RTA Patrol Officers ?

sanchoXB · 27-01-2011, 10:48 AM

Has anyone heard of this happening? I did a search but couldnt find a thread about it.

A mate of mine was travelling on the New England Hwy (nsw) and overtook a semi trailer, while passing he was travelling a bit quicker than the limit. Next thing there was an AU ute behind him with red & blue lights flashing. He pulled over and a guy gets out of the ute just in thongs, shorts & tshirt and walked up to the car.

My mate asked for some ID and the guy shows him an RTA ID card. The bloke tells him that he is employed by the RTA and has the some authority as a police highway patrol officer. Apparently the only reason he couldnt write my friend a ticket was because he was out of uniform, so he tells him to take it easy and let him go.

Does anyone know about these guys? I have never heard of it in NSW.

Streets · 27-01-2011, 10:56 AM

I dunno about the legal side of it but what he did was foolish. Not even real coppers will pull people over on their own time. He sounds like a bit of a wannabe.

**Polyal** · 27-01-2011, 11:00 AM

An AU ute with lights..thats odd. RTA should be a new car, there is no way id pull over for an AU these days.

We have the same in VIC, Vicroads, and I was under the assumption that they were more after heavy transport than normal civilian cars. But apparently they do have the same powers; id have a funny feeling out by it; generaly id only ever pull over if its the police.

g220ba · 27-01-2011, 11:00 AM

I can't speak for NSW but in Victoria Vicroads officers have every right to write you a ticket for speeding. They don't often do it as their main objective is Heavy vehicles.

**Mechan1k** · 27-01-2011, 11:12 AM

Did your mate get the numberplate of the ute????
I'd report it as someone impersonating a police officer.

correct RTA vehicles at this time for inspection officers are BFII and FG utes at the moment.

IAM58L · 27-01-2011, 11:19 AM

Rta officers do not have the same authority as a police officer. They can only stop heavy vehicles for inspections as they require police to pull over normal cars to inspect them. As for the ticket your mate didn't get one due to the rta inspector not being able to issue one. If your mate got the vehicle details make a complaint to the RTA about what happened and of course tell them that he was not exceeding the posted speed limit. Sounds like someone wishes he was a highway patrol coppa

FTe342 · 27-01-2011, 11:32 AM

IF that happened to me I would let him know I was recording the conversation on my phone and getting a pic of him and the vehicle

What was your mate driving? This could put a whole different slant on things!

tankclare · 27-01-2011, 12:39 PM

I have seen RTA fellas pull up a semi on the pacific highway near nabiac. First time I had ever seen it done.

SteveJH · 27-01-2011, 12:44 PM

I thought the RTA had two red lights or two orange lights? Was under the impression only the Fire Brigade, Ambulance and Police were allowed red and yellow.

Plus as stated, RTA would have current model vehicles as they'd turn them over every x# of K's.

LTDHO · 27-01-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanchoXB

Has anyone heard of this happening? I did a search but couldnt find a thread about it.

A mate of mine was travelling on the New England Hwy (nsw) and overtook a semi trailer, while passing he was travelling a bit quicker than the limit. Next thing there was an AU ute behind him with red & blue lights flashing. He pulled over and a guy gets out of the ute just in thongs, shorts & tshirt and walked up to the car.

My mate asked for some ID and the guy shows him an RTA ID card. The bloke tells him that he is employed by the RTA and has the some authority as a police highway patrol officer. Apparently the only reason he couldnt write my friend a ticket was because he was out of uniform, so he tells him to take it easy and let him go.

Does anyone know about these guys? I have never heard of it in NSW.

I highly doubr it was an RTA offica.

Firstly they don't use 'red and blue ' lights or AU's, or thongs, or BS excuses 'can't give ya a ticket as I'm out of uniform'.

You mate was pulled over by a poor example of an imposter.

Tuddy200 · 27-01-2011, 12:55 PM

Beaten above.

jaydee · 27-01-2011, 02:08 PM

Sounds like a toss her and one day is going to get his head punched in, deservedly.

Linkachu · 27-01-2011, 02:10 PM

In Vic Vicroads is trying to take over the TMU, they are a lot harsher to drivers than TMU are.

sanchoXB · 27-01-2011, 02:15 PM

I thought as much, either an RTA bloke with a big head or an imposter. My mate does not know his Fords just that it was blue and looked about 10 years old, for all I know it could have been a BA shape. I think I would have told him to get back in his car and p*** off. Apparently the ID looked legit.

Just thought Id put it out there, you never know what new ways the RTA has thought of to get more money out of us. Cheers.

BENT_8 · 27-01-2011, 02:17 PM

Whilst im not sure about the details in this incident, i believe having transport inspectors cruising around with the ability to ping dodgy drivers is a fantastic idea.

Who hasnt seen some peanut acting the goat and thought 'wheres the police when they're needed'.
Fact is Police spend a good % of their time chasing criminals etc. so why not have a dedicated 'road rules' department keeping track of non compliant drivers.

Ben73 · 27-01-2011, 02:38 PM

I drive on this road daily. If an impersonator pulls me over i will do everything I can to get real cops on to him.
How did he know he was speeding if he was only going slightly faster

b2tf · 27-01-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sanchoXB

Has anyone heard of this happening? I did a search but couldnt find a thread about it.

A mate of mine was travelling on the New England Hwy (nsw) and overtook a semi trailer, while passing he was travelling a bit quicker than the limit. Next thing there was an AU ute behind him with red & blue lights flashing. He pulled over and a guy gets out of the ute just in thongs, shorts & tshirt and walked up to the car.

My mate asked for some ID and the guy shows him an RTA ID card. The bloke tells him that he is employed by the RTA and has the some authority as a police highway patrol officer. Apparently the only reason he couldnt write my friend a ticket was because he was out of uniform, so he tells him to take it easy and let him go.

Does anyone know about these guys? I have never heard of it in NSW.

That sounds very suspect and I would actually be advising police of the details of that.

RTA do patrol and they do have the power to pull up heavy vehicles on the roadside. They only use newer vehicles (around here they favour Falcon wagons and Nissan Navaras), they have maroon flashing lights (no other colours) and their vehicles are clearly marked.

b2tf · 27-01-2011, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Whilst im not sure about the details in this incident, i believe having transport inspectors cruising around with the ability to ping dodgy drivers is a fantastic idea.

Yes they're called 'Police'

Smoke Pursuit · 27-01-2011, 02:49 PM

Lol. Sounds very suspect to me.

The DOT up here run SV6 Utes with purple flashing lights, and the only people they really target are heavy vehicles (trucks). They also have authority to do roadside inspections on Taxi's.

Jim Goose · 27-01-2011, 02:57 PM

QLD transport officers are legally allowed to pull you over no matter what sorta car, truck you drive... Why would it be different in any other state?
As for blue and red, only police and emergency vehicles carry those lights.
Purple is used here in QLD for transport officers vehicles.

Brazen · 27-01-2011, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LTDHO

I highly doubr it was an RTA offica.

Firstly they don't use 'red and blue ' lights or AU's, or thongs, or BS excuses 'can't give ya a ticket as I'm out of uniform'.

You mate was pulled over by a poor example of an imposter.

The RTA does use red and blue lights.

Smoke Pursuit · 27-01-2011, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Goose

QLD transport officers are legally allowed to pull you over no matter what sorta car, truck you drive... Why would it be different in any other state?
As for blue and red, only police and emergency vehicles carry those lights.
Purple is used here in QLD for transport officers vehicles.

Ive never seen them pull up a car in my life??

FgNewbie · 27-01-2011, 03:52 PM

Any official markings on the car?
Otherwise I'd be reporting any available details.

I got pulled over by an unmarked car in suburbia. Driver out of uniform, I thought it was a detective (general duties were getting around in civvies too at the time) so I really thought I was done.

He flashed his badge too fast so my attitude changed.

The ****a was a customs officer apparently known to the boys in blue.

Jim Goose · 27-01-2011, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Ive never seen them pull up a car in my life??

They certainly do all over NTH QLD... and youve never been asked to pull over by one to go over the hand brake machine at a truck stop?

I have seen several pull over guys in modified cars over the years while driving around town.

platinumXR · 27-01-2011, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IAM58L

Rta officers do not have the same authority as a police officer. They can only stop heavy vehicles for inspections as they require police to pull over normal cars to inspect them. As for the ticket your mate didn't get one due to the rta inspector not being able to issue one. If your mate got the vehicle details make a complaint to the RTA about what happened and of course tell them that he was not exceeding the posted speed limit. Sounds like someone wishes he was a highway patrol coppa

Kinda, they do have similar authority (much like a Special Constable) to inspect any vehicle on the road and issue defects and the like...but cannot issue speeding tickets and do not have same powers as police. Though they do use red & blue, OR magenta.

No disrespect to your mate, and not knowing what the Inspector saw; but I'd say he thought whatever manouver he saw your mate conduct, he thought it was worthy having a word with him about it.

Sounds like he does wish he was Plod.

If you or your mate are concerned about legitimacy the just give the local Plod his rego etc. and let him explain his actions to them.

b2tf · 27-01-2011, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brazen

The RTA does use red and blue lights.

Since when? It actually states on the RTA website in the rules relating to warning lights and what colours can be used that they use maroon lights only.

platinumXR · 27-01-2011, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

Since when? It actually states on the RTA website in the rules relating to warning lights and what colours can be used that they use maroon lights only.

Certain 'higher ranking' and more official vehicles / Inspector types will use red & blue.

BENT_8 · 27-01-2011, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

Yes they're called 'Police'

Yes, but the 'Police' cant be around to watch over every road can they or we'd see another levy to help fund the extra officers/vehicles too.

If an RTA inspector see's you disobey a road rule whilst he is conducting his regular patrols, why shouldn't they be able to act on it.
They are trained to rule over 40t vehicles, im sure they can handle the odd passenger car.
And anyway, if you arent breaking any laws, whats the problem.

You hear these stories all the time...'but i was only speeding up to pass another vehicle'
Speeding is speeding, no excuses!

Ben73 · 27-01-2011, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Speeding is speeding, no excuses!

Yeah your right, even if you on wrong side of road passing, it doesn't matter.

If you have a head on at 100km/h oh well... as long as you obey the speed limit you will be right. But doing 10 over the limit OMG YOU EVIL PERSON

Ben73 · 27-01-2011, 06:29 PM

deleted