Faced court today for my driving offence plus possesion...

volcom20 · 22-05-2007, 10:30 PM

As in another thread I got my car impounded for a burnout (http://www.fordforums.com.au/showthread.php?t=97774 for more details) and today I went to court.

Got a good behaviour bond for carrying 1.8grams of canabis in the car (Stupid mistake, actually forgot it was there) and 400 dollar fine for carrying out a burnout...

My solicitor went up for me and went on about "Clearly out of character, has no other driving record. He's studying network administation and has worked for Mobile Computers here in Taree and is highly recommended. He took part in some spirited acceleration and is truely remorseful and glad noone was hurt".

Judge gave me a lecture, but I got off very lightly considering. My solicitor said I'd possably get 500 - 600 dollars for the possesion and up to 600 dollars for the burnout. - Maybe he just said that so he looked better at the end of the day, but anyway.

Now please dont contaminate this thread with "Hope you've learnt your lesson, you're an idiot". I've heard it from almost every member here and I've dealt with it already. I need no more advice, or I think my head will explode :P

Overall it was an expensive 15seconds.

One thing that got me though wes how over exagerated the police report was. They claimed I did a U turn (I didn't, I turned onto the road), claimed I sustained loss of traction for atleast 60meters (Try 30) and claimed they could hear tire noise (when they were 3 townsized blocks behind me, inside a car, and it was wet...)

Was going to plead not guilty for the burnout because all the facts were wrong to begin with, but I wanted to end it then and there. And at the end of the day I did do something similar, even if it was at half the scale of the police report.

I also got my car back. Alot closer than the court date, because it was rego'd in mother's name and I was told to write a letter to the Senior Commander of the area by an officer at the station the night it got impounded - Had it back in 4 days instead of three months. Still, it hasn't been driven much since, it's parked around the back and been stripped for a clean up.

I appreciate keeping my car tidy now :P Anyway, I'm going to wind this up because noone will bother reading it otherwise!

Force6 · 22-05-2007, 10:47 PM

Too bad the cops actually showed. Similar thing has happened to my brother twice and the cops just don't show up, and the case is dismissed.

I'm glad you've (hopefully) learnt your lesson in a fairly harmless manner and no one was hurt.

charles_wif_xf · 22-05-2007, 10:49 PM

The law in its current state is an a$$. That's all I am going to say on this.

**Polyal** · 22-05-2007, 10:51 PM

Your posts do puzzle me, TMI.....

volcom20 · 22-05-2007, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by charles_wif_xf

The law in its current state is an a$$. That's all I am going to say on this.

Agreed... I should have been let off _on the night_ with an warning...
But I can see some upsides - atleast my car wont have the *** flogged out of it anymore

No more ratteling diff noises or risking my auto box...

NudgE^SIKBRO · 22-05-2007, 11:05 PM

I will say nothing

volcom20 · 22-05-2007, 11:06 PM

Hrm, great guys. Let's not turn this into a "The current law" debate. It'll just get my thread closed and I'll be ****ed... Again...

This has nothing to do with the police, the laws the enforce or they way they go about it. All that is stated here are the current repecusions of the law, which anyone, even you can be charged for if you do the silly things I done - there's no disputing that. That's just the way it is. Want a change? Vote for another government.

**Polyal** · 22-05-2007, 11:08 PM

Can you explain why you felt the need to post this? Im struggling to see how it benefits the forums.

PHATXR8 · 22-05-2007, 11:09 PM

1.8 grams of weed, hey........that is a serious amount of drugs! Why do they even bother charging anyone for something so petty? Meanwhile in Kings Cross, the NSW Government funds a building for junkies to the tune of a couple of million $$$ a year to shoot up herion, speed or anything else they can get into a syringe (and they even give them the syringe!!).

[Tonko] · 22-05-2007, 11:10 PM

hmm, law system sucks in Oz...

volcom20 · 22-05-2007, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Can you explain why you felt the need to post this? Im struggling to see how it benefits the forums.

To show the costs and penilties for a first offence. Handed down by the court, not your local police man?

I dont know, is the fact that I also felt like it ok? Or not?

TUF.EB · 22-05-2007, 11:11 PM

Legend.

volcom20 · 22-05-2007, 11:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHATXR8

1.8 grams of weed, hey........that is a serious amount of drugs! Why do they even bother charging anyone for something so petty? Meanwhile in Kings Cross, the NSW Government funds a building for junkies to the tune of a couple of million $$$ a year to shoot up herion, speed or anything else they can get into a syringe (and they even give them the syringe!!).

I believe you're refering to the Methadon program, and I dont think they allow anyone to shoot up anything else there... Possably, but I thought the idea was to offer free methadon to get junkies off thier speed/ice/heroin...

mustang70 · 22-05-2007, 11:12 PM

i was invloved with an accident with some fool on a lambreta that didnt have his lights on (early evening,street lights on) so i didnt see him till the last minute and had already cut in front of him, he broke his leg, i was pretty shook up, cops come and ask what happen and write it up for me to sign, i look at it the next day- motorcycle travelling along road, motorcycle lights on...etc, they make it easier for themselves when it went to court, was pretty angry but wa advised it was better to plead guilty because i signed that statement,i had no money to fight it,dispite the fact that i was in shock somewhat and not thinking properly when i signed it. pricks,cost me alot of money and lost 4 points if i recall.
I'd say they were doig the same, making it more of a case.even if it involved stretching the truth a little, oh and "Hope you've learnt your lesson"

b2tf · 22-05-2007, 11:16 PM

:

MITCHAY · 22-05-2007, 11:18 PM

You are able to dispute the Statement of Facts if you believe they are not correct as far as I'm aware. My brother has done that plenty of times.

tjb45 · 23-05-2007, 12:06 AM

Simular thing happened to me, No doubt I did a small burn out (no smoke or marks), maybe 10 meters around a corner, but the cops statement was so false it wasn't funny. His statement was along the lines of revved up engine, then sped around the corner causing the rear wheels to spin for about 100 meters that it caused so much smoke it obscured his vision.
I had three people in the car with me, and my brother was also in his car behind me. We all wrote up our statements, I took photos of the said corner which had no burn out marks what so ever, and refused to sign the cops statement. After seeing two lawyers I was convinced just to plead guilt.
Come court day I spoke to the cop that wrote the statement and explained the statements I had collected and the photo evident I took. He then changed his statement to what actually happened, "I accelerated quickly around the corner causing the rear wheel to squeal."
After his statement read correct I was happy to plead guilt to careless driving.
I would never dispute what I did, but the fact that I had to waste a day of work at court and pay my lawyer $500 because of a cops fictional statement ****es me off.
It makes you wonder a bit what right you actually do have.

Nate07 · 23-05-2007, 07:57 AM

As far as I'm concerned, you got what you deserved.

all4ford · 23-05-2007, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by volcom20

I believe you're refering to the Methadon program, and I dont think they allow anyone to shoot up anything else there... Possably, but I thought the idea was to offer free methadon to get junkies off thier speed/ice/heroin...

Nah, he is talking about a legal injecting room where junkies are legally allowed to go and shoot whatever drugs (mostly heroin) up their arms in the safety of trained medical staff. Its pathetic!! Methadon program has been around for years and its just as bad. The only good thing is it stops junkies robbing people to pay for drugs, they just get it free, albeit they're still as drugged up out of their minds. Anyway back on topic.

Tough break really, you should of just been given a warning, copper must of been having a bad day.

Ringo · 23-05-2007, 08:15 AM

So in the end have you still got a license ???

mcflux · 23-05-2007, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

Can you explain why you felt the need to post this? Im struggling to see how it benefits the forums.

FORD3V · 23-05-2007, 08:56 AM

Why do people have so much trouble understanding that we have laws in this country, and if you break them and get caught you will be punished?
Im not refering to the thread starter but many of the responses.
Maybe some of them didnt realise that possesion of a drug of dependance was a crime........?

pHaT`eL · 23-05-2007, 09:18 AM

lol @ "spirited acceleration"

Unco · 23-05-2007, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mustang70

i was invloved with an accident with some fool on a lambreta that didnt have his lights on (early evening,street lights on) so i didnt see him till the last minute and had already cut in front of him, he broke his leg, i was pretty shook up, cops come and ask what happen and write it up for me to sign, i look at it the next day- motorcycle travelling along road, motorcycle lights on...etc, they make it easier for themselves when it went to court, was pretty angry but wa advised it was better to plead guilty because i signed that statement,i had no money to fight it,dispite the fact that i was in shock somewhat and not thinking properly when i signed it. pricks,cost me alot of money and lost 4 points if i recall.
I'd say they were doig the same, making it more of a case.even if it involved stretching the truth a little, oh and "Hope you've learnt your lesson"

NEVER sign anything without carefully reading it a couple of times. a lot of people tend to sign their life away. i'll sit there and read through the whole thing twice if i have to, i don't care if it's taking up their time or not.

Wokkas · 23-05-2007, 10:50 AM

Bloody hell mate, if the cops find us with weed here in SA, they smoke it with you...

Choca · 23-05-2007, 11:05 AM

I love when people whinge about people doing burnouts and "getting what they deserve" this is a car forum I am almost certain that 99% of you guys have smoked them up before, on public roads. This poor fool unfortunatly got caught, so he without spirited accelation cast the first stone

Thank you for your post, I now have some idea on what happens to those that get caught.

Ridin-High · 23-05-2007, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Choca

I love when people whinge about people doing burnouts and "getting what they deserve" this is a car forum I am almost certain that 99% of you guys have smoked them up before, on public roads. This poor fool unfortunatly got caught, so he without spirited accelation cast the first stone

Thank you for your post, I now have some idea on what happens to those that get caught.

Amen to that!

And for the other people saying why post this!@!@@@OMFG1111ONE1!!!

Heaps of people post their life experiences on here, i think its a good thing, might help others out in the future

GRNKPR · 23-05-2007, 11:44 AM

drugs are KOOL okay !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4.9 EF Futura · 23-05-2007, 11:52 AM

Wow, you get that size a fine for posession of $30 of weed???!! Certainly not worth it!!!

Although the fines etc you have copped dont sound toooo bad, im guessing there's been a lot of time and a lot of effort exerted in going through the process.

xe351 · 23-05-2007, 01:14 PM

why waste your money on weed? spend it on the car. I have no problem with drug laws being enforced