Murphy has bitten

Report the trailer stolen :) Claim the insurance.

This is off the main topic but nevertheless... Does anyone know what you can do if you see a police officer commiting an offence? Driving down the highway the other day I passed a police car and the officer was driving along chatting on his mobile he was holding against the side of his head. I was in front of him for a while and the conversation lasted at least 5 minutes. I was so riled up that I neglected to get the licence plate but does anyone know what would've happend if I noted the time, date, place & vehicle particulars and reported it to the local cop shop? It was just so blatant! I hate double standards!

Cheers
Scoey!

Scoey,
Cops and Emergency workers are excluded from the phone use whilst driving regulations. (In SA anyway)
They claim that because they have done a defensive driving course. So have I but it don't count in my case.

Yeah fair enough. Funny that they use the analogy that your concerntration whilst driving and talking on the phone is eqivalent to being x times over the legal blood alcahol limit. haha! Maybe they should allow coppers to drink and drive too! Bloody good defensive drivers course they must do! ;-) Cheers for the info Des - it sucks but sounds likely! ;-)

Cheers
Scoey!

Some years ago I followed a cop on his motorbike through Perth and his driving was appalling, so I took his rego, noted the time, place etc. To cap it off he was nearly flattened by a Lancruiser as he swerved into the next lane in an effort to get over a set of lights.
He got over OK just as they changed to red.
This road led to the Mitchell Freeway and when I got onto it a couple of minutes later there he was beside the road, booking a girl with a Suzucki, what for I don't know.
As soon as I got home I rang Traffic and asked to speak to an officer in charge as I had a complaint, told him what it was about and he asked that I write in and gave me the address.
I did but thought that would be the end of that but within a week a Seregant rang me at home saying he was investigating and would I go over the details with him. This I did and he advised the officer in question denied rding in such a fashion and denied being where I said he'd been.
The Sergeant said he'd been back through the cops incident book and found the copy infringement notice which placed him exactly where I said at that time!

I said that as far as I was concerned not only was he a lousy arrogant incompetent driver, he was also a liar and should he be a copper.
The Sergeants reply was "It does bring his continuing service as a Police Officer into question".
In conclusion, I said I'd leave it in the police hands and they later advised in a formal response to my complaint, that he'd been taken off road duties!

If they've got the authority to hand out tickets for bad driving, lets have them setting a good example.
One up for the long suffering public.
Happy motoring.
Alan.

As a follow up to the off topic, and as a cooper ;)

I'm not trying to defend every copper doing something that appears wrong. There are bad apples in the Police as in any other career, but it is often the case that the officer in question is driving in a particular manner for a good reason (on the phone to the sergeant getting urgent information too long winded for the radio as radio time can sometimes be precious; speeding through the orange to catch another vehicle that is doing something wrong etc.). We're not required to put the lights and sirens on every time we break the road rules if it is "reasonable" (this word is from the road rules) to leave them off. Also there is specific exemptions in the aus road rules regarding drivers of police vehicles and mobile phones.

A lot of officers drive to high priority incidents without their lights and sirens on because of the STUPID stuff some people do when they see a police car/ambulance/fire engine in emergency mode. It's often easier and safer to weave through traffic than risk someone rapidly changing lanes in front of you at the last minute because they haven't been paying attention to their mirrors. I'm not saying everyone is like this, just enough people to make life interesting when you're hurrying to save someones life :( (as an aside, this is such a common problem that our police motor bikes have the facility to turn only the rear emergency lights on when they need to so that people can see that the bike that just flashed past did have a good reason).

That being said, the guy Alan H is talking about is clearly a bad apple and here's hoping he got turfed unceremoniously from the job 'cause there's nothing worse than a lying copper.

Sorry about the vent, we just get really fed up with people assuming we're breaking the road rules for the hell of it when this is rarely the case.

And no offence meant to anyone either.

SCOEY,
If you really think the cop was doing the wrong thing, just ring your local station or the police attendance line (or the main switchboard) and tell them that you'd like to make a complaint (as Alan H did). All Police forces take these things very seriously these days and you should be directed to the appropriate person.

Most of us try to set an example where possible, it's just not always possible :(

I know I'm about to cop (no pun intended) a flaming cause we're not a loved profession to say the least, but it's nice to put across our side occasionally.

Cheers and again sorry for the vent,

Demented

thanks for the explanation :-)

andrew

Do Taxi Drivers do Defensive Driving Courses so they can safely read and operate their Data Terminals while driving ?

Mike

Don't know, but as a passenger of a few cabs in my time, if they do it's not working :)

Demented

"When the registration has expired, NOBODY is the registered owner. "
real good point
that was the question i was going to ask, if the cops look at the plates in the photo, & its unregistered, how can they hand out a speeding fine or an unregistered vehicle fine, I would have gone with an earlier post, report it stolen & collect the insurance....

Yeah regarding mutphy 2 also, I don't think the guy getting paid $5 bucks and hour to push buttons on the console and cop abuse all day about somthing out of his control really gives a crap about your concerns.

I know it sucks, that's why I don't go to servo's anymore. I buy my fuel in 200L drums from a guy who makes it out of waste vegi oil.

My price is the same everytime I buy it, he delivers it and is always happy for a yarn while doing it. gotta love that, it's almost like I've been taken back in time! ;-)

I was thinking along the same lines - I figure if your vehicle is speeding then fair cop, pay the fine or nominate the driver.

If it's your trailer, then it's a bit rich to apply the same requirement. I'm not sure the exact wording of the offence that you've been charged with but I'd say it would have the word "person" in there (as in "a person must not....") and given the prosecution would have to prove each and every element of the offence beyond reasonable doubt thier case is about as weak as american beer!

Another point to consider: The person towing the trailer in this instance is (in the eyes of the law) operating your vehichle (as it's registered to you and not reported stolen) with your authority. You can be held responsible for things done by this person unless you can prove that you "...took all reasonable steps to prevent the act..." Should be pretty easy to do!

Good luck - fight it all the way - you'll win!
Scoey!

Dare I say it? As much as I hate these sorts of programs, ACA or Today tonight love this sort of thing!

If you get nowhere with letters try them!

The whole " if he does this a few more time, I'll lose my licence" would be a big worry!

Let us all know how it turns out, and thanks for the warning, here in the ACT we have a section on the back of the rego papers to fill in and send in to notify of a sale. But I was thinking what if that piece of paper never made it there, perhaps noting the licence details of the purchaser to keep for this sort of thing would be a good idea!

Sandy

Brian,

You are concerned with 2 problems. No.1 is the current fine and maybe you can get off on that? But No.2 is the uncertain future which seems to be your main concern. My advice is to quickly un own the trailer by either lodging a stat dec with DOT telling them you haven't owned this trailer since 03 OR have it reported stolen (I personally like this better) as the police already have a current location to work with.

Kind regards

If the trailer is unregistered, I would tell them to go leap and go find the owner. They cancelled the rego. Barnray

Yes I went into DOT yesterday and they said sorry sir we cannot help ................. Which i will be following up today cause i feel thats bullsh$t. There must be away to resolve the ownership of this trailer.

Brian

G'day Brian,

I agree mate that sounds like cr@p. There must be any number of ways people get rid of trailers that doesn't involve selling them - there would be a process for this for sure. The one thing that is also for sure - it's no longer yours, neither are you using it, so that bit of info needs to get into the DOT system in a way that doesn't involve you waiting for the purchaser to do something.

Kind regards

Just had a look at Qld Transport and they have a form no F2455ES which is a declaration that has the folllowing description,

" collects information in this form under the Transport operations (Road use Management) Act 1995 to manage the Queensland vehicle and driver register."

Kind regards

The Act states,

" Return of registration plates when registration expires
(1) The chief executive may by written notice given to the person
who was the registered operator of a vehicle whose
registration has expired, require the person to return the
vehicle’s number plates to the chief executive within 14 days
of the date of the notice (the return period).
(2) The person must, within the return period—
(a) return the vehicle’s number plates to the chief executive;
or
(b) if the plates have been lost, stolen or destroyed, notify
the chief executive in writing of the details of the loss,
theft or destruction."

I'd advise DOT that the plates are lost asap.

Kind regards

Brian, I am not trying to be a smart arse, but you state the the ACT say's you the reg. owner it is not reg. any more.The towing vehicle's are totally different,there is no driver for the trailer, it cannot be driven.How on Earth are you expected to name the driver of a vehicle that you have never seen before.There will be a way too beat this just keep an open mind & have a better day today,Cheer's Bob.:)-<

Definately the purchasers resposiblilty, however form has two parts A and B
B the seller keeps with the purchasers details, signed by both parties for just such a situation

Bummer shouda kept the form

Sorry old son. No statute of limitations for breaking the law. You'll take it to the grave.

Cheers cob

Rosco

Not quite sure about that Rosco. Can't comment for Willem's particular offence but certain offences I'm responsible for investigating require me to prosecute within 12 months of becoming aware that the offence had taken place. After that - I have nothing. No statute of limitations on murder but most other offences carry a SOL.

I could be wrong but... ;-)
Cheers, Scoey!

Mate, I'd venture to suggest you'd know far more about it than I, so I'll happily bow to your greater knowledge. P'raps it was the murder bit I was getting confused with.

Cheers

Rosco

haha! You'd be the first person to ever say that to me! haha! And I stand by my comment that "...I could be worng..." hehe! ;-)

Cheers
Scoey!

Ahhh Rosco me mate......Where have you been?

Methinks you may be better off staying out of legal matters unless you have the "Knowledge".......lolol

Still driving the old Landy?

Lurkin 'round Wills, lurkin 'round.
You're probably right tho ... Knowledge and Rosco is a bit of an oxymoron.

Yeah .. the old Landie still .... hasn't died yet or busted a diff or blown an engine.

At least I am comfortable in the knowledge ... (sh1t ... there's that word again) that it'll most likely happen sooner rather than later ... it's a sure bet, based upon all the other "knowledge" within this hallowed forum.

.... ;-))

Brian

On my QLD registration papers which come with the rego sticker it says "Registration is not proof of ownership" or words to that effect

Sorry mate. If my memory serves me well. The papers have 3 coloured copies ... 1 for DOT (to me lodged by you), 1 for the buyer, and you retain the last for your records. It is for the very reason you have been nabbed, albeit incorrectly, that it's in your interests to make sure you lodge the transfer papers.

It would appear this is not the case in this instance. I think you should pursue the aspect of not receiving any rego renewals as it must be registered to someone, or they would also stick you with towing an unregistered trailer on a public road.

Cheers

haha! Yeah sorry! But basically it means that...

You weren't the operator of the vehicle (and can prove it - you were in another state) and can't reasonably name the operator of the vehicle (it was 3 years ago and the bloke you sold it to could have onsold again).

So long as you inform the Commisioner of the above within 28 days from the infringement notice date and you can prove that you had actually disposed of the trailer in 2003 - statements from witneses etc - you have your defence and they're stuffed! You win! ;-)

Have another coupla beers mate! :-D
Cheers
Scoey