Can NZ police ticket you if they didn't see the offence?

[Mario149]

I received a ticket at the road today for an alleged driving infraction based on second hand "civvy" info i.e. Police did not see the events themselves. Detail here: http://www.pistonheads.com/xforums/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Can they do that? Seems a bit iffy.

[Mario149]

Gdguyswin said:

UK v NZ seems to be a thread and that NZ has a more visible cop presence. Maybe, although having done 3500kn in jan around the country I doubt it. Do not forget that in the uk there are some 7000 speed cameras and 2500 mobile speed cameras. We in NZ have around 70 fixed cameras only so more of the policing of traffic falls to cops in cars. Also don't kid yourselves, my brother in law is a traffic cop in uk and they have targets and quotas. Drive safe people

For a combination of road safety and fairness, I'll take UK speed cameras and a few police who know what they're doing over NZ muppet police and the odd speed camera any day. At least if you're done in the UK by a speed camera you've been done bang to rights at a reasonable amount over the speed with actual evidence as opposed to potentially on the hearsay of Joe Bloggs who happens to have called the police.

[Mario149]

lestag said:

It is not hearsay, it is a witness statement (or two)
Just let it go Marco, two drivers had separate *555 calls about your driving.
To me it says volumes about your driving on NZ roads than anything else and perhaps your attitude towards the policeman that pulled you over.

lestag, I have let it go, paid the fine etc, not pursuing it. But my comments above still stand, nothing changes that. In reply to your crass comment (I'm hoping it's a windup in which case you've got me good!), what I would say speaks volumes about my driving compared to the opinions (and it was hearsay, not a witness statement, nothing was written down, signed, sworn, proved etc) of....

a) one person who tried to intimidate us into having an accident for 10km and drove in the most consistently dangerous manner I have ever witnessed (and I've driven in some unsavoury places)
b) another person who stopped to complain about us yet chose to not mention driver (a) "antics" at the same time despite seeing them for nearly 10 mins

....is that I've been driving in the UK for 15 years (the latter 6 in various not very inconspicuous performance cars) with traffic law enforcement watching over me in densely patrolled SE England (I don't live in deepest darkest Scotland or the like) and in that time have never had a ticket from a policeman, speed camera or otherwise, never caused an accident (i.e. at fault or even 50/50) have full NCB etc etc.

I'm not sure your comment on my attitude to the policeman is even worth responding to, but suffice to say in dealing with people in authority (however wrong, misguided or frankly bullying they are in some parts of the world) I have found it is best to be deferential and polite to get the best outcome. Given that policeman 1 was verging on apologetic for the situation and policeman 2 said "I'm giving you this ticket to keep the peace with the local guys and stop any road rage from them" says rather a lot in itself. If you have some you tube link of my interaction with the officers or something else that suggests otherwise, feel free to share.

Finally, if you like the idea that you can be fined based on the unsubstantiated opinion(s) of a random member of the public, I'm happy for you, but I suspect you won't find a great deal of people agreeing with you.

Edited for speelung/typos

Edited by Mario149 on Monday 5th May 01:30

[Mario149]

Dan M said:

Hi Mario
Now you're back in the UK and have got used to the different style of driving again, on reflection is NZ a worse place to drive?
I'm from SE England, been in NZ 8 years and whenever I go back I count the miles until the first roadworks from Heathrow... it doesn't take long for a 50mph motorway limit for miles and miles. Then I wait for a road rage incident, same story.
NZ is so much more laid back, in a good way, and I know it's frustrating but I don't ever feel like it's life and death, not like the south circular on a Friday evening.
I used to deal with bumper to bumper at 90mph every day and loved it; I must be getting old.
I haven't even mentioned potholes, if I ever go back I'll open an alloy wheel repair shop called and retire.

At the risk of sounding a little smug, we're currently in Fiji+++ and won't be back for a couple of weeks yet, but I'll let you know what I think when we are back in Blighty as we're starting a 2 week road trip round the UK shortly afterwards!

+++= although we did have torrential rain most of today!