker, it's not the right one today, is it? ;)

Still gotta work out how they do it over here yet. I know that getting my license here was easy, while most other guys I know here had to jump through numerous hoops to get theirs.

[Lucas]

Martrix,
thanks, you just reminded me to stick my Rego sticker on
One less reason for them to pull me over

[martrix]

How did the police car see your rego details if they were travelling behind you? I read this story yesterday which sparked my interest as I had paid my rego but the sticker was still on the fridge .... never got around to putting it on the car, didn't get caught though. While I was driving today I tried looking at the rego stickers of cars around me ..... it is very difficult to just see the month (6) and impossible to see the date. If your rego expired three days ago it would still be a 6 .... so even if the officer did notice a 6 why would they bother to pull over every car which may still have 4 weeks of rego left to run .....

Are you sure you didn't do something to attract interest that you aren't telling us about? :confused:
They have high-speed data registrar's in their vehicles', just a matter of typing in rego and bang, they can can tell what you had for lunch!

[Iain]

Pardon my ignorance, what's a TMU?
Traffic Management Unit, formerly known as Traffic Operations Group TOG, high powered marked and unmarked cars, book their own mothers.

[craigb]

Traffic Management Unit, formerly known as Traffic Operations Group TOG, high powered marked and unmarked cars, book their own mothers.

OIC, thanks. Highway Patrol covers it up here ;)

[DanP]

Theres a moral here somewhere but I'll let Dan run with that one :D

There is, indeed, a moral. I will relate a short saga to you about a local buck who is a fair dinkum smartar5e and will be walking very shortly because of it and his refusal to be a good boy.

1. Boy gets licence. Buys himself a relatively new Mits. Lancer. 18" Chrome rims. Looks a treat. Not.
2. Boy gets caught speeding (3 points) 10 days after getting licence. Gives copper attitude when getting booked. Copper who books boy calls local station (us) to let us know of his poor attitude.
3. Boy decides that he is Michael Schumacher and speeds around town regularly causing many complaints.
4. Boy gets pulled over by me (doing nothing wrong) and told in no unertain terms that his driving habits are in need of improvement or he will find himself lighter in the pocket. Done in a friendly manner.
5. Boy is caught speeding two hours later by a different copper. Boy gets booked after telling the copper, "all you c%#ts are just picking on me". (3 points, wave licence goodbye)
6. Boy passes police car (me) on side of road, several weeks later. Boy thinks it is amusing to go round corner, out of sight, crank up the tunes then give the nice Lancer a gut full. After the fourth time in five minutes, Copper has well and truly got the shytes with the smart alec. Smart boy then goes past the other way, cutting the corner, music still blaring. Gets pulled over gives copper the picking on me line. Two more tickets for the book. By this stage, boy has every copper believing that he is the next candidate to be cut out of his car, dead.
7. Boy takes option to keep his licence and be of good behaviour for 12 months. Actually manages to behave (not get caught) for about two months. Then is caught without p plates. Wave goodbye licence.
8. Boy, knowing he is losing his licence, really cuts loose. Drives everywhere at speed, never wears his seatbelt, burnouts all over town. Complaints become a daily occurence. Gets booked several times for no belt, speed, and others. Probably racked up about $1500 in fines.
9. The biggest error yet. Boy gets pulled up again, by local TMU. Gets booked, speed, no belt, not carrying licence. Gives the copper a BIG spray, gets in his car and steams off. Five inutes later, drives past a TMU car parked on side of road. Thinking it the same member, gives the car a gut full and gives copper the bird. Road Safety Task Force (the real bad ones)member, not knowing what the f$@k is going on, pulls over boy, gets a spray. End result three more tickets (no belt, no licence, unroadworthy car) car off the road. Boy then goes and finds the other TMU member to beg him to remove the canary from his car. Guess what? Still not wearing a seatbelt. Another ticket issued.
10. Boy, who should really have learned after getting seven tickets in half an hour and his car put off the road, has been booked speeding, not wearing seat belt, failing to give way, and is going to court for two other separate matters. Pulled him over recently and between getting told what a piece of shyte I am and all the other lovely things he could come up with, I asked him if he thinks he's winning.


Now you tell me the moral. :rolleyes:

Dan

[Iain]

You all felt sorry for him and are giving him a second chance? :D :D :D :D

[mutanti]

Hello Dan P..
Would I be correct in saying the Lancer is white :)
If its is I think I know the person,
young guy that lives across the road from my mum.
The Lancer he brought of my nephew.
For his own sake if he is doing the wrong thing - take the licence of him for say 2 years and he might learn & still be alive.
I wont say his name for obvious reasons but I knew he was a bit of a hoon but never knew he was also a Smartarse type.
My nephew (younger brother of ex car owner) was a similar type of person and he is now walking for around 2 years (Im sure you know him) and its the best thing that has happened to him.
He actually said to me a few weeks ago that in future he would be taking his Souped up yellow VL to calder to drag and be stupid.
Thankyou for waking up my nephew if you were involved.
I might not see him in his yellow coffin dead as his dad called it.

P.s. I saw him pulled over buy an unmarked car on friday night on way to work a few weeks back.

[martrix]

Danp, why on earth does this delinquent still have a #%$!*& license. I forgot to pay my rego for 3-days and was made to park my car on the side of the road and not allowed to drive it until I paid the rego. I was as nice and cooperative as you can be with an excellent rating 1 driving record and I cop $511 fine! Yet I get worse treatment than a fool who is behaving in a manner FAR more likely to kill or injure others!!!!

[ozwinner]

Danp, why on earth does this delinquent still have a #%$!*& license. I forgot to pay my rego for 3-days and was made to park my car on the side of the road and not allowed to drive it until I paid the rego. I was as nice and cooperative as you can be with an excellent rating 1 driving record and I cop $511 fine! Yet I get worse treatment than a fool who is behaving in a manner FAR more likely to kill or injure others!!!!
Maybe the cops like the kid more than you??
Well you did ask!!

Al :D

[mutanti]

Martrix
I think the answer to that one is from what I have seen over the years is.
Some officers are great guys, the people you play cricket or volleyball with - just another person doing his job but being nice about it.
Sometimes being nice and honest they might soften the deal when you have done something wrong.
Another experiance I had with a officer on hume many years ago was
- I Have this badge, I am god type who wasnt very nice at all, yes I stayed in the right lane on freeway to long but it diddnt mean he had to be abusive about it. should have been happy he got me.
I might have got him on a bad day or something but his attitude was bad and honestly I think he needed an extended holiday.
A Smile can go a long way..............
All the local ones from who I have met over the years are just your regular guys doing their job.
I have actually worked kinda with some of them (their familys).
Good ol Molly :) and some others.

[DanP]

Would I be correct in saying the Lancer is white :)

Yup.


For his own sake if he is doing the wrong thing - take the licence of him for say 2 years and he might learn & still be alive.

That's the plan. We have a board at work with the names of regular customers. His name is there with "will kill someone" written next to it.


I wont say his name for obvious reasons but I knew he was a bit of a hoon but never knew he was also a Smartarse type.

He is the biggest smartar5e I have EVER had dealings with.


My nephew (younger brother of ex car owner) was a similar type of person and he is now walking for around 2 years (Im sure you know him) and its the best thing that has happened to him.

If the term OASIS means anything to him, it was me that took it off him.



why on earth does this delinquent still have a #%$!*& license

Unfortunately, we have to go through the demerit point system to get it off him, takes a little while. He's only had it six months and it's gone within a couple of weeks.

If the copper had let you drive and you had stacked then HE would have some responsibilty and could be sued. Would you let them drive in that circumstance?

Dan

Dan

[mutanti]

I have no hassles with you taking his licence. (He deserved to lose it)
you have probally kept him alive.
His Old man called his car the yellow coffin.
I have heard of some of the silly things he had done but if you are allowed let me know what he was actually caught for.
he told me he got done for 140 kph for a starters then apparently was caught doing other things after he was told to go home from memory.
or something like that - was awhile ago... ;)

P.S. while allowing my other nephew from Melb drive my car today (Learner) Seen the Lancer getting around, and then again, and again, and a few more times.
Surprised the lancer was still going from the way he was driving it....

[craigb]

Now you tell me the moral. :rolleyes:

Dan

"If you're not the sharpest tool in the shead, you'll get used as a paint tin opener" ;) :D

[dazzler]

DanP

Why not arrest, continuation of the offence?

cheers

dazzler

[kiwigeo]

I got out of a speeding ticket this year that was from 2 years ago. I requested that the matter be dealt with by the courts, 6 moinths later i get the letter requesting my attendance so i waited till 2 days before and rang up and made appologies that i could not attend that date due to work. Well this happened 3 times on the last time i spoke with the prosecutor and she ask what my objection was so i pointed out the following:


10/10 for getting out of the fine but Im afraid Im going to have to award you 0/10 for wasting court time....Im sure there were more deserving cases waiting for their day in court. Why didnt you voice your objections as soon as you got the fine??

[DanP]

Why not arrest, continuation of the offence?


Another six tickets over the weekend (one at 50 km/h over). We plan the arrest thing but are just checking with the legal dpt as we were told not to go that option. We were hoping to get him with a manner dangerous or conduct endangering so we could seize the car. His parents are calling VicRoads tomorrow to beg them to cancel his licence.


mutanti,

Can't say the offences but you're pretty close to the mark. Have since been told by one of his mates that he was much faster about 30 secs before getting checked.

Dan

[DanP]

"If you're not the sharpest tool in the shead, you'll get used as a paint tin opener" ;) :D

:D :D :D

[mutanti]

Hey Dan, But the way I saw Him driving Im surprised you havnt already thrown the book at him.
5 more this weekend - That has got to be some sort of record on top of the other offences.
Im guessing the local paper this week may have a speil on him.
the sooner hes wearing out sneakers the better.
Only A matter of time before some kid chasing a ball onto the road gets cleaned up by this hoon if he ends up driving around till he loses it, hopefully not 28 days or whatever the time frame is.

P.S. I could be wrong but I think You know me, - You may have been one of the officers that drove a truck into work to collect rubbish in small truck ( one of the other jobs you may have done with some of your other work collegues 18 months ago or so.. :) ).

[DanP]

If we threw the book at him any more we would run out of books. :D

I know of you but it wasn't me. Molly and I spoke about you today and I reckon we've figured it out. He did some work at Meiji picking up rubbish.

The local paper has been given the heads up and will probably run a story this week. Front page last week was a bloke doing 219 km/h on his motor bike. Got caught and wore his year off the road with good grace. Although he did give it a squirt trying to get away ;)

Dan

[mutanti]

I also worked with Mollys wife (Passed away) and kids many years ago at Tuckerbag / IGA.
Great family. (Heard something about Molly on bus trip to footy or something with some of the boys years ago - Good Laugh, Ask him about it)
Still see Molly every now and then as I pass him on my way to work while hes out mowing his lawn around the corner from me... :)
Also worked with another collegues son at the factory in my office - He was on work experiance.

[Daddles]

Just to add a touch of unreality to all this.
Donkey's years ago, when the very first speed cameras were introduced, a motorcycle magazine showed a photo of one of their journalist's exceeding the speed limit. The thing is, by the time the photo was taken, he'd already fallen off (locked the brakes when he saw the trap) and was photographed sliding down the road on his back. Funny pic. Didn't send much of a message of course, but funny just the same - you have to remember that in those days, if you didn't travel at 80 kays around Squidley you were abused whether you were riding a bike or driving a truck (I lived there for some time).

Then there was the bloke many years back in WA who got booked, by radar I think (twas a long time ago) for doing 230 on his new bike. His answer, on television, was that he'd only just bought the bike (new) and had heard that it could do those speeds and wanted proof that it could ... so he found a radar trap to prove it. He lost his licence for some forgotten period and was still smiling, claiming it was worth it. Takes all kinds to stuff up a world.

Cheers
Richard

[DanP]

Seen one similar to that right before the bike slid under an oncoming truck. :eek:

Dan

[Daddles]

Seen one similar to that right before the bike slid under an oncoming truck. :eek:

Dan

No, you don't want to do that. It hurts apparently.

I saw a double fatality in the blue mountains years ago. An E-type jag went under a semi. The E-type was unmarked except just in front of the no longer attached windscreen. The driver and passenger were ... well, you can work that out. Funny thing was, I was in an open MG at the time.

Richard

[Daddles]

They say speed cameras are only there to raise revenue, an attitude I tend to support, BUT, and this is a big BUT, for the first time in living memory, everyone travels at something like the speed limit. I'm serious. I've owned three MGBs and it's only with the third one that I've realised that top gear is too high to travel at 60. With my first, in Squidley, I'd often travel around with the overdrive on and I wasn't fast relative to everyone else.

Arrr, the joys of being and old bastard who can remember the good old days when cars and bikes were so shocking that you could explore their limits with some hope of surviving. These days, you have to go so fast to find those limits that you are unlikely to survive the experience despite all the air bags and crumple zones and such like.

Yes, I was a rat bag in my youth ... well, middle years. I was a nerd in my youth - used to drive a Hillman Minx ... like they were designed to be driven. But once I discovered sports cars (I blame my Mini for that, even if it was an ex PMG van) and then motor bikes. Well, let's just say I'm glad I'm a lot older than Dan P is (he would have enjoyed booking me). I was exploring scraped footpegs and bevelled boots in days when it was still possible to do that. The last really fast bike I had was the second GSXR 1100 and I couldn't walk on those boots thanks to the bevels ... all earnt on the race track I might add. But in those days, it was possible to scrape a footpeg on the road. It wasn't long after that that if you touched a footpeg down, you'd fallen off. And it's got worse. I spent nearly ten years teaching kids to ride and even in my last days, I could outride most of those around Mallala race way on my old SR500 when they were riding the latest rocket ships, rocket ships that I knew I'd never even attempt to wind out to their limits - we used to get new bikes to test then and they scared me.

And cars are as bad. I went from bikes back to MGs - had the two side by side for a long time, and the performance vs lack of ability of the drivers shown on driver training days had me worried. It's worse now.

It doesn't matter how 'safe' cars or bikes get, it doesn't matter how 'good' they get, in the end, it's the idiot attempting to control the thing that counts.

And I'll wind up this little rantish sort of waffle by relating the story of a mate of mine who used to terrorise the lads in their sports cars in the blue mountains outside Squidley ... in his MORRIS MINOR. **** I was scared on those drives :D

Cheers
Richard
have to dash, the home made pasties are ready for tea :D :D

[Guy]

speaking about speed cameras have a look at this site http://www.speedcam.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index2.htm
the best pics are those of the damn things blown up.

[kiwigeo]

Funny thing was, I was in an open MG at the time.

Richard

Richard...did you take part in the MG auction last night?

[Daddles]

Richard...did you take part in the MG auction last night?

No. Didn't even realise it was on until I saw a spot on the news, not that I could have anyway with young kids. How about you?

Richard

[womble]

speaking about speed cameras have a look at this site http://www.speedcam.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/index2.htm
the best pics are those of the damn things blown up.
determined to raise money over there arent they? Love the placements of some of the cameras (hidden behind signs, in trees etc etc)...and the shots of them blown up are pretty good too ;)

[Iain]

the shots of them blown up are pretty good too ;)
Reminiscent of Johnny English, British Superspy and the rocket launcher :D :D :D :D

[kiwigeo]

No. Didn't even realise it was on until I saw a spot on the news, not that I could have anyway with young kids. How about you?

Richard

All spare cash currently being funneled into workshop fit out. I have a soft spot for the MG though....love the MGA....nobody's really made a sexier car body IMO.

[adrian]

I don't have a problem with speed cameras. They are all clearly signposted long before you get to them so if you get pinged you are probably getting fined for being dumb rather than speeding. Speed cameras are usually placed in 'black spots' and I think there should be more of them and they shouldn't be signposted.
I do, however, have a problem with the positioning of some radar traps. I travelled down to Lake Cathie the other day and passed a number of crosses on the side of the road in the 100kmh zone. About 50 metres into the 50kmh zone at Lake Cathie there was a radar trap. If that's the local area commander's idea of good policing then we are in serious trouble.

[Daddles]

Here in SA, the signs are after the camera, not before it, they aren't all that clear and you do see occasional efforts to disguise them - that last bit isn't the norm so I'm guessing it's one or two operators with a **** attitude to their job. They are supposed to be at black spots but they aren't, not even close. They are always at places where they will catch the most drivers. Whether that is a bad thing or not, I'm not sure as it's not too often now that you see them used as obvious traps, more just sensible placement.

I don't like them but if used sensibly, like most seem to be here, I'm not getting too worked up. The average speed on the roads has clearly dropped so they are working that way. Whether this relates to a reduced road toll is questionable. There just aren't enough people killed here to make statistical judgements - the sample is too small for the number of variables.

If however, the placement and the issued fines are abused though, the operating department deserves to get kicked hard. I've only had three camera fines and the last of them about eight years ago - it was for doing 64 in a 60 zone, on a downhill run. That sort of thing seemed to be rife in those days but doesn't seem to be now here ... unless I don't go through enough cameras :D

Cheers
Richard

[Daddles]

When I did my training to become a m/c instructor, we were given a report on accidents, not just fatalities, but all reported accidents. The most dangerous speed proved to be ... 60km/hr. Mind you, our instructor was quick to point out that this probably owed more to the fact that everyone who has a bingle immediately claims to have been driving at the speed limit, rather than admit they'd been speeding :D

Richard

[DanP]

I don't have a problem with speed cameras. They are all clearly signposted long before you get to them so if you get pinged you are probably getting fined for being dumb rather than speeding. Speed cameras are usually placed in 'black spots' and I think there should be more of them and they shouldn't be signposted.

Obviously never been to VIC. :rolleyes:

[bitingmidge]

Or Qld...... but I always figure that if one get's caught, then one wasn't alert enough to be driving at that speed.

If you don't see the van/truck/nice policeman with the gun (that was for Dan :D ) then you probably wouldn't have seen the small child on the tricycle whizzing out from behind the same bus shelter.

I still rather like the old MG slogan from the 50's "Safety Fast", but of course there aren't too many places where that applies these days, and "fast" then was 70mph (about what "safe" maxes out at on the road and certainly not fast by today's standards!)

The really unsporting ones are the "over the horizon machines" that get you from a couple of k's away coming in the opposite direction. Even if you have slowed to a reasonable speed because you have seen the car over the crest of the next hill...... it's too late!! :mad:

cheers,

P

[ozwinner]

Reminiscent of Johnny English, British Superspy and the rocket launcher :D :D :D :D
I think Id better stock up on used tyers, for sale only of course. :rolleyes: :cool:
Whmahhhhhaaaaa.......http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/contrib/ruinkai/FIREdevil.gifhttp://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/contrib/ruinkai/FIREdevil.gifhttp://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/contrib/ruinkai/FIREdevil.gif

Al :D

[Schtoo]

I'm terrified of driving back home now. Thanks! :eek:

Here, the fixed cameras are on huge gantries that run across the road. Pretty hard to miss. Best part is that before you even get that, there is a nice automated sign that tells you that you are going too fast and should slow down.

Occasionally, they have a big pie plate looking thing on a tripod that catches you out, but the police actually pull you in and give you an opportunity to explain. Easy enough for me I suspect but I don't know as I have not yet been pulled over (profusely touching every piece of wood in the place right now)...;)

To add insult to injury, the posted speed limits are on average, 20km/h lower than Oz for a given piece of road. 2 lanes in both directions, 60. Toll highway, 80. Small residential street, 20. Doesn't matter very much though as the police usually don't care too much as long as you don't do stoopid things like run red lights (my personal pet-hate here) or drive like a fool/drunk. Even if you are 10-15 over, they really don't worry about it most of the time. Of course, 30-50 over and they will plead with you to pull over, and I'm not kidding.

It's a completely different kettle of fish here, but at the same time it works quite ok here too as the whole way of thinking is a different kettle of edible swimming creatures.

At least they stopped the strange warning chimes for when you drive at over 100km/h. Annoying as heck, and prolly makes you drive faster to get it over with. ;)

[jow104]

Traffic Management Unit, formerly known as Traffic Operations Group TOG, high powered marked and unmarked cars, book their own mothers.


If they knew them :D

[fxst]

at least your humour hasnt suffered John :D ....Hang in there mate
Pete

[mutanti]

Hey DanP
I was out for a drive with my nephew from melb again ( L Plates ) this weekend and saw the serial pest still driving around.
Im assuming he hasnt gone to court yet? :eek:

[DanP]

No not yet. He'll lose it on points long before then anyway.

[mutanti]

Lose it on Points, What - He still has some ??
I would have thought he would have lost them for the first few offences... :eek:

[DanP]

He did, the process just takes a while.

[jow104]

WHAT ABOUT THIS THEN


An English guy 100 years of age as just been fined for speeding. Says it was the first time.

I bet he has had a lot of freebies. ;)

[martrix]

Hello all,

happy to inform everyone that the matter has been resolved in............................my favour!....
Massive thank's for all the positive and informative response's to my dilema. Thumb's down to the people who said I had 'buckley's' chance of having the penalty withdrawn, it never hurt's to try if you honestly think you are in the right. Thankfully, negativity roll's off me like water from a duck's back! Also, if anyone ever need's to write an offical type letter, can highly recommend a book published by "Choice" called 'Put it in Writing'.........

http://www.feebleminds-gifs.com/smiley-faces13.gif

[DanP]

Martrix,

You weren't in the right. You were given a warning based on your good history. Congratulations.

Dan.

BTW the fine is now $524 for unreg.

[AlexS]

Talking about untimely infringement fines...is there ever a timely one?

I suppose if it's someone elses....

[martrix]

Martrix,

You weren't in the right. You were given a warning based on your good history. Congratulations.

Dan.

BTW the fine is now $524 for unreg.Yes, sorry you are right DanP, I worded that part wrong..http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon11.gif......

[la Huerta]

the other week i went to the vidio shop and a car was pulling out of a spot so i parked there, when i was coming out of the shop there was a cop giving me a ticket for parking there, i asked him why and he kindly pointed out that the parking sign had been changed a week ago to a no stoping sign, i told him that someone was here before me , and he said that i should send the ticket in but no money and with a letter explaining , so i did that and got a nice letter back saying that the fine still stands $155...i go to this shop all the time and it is in a little side street so the spot i was in was not disrupting traffic,and people still park in this spot all the time...i am going to send in another letter, and see what happens ...

[Auld Bassoon]

I don't know if anyone else here comes from the Channel Islands, but I grew up, largely, in Jersey.

In common with the larger islands (Jersey & Guernsey), there are two different police forces; one, the regular police and, the other, the Honorary police.

Having something of a feudal history, Jersey has 12 parishes, and each one has a "Connetable" (Constable) and, in sequence, a Centenier (nominally in charge of 100 men), a Vinghtenier, with 20 men, and then the hoi polloi; all of whom are elected. None of these Honorary police has a uniform, but - only they have the power of arrest! If the regular police want to arrest someone, they have to get the Constable or Centenier of the parish in which the alleged offence took place to authorise that arrest. Makes for some curious pantomimes, I'd imagine...

A key point: being volunteers of good standing, the majority of Honrary police hale from the farming community.

Anyway, the honorary police also have traffic duties (the mind quietly boggles, but there you go...). During major public holidays, especially Christmas / New Year, said honoraries have an alarming tendency(generally after suitable refreshment at a local pub, something that farming types have a tendency to do - there anyway!), to congregate in hedges around the countryside, and then leap out into the road in front of unsuspecting motorists, one hand firmly clutching their little enamel lapel badges of office, and the other indicating their wish for said motorist to stop. I don't think that they'd heard of a gentlemen by the name of "Buckley"...

Well, you can imagine! Unless one is familiar with the ground rules here, or actually knows the lunatic who's just leaped into the road in front of you, there is a certain tendency to swerve around the bugger, probably telling the oaf to be a bit more friggin' careful...

Mind you, it was surprising how many they managed to catch, mostly doing what they oughtn't be doing - toio fast, too slow, bald tyres, or as pi$$ed as they were :-/

On the plus side, at least when I was growing up there, most of the honoraries knew the great majority of people who lived in their "patch", and one was more likely to get a clip around the ear and a "watch yourself, or I'll have a word with your father" - an altogether more ominous threat than a mere fine, let me tell you!

Of course, such methods work well in small communities, but probably wouldn't work very well in larger ones, never mind cities.

Sorry for blathering on so...

Cheers!

[jow104]

I imagine during the period 1940 to 1945 things didn't work that way though :(

[mutanti]

Hey DANP Havnt seen the worlds worst hoon latley.
Its seems safe to walk the dog down the street.
Im guessing he's walking now for quite some time..
:rolleyes:

[Auld Bassoon]

I imagine during the period 1940 to 1945 things didn't work that way though :(
G'day Jow,

Too True!

My father and grandparents had some intersting stories, but mostly not at all anti-German. In fact, although towards the end of the war, especially from November '44 through to May '45 (Liberation), most of the Whermacht soldiers were starving even more than the local folks (no imports, at all), so the farming communities, whilst struggling could, just, get by. Somewhere I have an old ration book from my grandmother, and for an adult it was something like 50gm margerine, 200gm bread, 200gm meat per week! These are entirely from memory, so could be very wrong, but I do recall looking at the food intake numbers and thinking, "how the blerry hell could anyone survive on that"...

What was very different, and something not all that many people know about, was the really quite large numbers of Eastern European and Russian PoWs that were brought to the islands from mid '43 and used as, quite literally, slave labour under the Todt organisation.

These "Death's Head" black-uniformed ******** were loathed just as much by the regular Whermacht as by anyone else.

These poor sods, who dies like flies in winter, built a number of roads, but also, and more importantly from the German point of view, a very large number of fortifications, underground C&C bunkers, underground hospitals (for the German troops, of course), munitions dumps, and Lords knows what.

I do know that in the early 60's some attempts were made to remove some of these monoliths, using commerical explosives, and whatnot. Didn't make a whit of difference. They're all still there.

As a lad, there were (and presumably still are) in St. Peter's Valley, and other places also, a huge number of tunnels; tunnels easily large enough to drive a truck into, hidden behind all sorts of camaflauged entrances. Boys, however, have a way of finding these things...

Unfortunately, I knew two lads who, in quite separate incidents, found their way in and also found, inter alia, some cases of munitions. Twenty-some year old munitions and small boys never was a happy mixture.

Many of these tunnels are now (or at least when I was last there) used as anything from mushroom farms (!), strawberry farms, or simply tourist attractions.

Cheers!

[Daddles]

So Steve, what were you drinking to bring on this thread? Hmmmmm?

Good premis for a novel though. Especially the honorary coppers of the inebriated variety.

Cheers
Richard

[craigb]

So Steve, what were you drinking to bring on this thread? Hmmmmm?

Good premis for a novel though. Especially the honorary coppers of the inebriated variety.

Cheers
Richard

I've been trying to figure out what exactly it had to do with being booked in Vic for being an unregistered driver? :confused: :confused:

[Daddles]

That's easy Craig. When you enter Victoria, you cross the reality divide :D

Richard

[RETIRED]

Better than the western side which is "The Twilight Zone" :D

[Daddles]

We're sunk. The biggest ratbag is the moderator :D

Richard

[DanP]

Hey DANP Havnt seen the worlds worst hoon latley.
Its seems safe to walk the dog down the street.
Im guessing he's walking now for quite some time..
:rolleyes:


It'll be a couple of years before you see him on the road (legally) again. :D :cool:

Dan

[silentC]

My wife has been to Jersey (her ex was born there). She's told me about the underground hospitals and the tunnels with mushroom farms etc. Her ex used to get into those tunnels too when he was a kid.

Funny place. Apparently you can't buy real estate unless you were born there - is that true? Wife's best mate was born there too and has family still there - she told me this but she's half Irish and so a bit mad.

[jow104]

My wife has been to Jersey (her ex was born there). She's told me about the underground hospitals and the tunnels with mushroom farms etc. Her ex used to get into those tunnels too when he was a kid.

Funny place. Apparently you can't buy real estate unless you were born there - is that true? Wife's best mate was born there too and has family still there - she told me this but she's half Irish and so a bit mad.

The last I heard as regards purchase of a residence was that aliens could not purchase less than £250.000 but that was many years ago. Most probably over one million now?
Money talks in Jersey ;)

Dont know what happened to that driving thread :D

[AlexS]

Dont know what happened to that driving thread :D

Sorry mate, it didn't get a guernsey :D

[jow104]

Sorry mate, it didn't get a guernsey :D

Hi Alexs, I'm off to buy a new bandsaw today, big enough to rip through a railway sleeper.

[Iain]

aliens could not purchase less than £250.000 but that was many years ago.
Maybe the locals should be wearing foilies :D

[Auld Bassoon]

My wife has been to Jersey (her ex was born there). She's told me about the underground hospitals and the tunnels with mushroom farms etc. Her ex used to get into those tunnels too when he was a kid.

Funny place. Apparently you can't buy real estate unless you were born there - is that true? Wife's best mate was born there too and has family still there - she told me this but she's half Irish and so a bit mad.
G'day SilentC

On the real-estate question, when I lived there, admittedly some time ago, the basic residency rules were along the lines of:

1. Island born, purchase permitted

2. Not island born, for the first first 10 years permitted to rent, but only property without its own front door (e.g. a flat), after another 10 years, and for another 10, i.e. 20 years, permitted to rent anything. After that 20 years, will be considered for approval to purchase.

3. Exceptions, under (if I recall correctly, housing law 1(1)k), someone who's annual taxes (at a flat 20%, remember), exceed GBP50k (i.e. an income >GBP250k) may be considered as eligible to purchase an approved property...
Unless, the non island-born person marries an island born one, then the same rules as in point 1 above apply to the couple. If, however, a divorce occurs, then the non-island born person must vacate any "owned" property forthwith, and is subject to point 2 above if that person wishes to remain in the island.

There have been a number of instances where a couple have married, spent the loot and bought or built a house, only for a divorce to occur and the poor mutt/***** (no gender friction intended http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon12.gif) who isn't island born has had to debunk sharpishly, typically at firesale rateshttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon8.gif

Given that the island is only c 12mi x 8mi, and the static population was, then, around 65,000 (growing to well over 250,000 in summer, taking into account tourists and whatnot), there really wasn't all that much land to spread around (plenty of manure, thoughhttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gif)

It was a bit odd, though that a number of 'personalities' who'd "made it' could, despite the rather draconian laws, find and but themselves some very nice examples of homes...

Cheers!

[Auld Bassoon]

So Steve, what were you drinking to bring on this thread? Hmmmmm?

Good premis for a novel though. Especially the honorary coppers of the inebriated variety.

Cheers
Richard
G'day Richard,

The thread linkage, though a tad tenuous, was just the police and their interactions with ol' Joe P.

The trouble was (and frequently is with me, I must admit), is that once started, I have a tendency to suffer from keyboard diarrheahttp://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon11.gif

Besides, what's wrong with a thread hijacking when we're talking law and order? http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/images/icons/icon10.gif

Cheers!

[AlexS]

Hi Alexs, I'm off to buy a new bandsaw today, big enough to rip through a railway sleeper.

Good one John, I'll send some over for you. :D

What sort & size is the BS?

[jow104]

Good one John, I'll send some over for you. :D

What sort & size is the BS?

Hi Alexs.

Back from the shopping expo.

I was going to purchase a 12" depth of cut bandsaw but got cold feet when I found the fence measured 6" high, and the handwheels were so huge you needed two hands to rotate.

So I purchased the 10" depth cut bandsaw and THEN
I bought a c.i. Record tablesaw with sliding carriage and a pull saw attachment in the gear. and also got some black walnut timber thrown in so I could try the machinery when it arrives.
After that we looked in our local bookstore and got an instruction book on operating a table saw and two more books on making boxes. (book only cost $30 aus.total marked as damaged.

The wife did some spending as well :D

[la Huerta]

"the wife did some spending as well" crickey was there any $$ left, she probably just had enough to buy an ice cream...

oh , let me know how you go cutting the railway sleepers , i was thinking of that myself a while age, 20mm ironbark blanks would make a nice table...

[craigb]

Hi Alexs.

I bought a c.i. Record tablesaw with sliding carriage and a pull saw attachment in the gear.

WHAT? :eek:

Surely you're not ditching the Triton? :eek: :eek:

;)
:D

[AlexS]

Wow, John, I'd love to come & play with your toys. Janet must have loved the sewing drawers to let you have them.

[jow104]

WHAT? :eek:

Surely you're not ditching the Triton? :eek: :eek:

;)
:D

No the Triton will be set for the 50mm cuts.

The Record c.i.will be set for the 90 mm cuts.

And the smaller bandsaw will be fitted with the 1/4" blade .

And the big bandsaw will have the 3/4" blade fitted.

Good life this retirement.

And then I'm going to find out if these 12 month interest free credit card
transfers work ;)

[jow104]

Wow, John, I'd love to come & play with your toys. Janet must have loved the sewing drawers to let you have them.

Trouble is she keeps looking at new sewing machines ;)