Cop + Speeding fines

This article disgusted me. How could a copper reduce speeding fines? What a wrong thing to do. He should criminally prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

http://www.theage.com.au/national/po...0827-43f1.html

But seriously, what a toss of a thing to happen. Plenty of cops knock down speeding tickets, it builds good will and doesn't have people hating the PO-leese. Now this guy's getting in trouble, facing criminal charges because he didn't document every case where he knocked down the speed.

I'll bet after this, no cop will knock down speeding tickets. I mean now they have no incentives, just a big disincentive if they get caught. Absolutely pathetic.

This is completely destroying grass roots discretion, which is a fundamental tenet of street policing.

Someone rid Victoria of Christine Nixon. This new female police force she's trying to build by recruiting 75% females is a crock. But that's another topic altogether.

[Fev]

im confused by your post - are you angry the cop reduced the speeding fines? or angry they are punishing him for it?

If i was a cop i would probably do it myself sometimes judging on the situation at hand(say 120 in a 110 zone i would drop a fine, other then say 50 in a 40 zone)

i agree with you about the making police full of women. im not being sexist or anything, but since when is a woman(unless she is like arnie) going to be able to hold off against some drunks after a big night? And if i was a cop i wouldnt want some of the female cops in sydney ive seen as my parter - although some were fine, 3 out of 5 as an average that ive seen stand out as innapropriate physically for the job.... they were about 5'3, they looked physically weaker then an average woman - how the hell are they gonna be able to back you up when you're tryin to control a situation with more then 2 people?

[Sorted]

"What people need to understand is that police officers do have discretion. Many officers exercise that discretion in a number of ways.

"What we require of our officers when they do that, though, is that they are open and transparent.''

I dont think we are talking about upto 10klms over the speed limit here being reduced, i would assume its something on a larger scale

I was urine taking in the first paragraph.

I've heard stories from cops I know about how women just can't do the same job as men in some circumstances. Not sexist, but a fact.

A constable I know was called to a situation where a guy had stabbed his wife (non-fatally) and had stabbed himself a few times, talking about suicide.

When the cops showed up, the female partner cowered behind my mate who had a lamp thrown at him, resulting in a cut. After having a projectile hurled at him, he took the guy on and wrestled the knife out of his hand.

Yet both of them got the same bravery medal. Stories of female cops biting off more than they can chew and being bailed out my male cops and often passerbys is being all too common.

My female crim lecturer (ex cop) is against the feminisation of the police force more than I am. It's ridiculous. Male does not equal female. There's a different set of skills and advantages.

[dave289]

A few years back if you got pulled up for speeding and you were'nt a smartarse and were rather nice to the guy you would be let off.these days they have the camera and microphone on you.so this forces them to give you the ticket.I got pulled up coming back from the snow a couple of years back,the officer pointed out to me that I was being filmed and had the microphone on also.he did drop it down to the next increment but prior to this I would have been let off.

[SB076]

Originally Posted by Fev

im confused by your post - are you angry the cop reduced the speeding fines? or angry they are punishing him for it?

If i was a cop i would probably do it myself sometimes judging on the situation at hand(say 120 in a 110 zone i would drop a fine, other then say 50 in a 40 zone)

i agree with you about the making police full of women. im not being sexist or anything, but since when is a woman(unless she is like arnie) going to be able to hold off against some drunks after a big night? And if i was a cop i wouldnt want some of the female cops in sydney ive seen as my parter - although some were fine, 3 out of 5 as an average that ive seen stand out as innapropriate physically for the job.... they were about 5'3, they looked physically weaker then an average woman - how the hell are they gonna be able to back you up when you're tryin to control a situation with more then 2 people?

He is angry that they are punishing the officer for using their own discretion to reduce someones detected speed. You cant make laws to cover absolutely every scenario, the officer has every right to use their discretion to reduce the vehicles detected speed based on the information they had.

When I first started driving it was great, you would be the only car on the road and if you did 105 in a 100 zone, you had nothing to worry about (provided you were driving safely) If you got pulled up, it was simply just a quick warning "slow up" in which you apologised adjusted your speed and moved on.

[Lynch'd]

I'd be a little careful over reacting to this just yet. Its only speculation that he was adjusting speeding records. They haven't even said what he is being investigated for. He could have been taking bribes in return, doing it in special cases for mates, or anything.

As she is quoted in the article:

"What people need to understand is that police officers do have discretion. Many officers exercise that discretion in a number of ways.

"What we require of our officers when they do that, though, is that they are open and transparent.''

I see no problem with that. If they use their discretion they should be transparent about it.

[outback_ute]

I agree with Lynch'd, the facts that are known do not support the speculation. Wait & see, then if it does prove to be what many are saying then kicking up a stink will be justified. Meanwhile I'm sure there will be quite a few cops quite nervous or confused about it all and that can't help anything.

[Bearman]

I have on a couple of occasions in my callow youth been clocked for speeds that could have lost me my license and had the copper write the speed down beneath the "you're walking for 3 months" threshold. It fostered goodwill and at the same time had the desired effect of slowing me down.

Cherish the memory, the days of a good copper cutting people a bit of slack are now gone!!

[IH8HSV]

Originally Posted by Bearman

I have on a couple of occasions in my callow youth been clocked for speeds that could have lost me my license and had the copper write the speed down beneath the "you're walking for 3 months" threshold. It fostered goodwill and at the same time had the desired effect of slowing me down.

Cherish the memory, the days of a good copper cutting people a bit of slack are now gone!!

I reckon its good that there's still a bit of respect between both the cops and us drivers.

When driving on W.A's remote roads - weather it being perth to broom, kalgoorlie, esperance e.t.c. - Ive always sat on 119km and driven past many cops and they dont even lift an eye lid. As soon as i hit the 120km mark i get pulled up and usually get a fine.

Im sure most W.A. remote road drivers feel the same way.

[snappy]

He off with full pay . In My feild that is called a holiday .
so really he is being rewarded

Originally Posted by snappy84

He off with full pay . In My feild that is called a holiday .
so really he is being rewarded

Sort of. I'm guessing it's a bit like compo.

People think that they get paid holidays, until they have to disclose it to future employers. I know for a fact that the presence of compo claims that smell even the slightest bit dodgy cause a lot of suspicion.

This guy's got a holiday for now, but I'd think his career is all but ruined. I'm guessing his days with the force are numbered.

Which is crazy. Unless there's a lot more we're missing.