New Zealand Police Website - Report a bad driver

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Klipspringer

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#91091 6-Oct-2011 14:38

Hey Guys. Anybody made use of this service on the police website to report a bad driver?

http://www.police.govt.nz/service/road/roadwatch.html

Yesterday I had a guy coming down my road at about 100km/h nearly hitting me. He then proceeded to overtake a whole sting of cars on a yellow line. But I did get his rego as he got stuck by the lights!

Just wondering if its worth doing the report and if they will actually do something about it, ie pay him a visit or give him a warning!

The site says

The Police will regard your Community Roadwatch report as confidential; in accordance with the provisions of the law as it relates to privacy and disclosure of information. Your report will be assessed and, where an offence and vehicle can be clearly identified, Police will contact the owner of the vehicle to advise them of the allegation made and of the expected standards of driver behaviour. If the assessment of your report reveals a serious offence, you may be contacted by Police and asked to consider making a formal complaint.

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Hawkes Bay
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#530134 6-Oct-2011 14:45

Hey BBQ Guy. Definitely worthwhile. Police do follow up on complaints of this nature by members of the public.

askelon

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#530135 6-Oct-2011 14:46

My father used to get warning letters for that sort of behavoir all the time.. Nothing ever seemed to happen though.. Still worth reporting them as far as Im concerned :)

timmmay

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#530148 6-Oct-2011 15:06

I use it, I asked them what they do once. They just send out letters. If you want someone prosecuted, you have to go to the police and file a formal complaint.

n00dy

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#530170 6-Oct-2011 15:39

I was following a guy that kept crossing the centre line and almost clipped another car so I called *555 ( bluetooth handsfree and voice dialing so I didnt break the law) and reported the guy, after I had completed the conversation I was asked to go online and complete this form as it could be used as eveidence should an infringement or court action be taken, I was also told that if I didnt have access to the website to please visit a Police station and file a written report. So it looks like the information supplied is followed up and used.

kiwitrc

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#530181 6-Oct-2011 15:44

askelon: My father used to get warning letters for that sort of behavoir all the time.. Nothing ever seemed to happen though.. Still worth reporting them as far as Im concerned :)

Hi Ben, dad here, stfu.

myopinion

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#530187 6-Oct-2011 15:50

You know what would be really good for this? An app for your smartphone.

Klipspringer

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#530201 6-Oct-2011 16:02

myopinion: You know what would be really good for this? An app for your smartphone.

That would be awesom! What about an option to record video and submit it all at the touch of a button! Pitty my smartphone car cradle blocks the rear camera. Maybe someone could design a cradle that gives the smartphone rear camera tha ability to focus on the road.

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kiwitrc

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#530203 6-Oct-2011 16:03

BraaiGuy:
myopinion: You know what would be really good for this? An app for your smartphone.

That would be awesom! What about an option to record video and submit it all at the touch of a button! Pitty my smartphone car cradle blocks the rear camera. Maybe someone could design a cradle that gives the smartphone rear camera tha ability to focus on the road.

My S2 phone in the Samsung holder does this.

myopinion

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#530205 6-Oct-2011 16:06

Yeah if I had installed my iPhone higher it could take video as well. So the NZ Police need someone to develop an Android and iOS app for this?

Klipspringer

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#530218 6-Oct-2011 16:12

Wonder what the laws are around recording bad drivers?

Kyanar

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#530222 6-Oct-2011 16:14

BraaiGuy: Wonder what the laws are around recording bad drivers?

Taking recordings in public places where there is no expectation of privacy is A-OK. You may get in a bit of hot water if you publish it though (handing to the police would surely still be OK).

blakamin

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#530233 6-Oct-2011 16:26

You'd get done for operating your phone while driving

btw, I had to favourite that page... I'm on the road 12hrs a day a see some terrible driving!

myopinion

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#530234 6-Oct-2011 16:28

I'm not so sure this would fall under that using a phone (calling or texting) whilst driving law. It wouldn't be any different from using the navigation system.

kingjj

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#530241 6-Oct-2011 16:33

myopinion: Yeah if I had installed my iPhone higher it could take video as well. So the NZ Police need someone to develop an Android and iOS app for this?

You could always ask them directly, but things move very slowly in the NZ Police!! By the time they accepted the idea for a mobile app we would all be using eyePhone's.

As above, The RO is sent a letter when the road watch complaint forms are used, it is not followed up further. A formal complaint is required to pursue any sort of action against a driver. When the police are contacted (be that on 111, *555 or general - they all go to Comms) the cars rego and actions are broadcast but seldom is a unit assigned to follow up (unless its a high priority event).

IMHO there is no point reporting bad driving if you can't get the rego, describing a "blue station wagon, possibly a subaru" is not good enough for following up. If possible also note where the event occured and where the vehicle is/was last seen, as well as when these events took place; it all gets used to decide the most appropriate priority and response. Oh and it helps to know what road you are on, rather than "the main rd in Pukekohe" as well as a cross street or road number for verification.

/end rant

blakamin

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#530244 6-Oct-2011 16:36

myopinion: I'm not so sure this would fall under that using a phone (calling or texting) whilst driving law. It wouldn't be any different from using the navigation system.

Which you are not meant to do while moving

So I could park and video you videoing someone else and everyone would get done! ;P

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