Flee, hit and run

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Rikkitic

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#208180 30-Jan-2017 16:32

There seem to several items in the news recently about drivers refusing to stop for the police and also not stopping after hitting someone, sometimes while being pursued by the police. In one recent instance, the offender died in an accident he caused. He also injured five other people.

As someone who embraces progressive political views, I am not normally a fan of more prison sentences but I am prepared to make an exception for this. It is selfish, stupid, cowardly, self-centered behaviour of the worst kind and I think this is at least one area where draconian punishments might be justified. Maybe prison, maybe truly onerous home detention, maybe something else, but anyone who is caught not stopping for the police, or fleeing after hitting someone, needs to have the book thrown at them. These anti-social imbeciles must be hammered until the message gets through. They need to understand that if they do a runner, they will suffer severe and long-lasting consequences. Also anyone in the car with them. Passengers also have a responsibility, just as they do with drunks. Scream at the idiot until he stops, or don't get in the car in the first place. This kind of behaviour can no longer be tolerated.

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#1712896 30-Jan-2017 16:45

I suspect the incentive to flee is the existing punishments for many minor transgressions are excessively punitive. Perhaps that could be addressed first.

frankv

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#1712897 30-Jan-2017 16:45

Whilst I tend to agree, the problem I see is that more onerous punishments increases the incentive to attempt to escape, and therefore the risks someone would take.

scuwp

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#1712911 30-Jan-2017 16:57

No law enforcement agency in the world has managed to solve this problem. At least NZ is at least moving away from blaming the police and more towards the offending driver. I like the idea of technology solutions, some kind of system that disables the fleeing car. I fear the feral's that do this will not change their ways with more punitive outcomes. Summary execution might do the trick however

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

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#1712929 30-Jan-2017 17:21

It's time that a bit of public naming and shaming happens, after been found guilty part of the sentence should include photo's, names and addresses published so we all know who to steer clear of.

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#1712930 30-Jan-2017 17:29

gregmcc:
It's time that a bit of public naming and shaming happens, after been found guilty part of the sentence should include photo's, names and addresses published so we all know who to steer clear of.

Correct and if caught driving a vehicle while suspended it's crushed no questions

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Rikkitic

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#1712935 30-Jan-2017 17:50

Why not if you hit someone and don't stop it's assault with a deadly weapon?

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blakamin

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#1712972 30-Jan-2017 21:00

Actually, the reason they run is because even if they get caught, all they get is a slap on the wrist. So they take the risk.

Watch any Oz or NZ cop show and see the results of their court appearance.

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gzt

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#1712978 30-Jan-2017 21:15

Rikkitic:
There seem to several items in the news recently about drivers refusing to stop for the police and also not stopping after hitting someone, sometimes while being pursued by the police. In one recent instance, the offender died in an accident he caused. He also injured five other people.

I'd suggest you link to those instances so we can have an informed discussion about specific cases. Off the top of my head that doesn't strike me as a person who would be influenced by length of a sentence.

As someone who embraces progressive political views, I am not normally a fan of more prison sentences but I am prepared to make an exception for this. It is selfish, stupid, cowardly, self-centered behaviour of the worst kind and I think this is at least one area where draconian punishments might be justified. Maybe prison, maybe truly onerous home detention, maybe something else, but anyone who is caught not stopping for the police, or fleeing after hitting someone, needs to have the book thrown at them.

Have you studied the penalties available and applied to this crime in NZ? Probably not.

These anti-social imbeciles must be hammered until the message gets through. They need to understand that if they do a runner, they will suffer severe and long-lasting consequences. Also anyone in the car with them. Passengers also have a responsibility, just as they do with drunks. Scream at the idiot until he stops, or don't get in the car in the first place. This kind of behaviour can no longer be tolerated.

This behaviour is not tolerated. Passengers? I've no idea how you would make that stick in the way that you appear to want to.

tdgeek

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#1713019 30-Jan-2017 22:39

cadman:
I suspect the incentive to flee is the existing punishments for many minor transgressions are excessively punitive. Perhaps that could be addressed first.

They know the police will cease the pursuit if it endangers the public

richms

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#1713033 30-Jan-2017 23:13

How about this?

Ah crap, its eating my embed.... try this

https://www.facebook.com/uniladmag/videos/2442034842486227/

Richard rich.ms

Rikkitic

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#1713036 30-Jan-2017 23:24

gzt:

I'd suggest you link to those instances so we can have an informed discussion about specific cases. Off the top of my head that doesn't strike me as a person who would be influenced by length of a sentence.

I don't usually collect links to everything I read. I can recall several instances, maybe a half-dozen or more, over the last year or so, of people either fleeing police or taking off after hitting someone. At least a couple of these hit and runs have been fatal. The accumulation of such incidents over time makes me feel I ought to say something about it, but I can't remember every specific item in detail, just that they occurred. Apart from that, the reports often don't add much information. Here is a link that references the crash in which the culprit died, as well as several others:

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/323322/fatal-police-pursuit-crash-victim-identified,-driver-named

Have you studied the penalties available and applied to this crime in NZ? Probably not.

Every time there is a media report on any crime, it is usually accompanied by a breathless exclamation of the maximum penalty that can be applied. In practice, I am not aware of anyone ever receiving the maximum penalty, or anything close to it, for any transgression. Isn't that what the Three Strikes legislation is supposed to address? Maximum penalties are a joke.

This behaviour is not tolerated. Passengers? I've no idea how you would make that stick in the way that you appear to want to.

Passengers should be made to bear a degree of criminal liability when a driver flees the police. This might incentivise them to encourage the driver to pull over.

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gzt

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#1713053 31-Jan-2017 07:07

Every time there is a media report on any crime, it is usually accompanied by a breathless exclamation of the maximum penalty that can be applied.

The report you linked to above does not contain this information.

Wheelbarrow01

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#1713068 31-Jan-2017 08:13

tdgeek:
cadman:

I suspect the incentive to flee is the existing punishments for many minor transgressions are excessively punitive. Perhaps that could be addressed first.

They know the police will cease the pursuit if it endangers the public

Yes, this is precisely why they do it IMHO. It really makes no difference what the punishment is when they know that they only have to flee for 30 seconds before the Police give up.

Unfortunately our roads are not freeway-like enough for our Police to be able to perform PIT maneuvers on fleeing vehicles safely, although I really wish they could because it would sort a lot of these d*ckheads out.

Coil

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#1713069 31-Jan-2017 08:18

The sad thing is, Most people if hit a cat or dog would get out and address the situation.

tdgeek

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#1713070 31-Jan-2017 08:19

Wheelbarrow01:

tdgeek:
cadman:

I suspect the incentive to flee is the existing punishments for many minor transgressions are excessively punitive. Perhaps that could be addressed first.

They know the police will cease the pursuit if it endangers the public

Yes, this is precisely why they do it IMHO. It really makes no difference what the punishment is when they know that they only have to flee for 30 seconds before the Police give up.

Unfortunately our roads are not freeway-like enough for our Police to be able to perform PIT maneuvers on fleeing vehicles safely, although I really wish they could because it would sort a lot of these d*ckheads out.

The radio article I heard stated thay they want to impound cars, lose licences. Of course you need to catch them safely, but no matter whose car it is, if it was impounded for 6 months, thats a start. Own car, work car, Dads car, Honda Civic or Maserati, tough.

Surely the police can capture the licence plate? Then let it go, roll up later with a tow truck.

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