Police officer suspended for reducing fines

[minux]

Cop suspended 'for reducing fines'







August 27, 2008

A VICTORIAN police officer has been suspended on full pay with reports the officer had reduced speeding fines and recorded cars as going slower than they actually were.
The suspension was confirmed by Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon on Fairfax radio this morning but she would not comment on the reports of fine tampering.

"We are investigating a matter which relates to a police officer and I guess my point at this stage is we are investigating and I think various people are speculating at what it is. But we've had concerns about his behaviour and we are investigating that," Ms Nixon confirmed.

It's claimed the charges the police officer may face are perverting the course of justice and falsifying documents.

Ms Nixon said police were talking to the Director of Public Prosecutions about what charges may be laid, if any.

She refused to say how the investigation came about, other than to say information came from "a number of sources".

An investigation into the officer had been going on for "some time now", Ms Nixon said, but declined to say for how long.

The Ethical Standards Department carried out the investigation.

"We have a variety of ways we conduct investigations ... we're comfortable with the way we are investigating that.

"There's a whole variety of ways we find out about officers behaving badly. Our Ethical Standards Department does an outstanding job."

But she said officers did have discretion when pulling people over for speeding.

"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."

The officer has not been named at this stage.

"People have a right to some privacy in policing, while we investigate the matter."

If charges are laid, the police will publicly name those charges and the case will go before the court, Ms Nixon said

It is a pity the Police force in Vic has become a business. Police like this are a rare breed. We should be celebrating this guy for having the deceny to offer people the second chance to not screw up again. It seems people liek this are punished harder than the ones who are corrupt and take bribes etc.

It is a complete ****ing joke, it also doesn't help that the current commisioner is a fat bitch who really needs to get laid.

For me, I support this officer 110% and we need more like this. Thanks to the Vic Police commissioner for proving that all you care about is raising revenue. What a ****ing joke.

[1991_Vn2nV]

What I wanna know is, who were the pricks that dobbed him in?

[azkwazere]

woohhh...Hold Up!

Firstly, its wasnt just the fines it was also other behaviour related matters aswell...

secondly...

He was being dodgy! If something sucks, you fight it properly, follow appropraite channels or your leave. You dont do a dodgy and expect to get away with it. Its simple.

He was breaking the law and he got busted. He deserves it... so what, people shouldnt be speeding. Cant drive the speed limit?

Dont drive.

We have a second chance system... its called "points"... you get 12. On a 3 point fine system, thats 4 chances. How many do you really need?

aZk.

[Julie]

This sort of thing is common from what I have heard, I know plenty of people who have been booked and got a nice copper who would record them going at a lower speed. Its not uncommon for cops that may book you for doing 17k over to decrease it to 15k and under if you are polite and have a good attitude. Well thats what I have been told from family and friends anyway, I wouldn't know I haven't been booked

I think this is pretty pathetic and petty and they should just stfu and let the copper get on with his job.

[1991_Vn2nV]

woohhh...Hold Up!

Firstly, its wasnt just the fines it was also other behaviour related matters aswell...

secondly...

He was being dodgy! If something sucks, you fight it properly, follow appropraite channels or your leave. You dont do a dodgy and expect to get away with it. Its simple.

He was breaking the law and he got busted. He deserves it... so what, people shouldnt be speeding. Cant drive the speed limit?

Dont drive.

We have a second chance system... its called "points"... you get 12. On a 3 point fine system, thats 4 chances. How many do you really need?

aZk.

The behaviour they are investigating is him showing discretion mate. All he did was reduce the speed on the infringement notice, is that really that bad?

He wasn't completely letting people off. He is being suspended because the government lost a little bit of revenue.

[1991_Vn2nV]

Sitting around with a speed gun isn't what the police should be spending all their time on anyway. He is booking people and fining them and giving them a chance to grow up and act accordingly. He should be out there doing what police should. Now its one less policeman on the road for the community.

On a saturday night in adelaide, sometimes the large police station near us has just 2 cars patrolling an area that runs about 50km in one direction, whilst 7 or 8 cars are sitting at an RBT. If a place is robbed or people get held up or someone is stabbed, they have to wait because the two patrol cars are so far behind whilst a 7 or 8 cars are sitting doing random breath testing.

I have nothing wrong with RBT's, but the fact of the matter is.. The police can justify having 7-8 cars on to do an RBT which will raise revenue, but they can only justify 2 patrol cars to protect and serve the rest of the community?

The Police Force is a business now and its a load of crap.

[Farlig]

Sitting around with a speed gun isn't what the police should be spending all their time on anyway. He is booking people and fining them and giving them a chance to grow up and act accordingly. He should be out there doing what police should. Now its one less policeman on the road for the community.

On a saturday night in adelaide, sometimes the large police station near us has just 2 cars patrolling an area that runs about 50km in one direction, whilst 7 or 8 cars are sitting at an RBT. If a place is robbed or people get held up or someone is stabbed, they have to wait because the two patrol cars are so far behind whilst a 7 or 8 cars are sitting doing random breath testing.

I have nothing wrong with RBT's, but the fact of the matter is.. The police can justify having 7-8 cars on to do an RBT which will raise revenue, but they can only justify 2 patrol cars to protect and serve the rest of the community?

The Police Force is a business now and its a load of crap.

the more rbt/rdt the better!

the amount of carnage on the streets from ****ing drunks is shocking! since when did doing 10km over the "limit" become a greater crime then a drunk running a light and killing someone?, the amount of times i have seen people leave a pub driving drunk, then returning the next week to brag about how they wrote their car off the previous weekend omg they better hope they dont hurt anyone i care about, or they will be 6ft under thats for sure.

[DavoVP]

Ive had nice cops like that, and ive allso had some absolute pricks that ****ed me over any which way they could. Its all down to the officer and your attitude.

[1991_Vn2nV]

the more rbt/rdt the better!

the amount of carnage on the streets from ****ing drunks is shocking! since when did doing 10km over the "limit" become a greater crime then a drunk running a light and killing someone?, the amount of times i have seen people leave a pub driving drunk, then returning the next week to brag about how they wrote their car off the previous weekend omg they better hope they dont hurt anyone i care about, or they will be 6ft under thats for sure.

I agree and as I said, nothing against RBT's here. But it shows the importance of revenue when they can justify 7-8 cars on an RBT but only 2 cars patrolling from outside the CBD all the way to gumeracha in the hills on some nights.

[SAV_117]

i got done for my arm out the window yes my arm was a 112 dollar fine and lost three demerit points and all i was doing is pointing to tell my mate who was driving behind me to turn right wtf the cop was a ******** than when he saw my license p plater his face straight away changed starts looking up at my car his like were are your p plates im like im on P 2's it says it on the license i dont need p plates and than his like oh really and he went to ask another cop now tell me that wasnt ****ed.

[Reaper]

The behaviour they are investigating is him showing discretion mate. All he did was reduce the speed on the infringement notice, is that really that bad?

He wasn't completely letting people off. He is being suspended because the government lost a little bit of revenue.

The full facts are yet to come out so saying that he was or wasn't doing anything is a bit premature. In general terms discression is/was/and (hopefully) allways will be part of policing. I'm sure there is something more to this that hasn't been made public as yet.

Reaper

[minux]

Reaper, if it turns out that all he did was use "his discretionary powers" then I think it is a joke. If he was taking bribes etc, different story. How the story is written, it is plain wrong to suspend this guy. Hoon laws allow discretionary powers, yet when it comes to raising revenue for giving someone a chance on keeping their licence, god forbid it is all wrong.

As I said, it is a shame the police force has become a business.

[ProphetVX]

The behaviour they are investigating is him showing discretion mate. All he did was reduce the speed on the infringement notice, is that really that bad?

He wasn't completely letting people off. He is being suspended because the government lost a little bit of revenue.

Well that would depend on the severity of his actions wouldn't it? If he's shaving off a km or two on the fines, which is common practice perhaps. But if he's letting people go when they are over 10kmh beyond the fine he gives them, then he clearly needs to be stopped.

askwazere is right, we have a 2nd chance system in points, if you speed and get caught, you deserve to lose the appropriate amount, everyone knows the laws. I lost my license a while ago, I learnt my lesson, and I never go even 1 or 2km over the speed limit these days, its just not worth the risk. Getting caught at a speed and getting a smaller fine and less points won't teach many people on our roads, all it does is give them more opportunity to continue their ways.

[Reaper]

Reaper, if it turns out that all he did was use "his discretionary powers" then I think it is a joke. If he was taking bribes etc, different story. How the story is written, it is plain wrong to suspend this guy. Hoon laws allow discretionary powers, yet when it comes to raising revenue for giving someone a chance on keeping their licence, god forbid it is all wrong.

As I said, it is a shame the police force has become a business.

For sure - I totally agree. Can't help thinking there is a lot more behind this than what is public at this stage.

Reaper

[minux]

Well that would depend on the severity of his actions wouldn't it? If he's shaving off a km or two on the fines, which is common practice perhaps. But if he's letting people go when they are over 10kmh beyond the fine he gives them, then he clearly needs to be stopped.

askwazere is right, we have a 2nd chance system in points, if you speed and get caught, you deserve to lose the appropriate amount, everyone knows the laws. I lost my license a while ago, I learnt my lesson, and I never go even 1 or 2km over the speed limit these days, its just not worth the risk. Getting caught at a speed and getting a smaller fine and less points won't teach many people on our roads, all it does is give them more opportunity to continue their ways.

Did you watch the news report? The area where all the fines were let off were down quite a steep descent. Seriously, I cant believe how many people are becoming conditioned to the media hype lol. While I do not condone speeding, since when is it a primary factor in car accidents? It is rarely speed itself that is the cause of an accident, less than 2 weeks ago it was proven that driver concentration IS the biggest factor of all accidents.

[minux]

Sorry, the point I am trying to make, is there are far more important things to worry about than an officer using his discretion. It seems it is getting to the stage where speeding is a bigger concern to the government and police than people who are beating the **** out of others, people who are stealing ****, people who rape women etc.

[TVR-190]

i thought police werent allowed to set up radar at bottom of a steep decent, Maybe it depends on state.

[ProphetVX]

Did you watch the news report? The area where all the fines were let off were down quite a steep descent. Seriously, I cant believe how many people are becoming conditioned to the media hype lol. While I do not condone speeding, since when is it a primary factor in car accidents? It is rarely speed itself that is the cause of an accident, less than 2 weeks ago it was proven that driver concentration IS the biggest factor of all accidents.

No I havent watched the media report, I live in NSW. I only read what you posted. And there is nothing said about the severity of the let-offs. My post was pertaining to larger let-offs, not minor infractions. And yes you're right speeding isn't attributed to most accidents, but it does increase it's severity should there be an accident. Not only is it the speeding drivers responsibility to concentrate, but also those around them that could get in the way and cause an accident.

Irrespective of the obvious cash loss to govt, which is clearly the main driver behind the suspension. You break the law, you cop the punishment, irrespective of how insignificant it may appear to you or I. When cops contravene this, it sends out the wrong message to many road users (obviously depending on the size of the let off). I feel sorry for the bloke if he got caught shaving off 1 or 2kms, but not if he was doing 10+ regularly.

In NSW if the radar was placed on a bend or hill it is grounds for immediate appeal

[minux]

No I havent watched the media report, I live in NSW. I only read what you posted. And there is nothing said about the severity of the let-offs. My post was pertaining to larger let-offs, not minor infractions. And yes you're right speeding isn't attributed to most accidents, but it does increase it's severity should there be an accident. Not only is it the speeding drivers responsibility to concentrate, but also those around them that could get in the way and cause an accident.

Irrespective of the obvious cash loss to govt, which is clearly the main driver behind the suspension. You break the law, you cop the punishment, irrespective of how insignificant it may appear to you or I. When cops contravene this, it sends out the wrong message to many road users (obviously depending on the size of the let off). I feel sorry for the bloke if he got caught shaving off 1 or 2kms, but not if he was doing 10+ regularly.

In NSW if the radar was placed on a bend or hill it is grounds for immediate appeal

Actually it clearly states that officer discretion may be used. Since when has this discretion been thrown out the door? It seems that there is no issue allowing full officer discretion when it comes to hooning or adds extra $ to the Police bank account, but when its removing $ from that police account its all wrong.

[ProphetVX]

Actually it clearly states that officer discretion may be used. Since when has this discretion been thrown out the door? It seems that there is no issue allowing full officer discretion when it comes to hooning or adds extra $ to the Police bank account, but when its removing $ from that police account its all wrong.

That depends if the officer's discretion is deemed reasonable or not. ie a guy 45kmh over the limit but getting a warning is clearly not reasonable discretion.

Do you know how much the infractions were reduced by? Or just because a cop was being a perceived good samaritan because he let off a few people without knowing the full details, its all obviously just a huge grab for cash?

Police are there to uphold the law, if they do not do it within reasonable margins then it sends out the wrong message to the public.

I'm not making any judgement until all the full details are released. I'm just saying if he just wasn't shaving off a nominal amount of km's, then he deserves to be suspended.

[minux]

That depends if the officer's discretion is deemed reasonable or not. ie a guy 45kmh over the limit but getting a warning is clearly not reasonable discretion.

Do you know how much the infractions were reduced by? Or just because a cop was being a perceived good samaritan because he let off a few people without knowing the full details, its all obviously just a huge grab for cash?

Police are there to uphold the law, if they do not do it within reasonable margins then it sends out the wrong message to the public.

I'm not making any judgement until all the full details are released. I'm just saying if he just wasn't shaving off a nominal amount of km's, then he deserves to be suspended.

Fines were still issued from my understanding, a few k's were shaved either way to drop a limit or to bring it back from loss of licence. Really no different to my old country days of the local copper dropping off .01 off a breatho reading etc.

Honestly what this officer has done for what WE KNOW is nothing. How about the judge that let that black bastard off with nothing for breaking into an old womans house and beating her within an inch of death? How about the pedo's who have got off with nothing but a slap on the wrist? Seriously, what this police officer did has nothing on what people get away with these days.

[ProphetVX]

Fines were still issued from my understanding, a few k's were shaved either way to drop a limit or to bring it back from loss of licence. Really no different to my old country days of the local copper dropping off .01 off a breatho reading etc.

Honestly what this officer has done for what WE KNOW is nothing. How about the judge that let that black bastard off with nothing for breaking into an old womans house and beating her within an inch of death? How about the pedo's who have got off with nothing but a slap on the wrist? Seriously, what this police officer did has nothing on what people get away with these days.

There is no details available as to how many km's he shaved off. Based on that report and what you've just said there. So what you're assuming is that it was a small amount. What this officer for WHAT WE KNOW could have been taking off 20km's, who knows, I don't. Without stating how many km's have been taken off on various incidents, you cannot say with certainty what was or wasn't reasonable, you're making assumptions that the government is making a grab for cash.

Yes our system is screwed up with incidents like you just said, but they have absolutely no relevance to this.

Definitely could just be the governments desperate grab for more cash, but it could also be a matter of great negligence by the officer. Until it's played out in the courts, no one will know.

[feistl]

Basically they have screwed him for being kind.

Its officers like that who make me actually want to follow the rules and be a safe driver. Instead there are so many pricks who pull P platers over just because they have nice cars.

To hell with the damn system. Did you read the report RACV (pretty sure it was them) which showed that more accidents are caused from drivers not concentrating than drink driving, speed and fatigue COMBINED???

So basically doing 70 in a 60 zone but watching is safer than doing 60 but putting make up on, smoking, fiddling with the radio etc etc.

The whole damn thing sucks. To that decent cop.... all cops should be like you. God i hope that fat bitch gets run over by someone doing the speed limit (but not paying attention).

Argh **** like this makes me feel like we live in the US.

[VicCop]

Compare this situation to another one:

Motorist is seen smoking up his back wheels at a set of lights, then takes off. Is pulled over down the road and is looking at an immediate impound.

Driver blows and indicates alcohol in his breath. Back at the station he blows well over and is off the road for six months. Exercising discretion, the police decide not to bother with the impound and improper use charges and issue a ticket for .05 disqualifying him from driving for six months.

Can anyone see the difference? The above situation is a real one I have had before.

[minux]

Compare this situation to another one:

Motorist is seen smoking up his back wheels at a set of lights, then takes off. Is pulled over down the road and is looking at an immediate impound.

Driver blows and indicates alcohol in his breath. Back at the station he blows well over and is off the road for six months. Exercising discretion, the police decide not to bother with the impound and improper use charges and issue a ticket for .05 disqualifying him from driving for six months.

Can anyone see the difference? The above situation is a real one I have had before.

Man, I hope you get suspended for that, fancy using your discretion and not impounding the car also.