Ask The Copper

I could change his name to that................ :rofl: :rofl:wife wouldn't let me..so I added it to his sig.......

 

I don't know if it would be an effective weapon or not... Anything can be fashioned inot a weapon. For crying out loud people have been murdered with ice cubes. I was involved in an attempt murder investigation where the weapon was a philips head screwdriver that had been stashed in the freezer, the guy later admitted that he probably shoud have used a flat head instead(what the?)...

I just think this whole subject is a bit COLD for my liking

 

That used to be one of those "stupid test" riddles. And I've heard about stabbing someone with an ice knife also.. maybe from a movie? There'd prolly be a way to find out, like where the wound is, bits and pieces being slightly frozen, as body warmth disipates and bits of flesh harden? Who knows..

But a question that wasn't answered before..
In Victoria, when do Police have the right to search a vehicle? I was stopped at a massive thing on the way to balarat, closed down the whole highway. Booze bus, etc etc. Random searches on some cars. I asked the officer if it was a "P Plate search" ? They assured me it wasn't. They searched, found nothing and I was on my way. But are they allowed to do that? What about my right to privacy?

 

ok i have a question that i need to be answered asap!! is there any law regarding sleeping in your car in a carpark or something???? somebody told me this was illegal. im going camping tomorrow with some friends, but every site is pretty much booked out, so if we cant find a place, this will be what we need to do

thanks in advance

Dainen

 

probably no need to talk about this one! bad memories eh?

It just seemed to be an mad idea to my sadistic brain!

sorry to any for offence this may have caused... I am not the psychopathic cabbie...

 

Also another question regarding vehicle emmisions...

I saw on TV show a device the Police over in America use to catch unroadworthy cars, it was a smog camera. Apparently it can measure the exhuast emmisions of a passing vehicle to check if it conforms to vehicle design standards.

Is it likely that such a device may be introduced in Australia ?

I for one reckon it would be a good idea to get these smog boxes off the road...

And why is it diesel trucks and buses can spew black soot everywhere when they accelerate ? I really am sick of driving along and having to check my vents are closed everytime I pass one...I'd really hate to be a pedestrian as one accelerates past!

 

I don't know how the Transport Authority in South Australia operates. In Queensland members of the public can report smokey vehicles directly to Queensland Transport.

There is a form that you can fill out and either and e-mail or fax it back. If several complaints are made then the registered owner gets directed to produce the vehicle for inspection. If the vehicle fails the inspection the owners are given 14 days to rectify the problem/s and produce again or to provide proof that the vehicles been de-commissioned.

This is the link for Qld. Victorian Road Dept should have something similar.

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/qt/eForms.nsf/F3096E

 

Well in Vic a Police Member can search your vehcile if the pull you up.

The same as they can pull you up just to see if you are carrying your licence, regardless if you were doing anything wrong.

 

yeah thats the exact reason i was getting confused! the damn powernaps...


thanks for the answer

 

Helly, I agree!

IMHO, there may be a subtle message here.

Many years ago, I spent an uncomfortable half day in front of the coroner. This inquiry related to an aircraft accident with multiple fatalities.

In summary, the pilot had conducted a manoeuvre that at least most pilots on type considered to be dangerous.

A question (of many) was put to me, "Why doesn't the aircraft flight manual forbid this manoeuvre?"

My response was that the flight manual correctly provided direction on what you could do. It was not the appropriate source for a list of "do not do's". If direction is focussed on the negative, then eventually the mindset can become, "If it is not on the forbidden list, then it must be OK". After all, I have never seen a flight manual that forbids flying your aircraft into the World Trade Center in New York. Must be OK?

After a little pain in life, I have come to the point where I seek confirmation for something before acting. IMHO, basing life on believing something to be right unless or until it is proven wrong or illegal is not a recipe for long term success.

 

Speed Measurement

I’d like some feedback on the issue of speed measurement.
In Vic & NSW (and possibly other states), they now have a 3km/h tolerance when measuring speed. Current ADR’s still stipulate the cars speedometer must be accurate to within 10%. I know the speedo in most modern cars is considerably more accurate than 10% but we still have old cars on our roads which can be anything up to 10% out and still be roadworthy.
In a worst case scenario, a vehicle could be travelling at 121km/h in a 110 zone and the speedo would be showing 110km/h with the driver thinking he/she is sticking to the speed limit when in fact they’re not. In theory, this person could be pulled over and booked at 114km/h when their Speedo would be showing 104.
I’m not sure what would happen if the above example were challenged in court, as I’m sure there’s plenty of people who have been booked for speeding when they honestly believed they weren’t. Considering something like 93% of speeding fines (ABS stats) issued are for speeds less than 10k’s over the posted limit I would imagine the above scenario happens quite frequently.
I’m aware ignorance is no excuse but does this now mean we need to ensure our Speedo’s are more accurate than the 10% ADR/Roadworthy tolerance, and how do we account for tyre wear, manufacturing tolerances in tyres and variations between tyre manufacturers?

 

Good Question.

Being technically minded, I have always checked the accuracy of both my odometer and my speedo. When changing tyres, I always recheck.

Now days, I am lazy, and use the GPS speed readout as a check.

I can remember back in the 1970's, WA Police started using aircraft via timing cars between lines painted on the road. To prove the validity of the system, they were booking people at 104 in a 100 zone. Sure enough, someone challenged a fine in court, and the fine was upheld.

From memory, the basis for the court's finding was that the speed limit was a defined speed, and not a reading on a speedo. The onus was on the driver to remain within the speed limit.

It might not seem fair with ADR's allowing + or - 10% for a speedo. However, my experience has been that manufacturers if anything have their speedo's over read. I have had many cars. None have under read - that goes for road tests that I have read as well. One was very close to over reading the allowable 10%.

PS - I have heard a rumour that a margin is built into the radars so that the speed recorded has taken a margin of speedo error into consideration. However, I am not in the police force, so I would not take my word as Gospel.

 

There is no margin of error allowed for in radar readings. The silver eagle radar calibrated at the start of each shift using a testing tool. The driver gets the exact speed on the readout and has to take into consideration anumber of other factors before deciding if the reading is acceptable, like time that the reading is held for, clear line of sight, other vehicle's in the range of the radar and driections of travel.

Fekason is right, in the mojority of cases cars speedo's read over, so you are going slower than your speedo says. My speedo was calibrated digitally and is still 2 k's out, but at least its over. Police (in NSW) allow for 3 k's, the 10 percent thing is not used. Think about it, that mehtod would actually allow more tolerance the higher the speed you are travelling... And that's just not promoting people from staying at the speed limits is it?

That whole idea is actually saying that its ok to speed on the highway, but you can't accidetally creep over the limit in a 60 zone cos you'll get hammered...

Its 3 k's leeway from what the radar says, and from there its up to the discretion of the officer...

So, you shouldn't get a ticket for 102 in a 100 zone... The officer would have some issues, other than the something jammed up his ars#!!!

But 104, becomes up to the officer. That's the basics of it... Its not an argument as to whether your speedo is accurate its whether or not your speeding, andf just cos you didn't know, for whatever reason is unfortunately not a defense, but I'd listen...

 

Say if you got a roadworthy done at south queensland and three weeks later moved to north queensland is that roadworthy certifficate still good to get the rego done or do you need a new roadworthy certificate ???

 

It would say on the certifiacte that it is only valid until a certain date...

As long as you are in the same state and still within the date on the certificate it will be ok.

I think from memory that its 14 days in NSW (anyone feel free to correct me as I haven't been required to do one for about 7 years)...

 

i think safety certificates in Qld are current for 2 months or 2000 ks.
so if its in that timeframe it should be ok

but i don't think you can drive all over the state with just a safety certificate.
you have to get 3rd party insurance & take the car to the nearest transport dept if the car is unregistered.

 

Yeah what Greengopher said, he's right 2 months or 2000km's. You'll also need an unregistered vehicle permit, if you are gunna drive it from Sth QLD to Nth QLD before you actually register it, if we are understanding you correctly...

Try this link http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/qt/LTASinfo.nsf/index/registration_motorvehicles_motorbikes

 

Fog lights on during the day

Hey Mr Policeman. :cops:

Hope you'll get back to me after all those others have given you so much sh!t, but I've got a serious question.

I was once pulled over for having my fog lights on during the day. I didnt even realise they were on - I'd just come out of an underground carpark. Anyhow, the officer just gave me a warning and said its a $75 (or something) fine in future.

Is it really illeagal to have your fog lights on during the day??

If so, WHY????? :b:

I can't think of any good reason for it... :ranting:

Sorry all, I just saw that BOGANV8 has already askes the exact same question.
Still wouldnt mind a decent answer from a copper though...

 

Its illegal at night too...

The only time you are allowed to use fog lights is when there is a weather related impairment of vision.

Each state or territory has its own wording but they are essentially all the same...

For an actual reason as to why you can't, other than the rules SAY you can't, I don't know. But I personally think they should just be covered under the highbeam rules, that would be much simpler and more realistic.

The other issue is that most fog lights are in fact NOT fog lights at all, when using the definition provided under the related state/territory legislations. Anyway thats a whole other can of worms...

Basically don't use them unless its raining heavily or foggy and you'll be sweet