Something else that's not allowed

[bruce aussie]

My cousin got caught in a police roadblock at Rathdowny 2 weeks ago on his way down home. At the park before the bridge the cops were directing all motorcycles into the park for breath and drug test and general licence and roadworthy check. My cousin got done for not having a rear facing red reflector. Some others got defects for not having there rego labels on the left hand side of there bikes. My rear facing red reflector is hanging on the wall in the shed with the one off my Harley. That's were it will be staying. I'll plead dumb if or when my time comes. Didn't know it was law till now.

 

[CanberraR3]

Bloody petty I know but I'd look at it differently, mate, and wouldn't give them the satisfaction of such an easy cop. It's just a small piece of plastic.

 

[idk]

My tail light died one night. If it weren't for the rear facing reflector then the cars and 18 wheelers behind me would not have known I was there. Mine stays on.

 

[Rocket Scientist]

My cousin got caught in a police roadblock at Rathdowny 2 weeks ago on his way down home. At the park before the bridge the cops were directing all motorcycles into the park for breath and drug test and general licence and roadworthy check. My cousin got done for not having a rear facing red reflector. Some others got defects for not having there rego labels on the left hand side of there bikes. My rear facing red reflector is hanging on the wall in the shed with the one off my Harley. That's were it will be staying. I'll plead dumb if or when my time comes. Didn't know it was law till now.

Where do you live, Nazi Germany ?

 

[Tripps]

****, they are really putting the hate on bikers over there. Here in western NY, being on a bike is almost a free pass, they kind of assume if you are on a bike you are sober, mostly correctly. And there are loud pipe laws on the books, but they haven't been enforced in 30 years, they used to hassle bike club members on Harleys about loud pipes, but no more. Last time I was stopped at a road block, my inspection sticker was abraded away from road grit, the cop looked at it, asked "is it inspected?". I said yes, he waved me on.

 

[bruce aussie]

Bloody petty I know but I'd look at it differently, mate, and wouldn't give them the satisfaction of such an easy cop. It's just a small piece of plastic.

But it's an ugly bit of plastic Mabey I'll find a small neat one somewhere. My guess would be your bike hasn't got one either.

 

[CanberraR3]

I'd have say that the Canberra cops are probably closer to what Tripps said and Queensland cops at the other end of the spectrum. Just over the border in NSW, it's more like Qld.

Bruce, yes I do have one. It's tucked away above my number plate. When we did away with rego labels I removed the tube mine was in and put the reflector in its place. Unless I was speeding I don't think there'd be any genuine reason to pull me over - and they don't.

 

[msitter@bellsouth.net]

I read recently in I think Car & Driver that in a time that American municipalities are dismantling the red light and speed camera systems in record numbers, the Australian police have elevated the art of traffic enforcement into a draconian and highly profitable enterprise with a huge revenue stream. Is it true that in Australia a speeding fine is possible with a speed of only 5km\hr over the limit? I see that they have an unhealthy interest in rear reflectors. Sounds to me like if that is all they have to do, you have far too many police on the public dole. Are not there enough drug dealers, bank robbers and general bad guys to go around?

 

[CanberraR3]

When I was young and silly that's exactly the question I'd ask when I was pulled over. Needless to say it wasn't very helpful. Yes, you are correct. Biggest growth seems to be in mobile cameras that can pop up anywhere and average speed cameras. The latter are just plain stupid. They put them on 3 lane roads and force everyone not only to drive along in a clump at he same speed but also everyone is watching their speedo instead of the road. Most near misses happen on these roads. Whoever thought these were a good idea is a ***n moron.

The allowable margin is usually 10% although I believe officially it's 8%. State of Victoria tried to implement a zero margin some years ago but woke up to the fact it was stupid. Queensland cops do whatever they want. I heard someone got booked for being 1km/h over but had it dropped only because the cop had no calibrated speed measuring equipment.

 

[ozrider]

Looks like I will have to find one as well