Police Cars Not Obeying The Rules- Thoughts?

THL on 21/07/2016 - 13:32

Hi all,

This post is based on my recent driving experience in Melbourne. Last week I was driving on a 1 lane road which also has a dedicated tram lane (with yellow line markings but no concrete divider). As the car in front me was about to slow down and make a right turn, I saw a police car speeding down the tram lane from behind (it was 60 zone but the police car was travelling much faster). Luckily, the car in front of me saw the police car at the last minute and stopped just in time before collision. The police car slowed down and then went around the car then continued travelling in the dedicated tram lane. I continued driving on the road and then saw the police car made a right turn at an intersection through red light, without indicating.

Throughout all of these events, the police car did not have siren on or honk to warn the drivers on the road. I am assuming there must be an emergency situation where they had to get to considering the speed they were travelling at.

But my questions is, had the car in front of me not see the police car coming from behind and then a collision occurred, will the driver be liable? Or if when the police car made a right turn at a red light and collided with someone, then who's at fault?

If the police car had the siren on throughout all of these events, I would not be posting on this forum as I understand the police had to do what they need to do.

So what are your thoughts?

Automotive

Comments

  • beerpara on 22/07/2016 - 16:43
    +1

    As long as it's for Yogurberry.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/157674

  • 4foxache on 22/07/2016 - 16:55
    -2

    They are the police mate they can do what they want pretty much. Call it a perk of the job if you will.

    If you said something they'd just make up some BS to say they had to behave that way because x situation required it. And you'll end up wasting your breath.

    I don't really care they've been selected to do the job and there'll always be (profanity) as with any profession.

  • CandyMan on 22/07/2016 - 19:57
    -1

    Are coppers 🚓 allowed to use their iphones on traffic lights. I'm seeing more and more cops using their phones on traffic lights. I was gonna take a photo of that but thought the same cop might fine me for using my phone while driving. Police travel in pairs so really no excuse coz the other officer could man his phone

    • endotherm on 22/07/2016 - 21:42

      Yes. Rule 300(1)b exemption:

      300 Use of mobile phones

      (1) The driver of a vehicle who is not a learner driver or the holder of a P1 probationary driver licence must not use a mobile phone while the vehicle is moving, or is stationary but not parked, unless—
      . (a) the phone is being used to make or receive a phone call (other than a text message, video message, email or similar communication) and the body of the phone—
      .. (i) is secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle while being so used; or
      .. (ii) is not secured in a mounting affixed to the vehicle and is not being held by the driver, and the use of the phone does not require the driver, at any time while using it, to press any thing on the body of the phone or to otherwise manipulate any part of the body of the phone; or
      . (b) the vehicle is an emergency vehicle or a police vehicle.
      Penalty: 10 penalty units.

      Ambos, fireys, etc are all exempt during emergencies, police are exempt any time.

      • CandyMan on 22/07/2016 - 21:48
        +1

        Unfortunately, it doesn't make it any safer that its a cop driving and texting or using fb :~

        • endotherm on 22/07/2016 - 22:04

          Of course, it can only be something juvenile like porn or facebook or texting… couldn't be anything else important could it? Maybe it is making society safer, a greater good? Taxi drivers have an exemption to use their booking data terminals while the vehicle is in motion too. Jump up and down about that too while you're at it. That can't be making things safer either. There are lots of exemptions in the rules for many different people. If you don't like them, lobby to get the law changed.

  • Finde on 22/07/2016 - 20:07

    As you said, the police car slowed down when approaching the car. He wouldn't have gone past had the car not stopped.
    As for not indicating through the red light, I'm assuming there were no cars going through which is why there were no collisions. Perhaps failing to indicate was an oversight?
    Lights and sirens are not always appropriate. If police are approaching a building that someone has broken into and the person is still present, they don't want to have everyone within a kilometre of them to know they are there otherwise they will run before police get there and police won't catch them.

  • cantstanzya on 22/07/2016 - 22:23
    +1

    It's pretty obvious who the fuzz are in this thread

  • spy on 22/07/2016 - 23:06

    Pffft at least they're not shooting at them black fellas….

  • save my dollarydoos on 23/07/2016 - 00:58
    +1

    Personally I appreciate the service Police provide enough to consider the flaunting of some minor things to be a deserved perk

  • ninetyNineCents on 23/07/2016 - 12:37
    +1

    Its really pathetic that people criticize any little thing wrong about the police when they forget they help make and keep Australia great and free. Police dont just drive around and play car chases because they want to. Its all monitored and they are accountable. THey dont just drive down to the beach and do burnouts for fun.

    None of us really know where the police was going or why, but given all the times they help people give them the benefit of the doubt and let them continue their fine work. Lets not forget that when bad things happen, they are always helping.

    Next time you want to criticize someone why dont you look at the really bad people who want to change and f**k up Australia.

  • daven1985 on 23/07/2016 - 13:51

    Thy may have been responding to an emergency. At least in NSW police don't have to engage their lights and sirens to respond.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/07/2016 - 23:00
    +2

    see crap like that all the time where I live. middle of the night, no cars around lights change red cop just goes through it without any lights etc

    sure if i did that because i couldn't be bothered stopping id get booked

  • Normal-Paper on 24/07/2016 - 02:50
    +2

    One time I was at Maccas and the police were parked in the disabled parking, they were there to get food, not police business…unless there was secret information in their takeaway bag

    • catbrain on 24/07/2016 - 18:07

      And they could have been using the Discount Suit, which is problematic and really is a low-level form of corruption. It's like an unwritten allowance: go to a fast food outlet in uniform and get a free meal. Granted, I have seen cops paying for their food (as I think they should), and they are entitled to breaks on duty (like any other person legally employed in Australia). You should have taken a photo of the cop car in the disabled space, although they'd probably come up with an excuse that they were attending to what appeared to be "suspicious behaviour" (which would get around no evidence of a request made by Macca's for police attendance).

      I used to work in a fast food van and I always made the cops pay - no free food from me. They never ask - it's just an expectation.

      They get free movie tickets at the cinemas in large shopping centres as well, just for making their presence felt. I know this because I was told by the wife of a cop - she thought it was great; I was mildly appalled. I always thought when her husband became a cop that he'd be different from the rest, but no.

      • Normal-Paper on 24/07/2016 - 19:38

        Yeh I definitely should've, didn't think of it at the time 😖

  • Oliver on 24/07/2016 - 16:54
    +1

    I see police cars running stop signs all the time and yet the only thing I've ever been ticketed for was not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign on a quiet back road near home.

  • catbrain on 24/07/2016 - 18:10

    No one has made mention that the cops driving have undertaken advanced driver training courses and often have higher performance vehicles (particularly the unmarked cars). What might appear to have been an accident avoided by the civilian driver may never have happened anyway.

  • floppydesk on 24/07/2016 - 19:19

    Last week I was walking to a meeting, when I saw this marked police car driving on the single lane road with double continuous line. After passing me, 50 metres down the road the car stops near the kerb. When I passed the car, I noticed 2 officers inside: the driver was talking on his mobile phone - no hands-free or anything - and both of them were laughing. I was thinking how many rules were broken there, whether it's worth taking a pic of their number plate, but decided it wasn't worth getting into an argument and - at the very least - being late for my meeting. I'm sure they were on official police business and had a very sound reason to act the way they did…or not?

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