Harassed by Police Officer off Duty

First time poster. Today I was driving down Punt Road (Melbourne) was back to back traffic around 12 pm. The traffic wasn’t moving so I zoned out a bit. Guy behind me in a Ford Ranger starts beeping. I look in front of me and the space is around 1 meter.

Anyway, two minutes later same thing happened again. No traffic lights missed still in traffic guy in front of me just creeped up a couple of metres. This guy honks again then I see him hop off from his Ranger.

Thinking he was a nutcase I lock my doors. He then pulls up a badge quickly and starts yelling. Get off your phone you f***wit and concentrate on the road. I didn’t even have my phone on me as he looked into my car. I couldn’t really see his badge as he put it away fast enough and hopped back into his vehicle before I got to tell him anything.

I thought that was ridiculous behaviour. I got his number plate. Would it be worth reporting that behaviour?

I also saw him do some dodgy driving (changing lanes right after traffic lights where there are no lines. Cutting people off. he wasn’t in a police car though and had what looked like his wife who was shoving chips down her mouth.

Poll Options

  • 699
    Report
  • 24
    Let it go
  • 38
    You are a fwit

Comments

  • +6

    You live in a place where a cop can murder a great grandmother and get let off because it was just bad judgement.

    • -1

      Not sure what’s worse those shot cops or ticket inspectors

    • The dude with the taser was manslaughter, wasn't it? They never established intent, did they? Pretty sure you need intent for a murder conviction to apply.

      • +2

        I interpret the 'bugger it' as intent. Unless the dude was an absolute moron not knowing old people are frail and tasers are dangerous.

    • -2

      These days policing is (generally) probably no longer attracting the right type of cop.That's a reflection of our society ,overall. And with the meth (and worse) pandemic consuming our communities at a galloping rate, not likely to improve.The best thing we have done is offshore recruiting from NZ & UK, provided we have proper psyche testing on all recruits.This is the most important step.

      • To the neggers. Guess what? Victorias new commissioner is a NZ cop. Watch the union spit chips. A decent human calling the shots.OMG what next?

  • +1

    He should be fined for incorrect use of a horn

  • +6

    Ranger Danger

  • +3

    I would think about reporting this because it doesn't sound like the bloke was a police officer.

    I'm sure there are some knuckle dragging low denominators, but I reckon most of them would behave as if they were always on duty capable of being recognised by the general public.

    I doubt many of them go out of their way looking for trouble.

    Even if he did think you were using a phone, when he saw you weren't, he sounds like he was pretty rude. Even if you were offending, I wouldn't think it common that a police officer was rude, especially with a bunch of witnesses and the endless availability of CCTV/Dashcam these days.

    Strange a dude would draw attention to himself if it was a stolen car, but stranger things have happened. Maybe a dude with his kids dress up costume on some power trip to show the world who's boss in reality he's a (profanity) whipped bully who's wife dropped sandwich crumbs in his car and she'll make his life hell if he says anything to her about it.

    Nah, whatever, at worst, sounds dodgy, at best, an off duty cop having a bad day. Neither scenario is ok and both need to do better.

    As for yourself, pay attention to surrounding traffic. The next life you save could be yours.

  • +2

    Yeah this didn’t happen…

    • +1

      Course it did.Under the shadow of a UFO hovering above.

    • Genuinely interested in what makes this difficult to believe?

      • OP says ranger driver was changing lanes while turning right, cutting off other drivers who were in a different lane turning right. The thing is, there aren't any 2 lane right turns off Punt Road.

  • Ford Ranger starts beeping

    If it was a VW Amarok it would not have happened at all. Cars' makes/brands/models change driving culture!

  • +3

    least aggressive ranger driver

    • +5

      He was very aggressive when he hopped out of his ranger. Was going in full strides then he sort of fell then took it down a notch once he reached my side window. Maybe he was expecting a conflict and was just weirded out by an ozbargainer just staring at him trying to realise what’s happening and how he can make money out of this situation. Jokes aside maybe seeing someone bigger than him in a car smaller than his warded him off

  • Is there a dashcam audio recording of the altercation by any chance? I wouldn't mind some entertainment haha!

  • -1

    Knowing plenty of coppers, they definitely dont go waving their badge around in public when off duty. Sounds like you just had a (profanity) trying to scare you.

  • +1

    Just report it. License plate Number great, if you have a complaint, there are probably other complaints.

    One complaint might not do much, many complaints paints a picture. There's likely a history, or your the start.

    • +1

      yeh exactly, even if OP doesn't have dashcam evidence, their report may help form a picture.

      I've met/known a few roided out people and the sooner they can be hit with a reality stick the better.

  • I thought that was ridiculous behaviour. I got his number plate. Would it be worth reporting that behaviour?

    Cop or not, its not ok to yell / threaten others. I would lodge a complaint with the cops on threatening / abusive behaviour.

    • Unless it's in the US

  • I have been told by cops (friends ) not to open car door when pulled over as it can be seen as threat and you can be arrested as officer felt threatened. You felt threatened when he approached your vehicle so report him . One rule for all. You won't get anywhere but if enough people complain against this dick maybe something will be done.

    • Try > cops want to maintain stand over and constrained(dominant) physical position , to maintain a height advantage.

    • +1

      Utter crap

  • Just put on the soundtrack for Frozen. “Let it go, let it go …..”

    I get pissed off with morons as well but just compose the letter in your head and then file it.

    • Police. > Message in a Bottle

  • -2

    Sorry if i repeat anything. Its late and i did 12 hours at the election today.
    Firstly, any dashcam footage to support this? I guess no.

    Maybe report via the police assistance line, if you are concerned.
    Maybe he is like me and had a recent long shift, and is tired, grumpy and had a few issues.
    He could have dealt with a very confronting incident, that is people would struggle with.
    Maybe he needs some time off.
    If you are that concerned, report him, and a senior colleague might tell him to pull his head in, and give him time off. We need as many police on our streets, however.
    Draft up the events, and think about it for a day or 2, before submitting.

    • +1

      We don't need more police. We need better police and piss the macho,over officious bully boys out. NZ and UK put us to shame.Ppls 1st reaction when engaging police should not be 'on edge' or 'anxious' That said, this post is fiction.

  • In this case, he is the fwit.

  • If you were serious you would have reported to the Police first, then ask the world for limited info opinions.

    1st time poster, but are you a 1st time driver?

  • I can pretty much assure you that if you are on your phone you would be holding a fine now and not just a warning. Also, an off duty police officer does not need to show you the badge when behaving as if he's going off in a roadrage.

    More importantly, did the person introduced himself as a police officer? Especially after showing off his foul language art in public in an extremely civilised manner?

    • Nah just pulled a badge then shoved it up his ass.

      • What do you mean by "he shoved it up his ass"?

        Are you referring to his head? Heard that expression before.

        OR

        If someone/something following closely "they're up my ass"

  • Report it sounds like someone imitating a Police officer.

  • +3

    If it was a cop count yourself lucky your not an elderly lady, you would probably be dead now.

  • -6

    Our guy is probably aware of the rate in which distraction contributes to road accidents. He’s probably sick of seeing internal organs externally. If you fail to notice a whole car in front of you moving, how can you expect to see a kid stepping out in front of you, weaving between the cars, to cross the road while the traffic is stopped.

    Maintaining situational awareness on public roads isn’t really optional.

    Perhaps with his strong reaction to your inattention, you will improve your driving habits, after all a lesson like this is much kinder to you than learning the hard way.

    • +2

      Thanks for the insight champ

    • Traffic was barely moving it’s not like the car in front of me had a green light and went 50km/hr. When moving we were creeping at 2km/hr. No danger as I was standing still.

      • -3

        Would you be complaining if you had missed the traffic lights?

        Basically in the short space of a minute or two you’d demonstrated that even if it had been for traffic lights, you wouldn’t have noticed until you were beeped at. You didn’t notice the car moving, and you sure as hell didn’t know if it was for traffic lights or not until after you were beeped at.

        Not once, but twice, you missed the car in front moving, because you were, as you say, “zoned out”

        And somehow that isn’t the problem here? Your problem with the situation is the fact that you were called a F wit, and he had a passenger eating chips?

        Pay attention to the road please.

        • No one missed any traffic lights there would have been at least 20 cars to reach the traffic light which probably allows 3-4 cars at a time. Was pretty much 4 mins of stand still then move for a couple of metres.

          Zoning out is human I wasn’t endangering anyone’s life, again traffic was standstill.

          Small beep is fine but getting out like a psycho and calling people Fwit is something else, especially with what we see on the news these days

          • -2

            @Melbournedriver:

            Small beep is fine

            Didn’t he try that first? It wasn’t until the second time you missed the cars moving that he decided you need something extra?

            And really, the fact that nobody missed any traffic lights isn’t the point. The point is, you missed 20 cars infront of you moving up. Twice

            Did you miss it a third time around? Or were you actually paying attention to the road after being confronted about your inattention?

            I wonder how long it would’ve taken you to realise that there was a 3-4 car gap infront of you when they all moved up and you didn’t, if he didn’t beep.

            Often I’ll let distracted and inattentive drivers do their own thing and hold up traffic, I won’t beep - some notice pretty quickly, some don’t. I do this because some people don’t react too well to being beeped at or called out. For all I know, they would go start a forum post somewhere.

            Also, some new cars now chime or tell the driver when the car in front has moved away, so I guess you could add that to your list of must have features when you go shopping for a car.

            • +1

              @2025: Well you said it yourself you give people time. Car in front of me moving couple of metres would be under 5 seconds. I guess we agree in the end.

              I’m okay with my car by the way no need for chimes.

              • -1

                @Melbournedriver: Driver aids are a such a funny technology, quite often it’s those that need them the most that ignorantly claim they don’t need them.

                I give people time to realise their mistake, obviously with this situation, you’re too busy playing the victim to realise you made a mistake. Twice.

                • @2025: What’s your favourite chime vehicle by the way

                  • @Melbournedriver:

                    What’s your favourite chime vehicle by the way

                    Lol What do ya mean?

                    • @2025: Asking for your vehicle suggestions. Ones that chime when car infront moves

                      • @Melbournedriver: I can’t recommend any particular cars, this feature is called Leading Vehicle Departure Alert (LVDA) or Front Vehicle Departure Warning (FVDW)

                        But I do suggest you test drive any vehicle with that chime. You might find that the chime isn’t pleasing, and since you’ll be hearing it quite a lot, you deserve a nice chime.

                • @2025: He is the victim.

        • Maybe. But no excuse for the alleged cops horn tooting, aggressive and threatening behaviour.

          • +1

            @Eeples: I dunno. I just don’t see it that way.

            The guy, by OPs own admission, was at OPs window just long enough to tell him to pay attention. He didn’t start a fight, didn’t hang around long enough to argue, didn’t kick or break anything, he simply made his point and left.

            OP starts his story with a meter, or a couple of meters gap. It turns out that “a couple of meters” according to OP is actually 3-4 car lengths, and although that distance doesn’t fit OPs narrative, OP let that nugget of information out when describing the traffic light sequence. The average length of a car in Australia is 4.9m. Add some space between them. That’s gotta be close to 20m. That deserves a honk for sure.

            The VIC act allows one to use the horn use to warn other road users of the position of their vehicle. Ie. right behind waiting to move up in the line of traffic.

            If using the horn in the manner described here is unlawful, then how may you suggest the driver behind OP alert him that he’s holding up traffic? A quick stroll up to the window perhaps?

            How is that abusive and threatening?

            Sounds to me like the first honk was a polite reminder, but the second time OP missed the traffic kinda proved that the polite honk wasn’t working. I bet OP didn’t hinder traffic a third time.

            If this was the other drivers initial reaction to OP missing the traffic, I’d be concerned. But OP had a chance already. That’s why I remain unconvinced that this was inappropriate.

            By all means, if it was a loser with a fake badge, in no way was this right.

            A crucial part of road safety with us imperfect humans is making sure that we’re forming safe habits and muscle memory. Part of that is paying attention at all times, even when stopped at traffic lights. It’s not like OP was pulled over with the ignition off, and while sitting in traffic at the lights might not require as much concentration as driving in the rain at 100 on a winding road at night, it does demand some awareness.

  • +1

    "Video or didn't happen"

    He didn't impose nor impersonate as anything.
    What made you think it was a police badge?

    These are the two questions the police officer in charge will ask you if or when you officially report him.

    Annoying as it is perhaps it will be wiser to let it go and be more alert next time.

  • Exactly what are you reporting?

    • +1

      Reported to ibac I’m sure they shelved it somewhere

      • And apart from alleged profanity of which we have your word only what else? Nothing, a complete waste of time.

        • The behaviour is not right.

          For me it didnt affect me that much but can only imagine what this behaviour would do to a P plater or an old lady

        • The horn tooting is a traffic infringement.

          It’s called road rage and intimidation and threatening behaviour. (And you’re cheering it on. You are seemingly no better).

  • -1

    sounds like his bitch was hungry.

  • Report it and his rego number. Impersonating a police officer is a crime, I believe. And if he was a cop, he might need some “guidance” from his superiors.

    • +1

      Already done reported as anonymous though. I’m sure he’ll know who it’s from through

      • Complete waste of time , you have no evidence no witnesses, i doubt the officer will even be spoken too, and honestly people think that reporting police somehow bothers them, truth be told it really doesnt , because 99% of the time they are just bs claims.

        • +1

          If he was a policeman….

        • -1

          How would you know

  • +1

    The worst drivers are the people that stop short and then creep forward. This means the 50+ cars behind you will have to follow the same. Just learn how to drive and stop at a appropriate distance with the vehicle Infront.

    Just stop the car at red and move when it's green. I hate those people who stop at a red light for literally 5 seconds and for no reason decide to close the gap and move half a metre then wait two minutes for the light to go green and move. This just means you lack the capacity to judge stopping distances which also means you're a dangerous driver.

    The only times you should be moving is when someone in front of you changes lanes and you close the gap or traffic is actually moving ahead of you.

    • +1

      I get your brakes really enjoy being slammed every 4 seconds in traffic

  • Whether you were on your phone or not it sounds like you were being an unaware f***wit.

    What will reporting someone yelling at you for doing not paying attention, which you weren't, going to do? Other than waste the actual police's time

    Grow up and pay attention to the road

    • +2

      Well when I reported it the person on the phone said I did the right thing.

    • Oh please. A dude continually beeped (illegally) and then got out of his car and abused the OP.

      At a minimum that’s road rage or threatening behaviour.

      Of course it should be reported.

  • All these people attacking the OP clearly didn't read the opening text. The hate is strong here.

    • Did people forget the abuse of power during Covid? Almost Just government puppets

    1. was it a real FTP badge or an impersonator?
    2. do you have any evidence this really happened?

    sounds like an impersonator to me but without any evidence you got nothing here.

  • Had many Ford Ranger bully me on the road.

  • I think you are allowed to change lanes going thru traffic lights. As long as you indicate as normal.

    But, oh yeah, report him for the other stuff.

    • I think you are allowed to change lanes going thru traffic lights. As long as you indicate as normal.

      Generally speaking, you can, subject to some caveats.

      Basically if there are painted lane “turn” lines through the intersection, and you’re in one making a turn, you cannot change out of your lane in the intersection.

      You cannot cross solid lines either.

      OFC one needs to follow any other road markings, arrows etc on the road. You can’t change from a right turn only lane into a straight ahead lane within an intersection for example.

      • The OP described the road. No lines. So no caveats.

        • Today I was driving down Punt Road

          Melbournedriver on 02/05/2025

          Nah I wasn’t on my phone was just staring at the Richmond training ground.

          Melbournedriver on 02/05/2025

          It’s when two lanes go right and he cut off the other car in the intersection.

          OP didn’t explicitly say no lines in the intersection though, I was curious and thought I’d have a look on Google Maps to see if they are marked or not in the intersection.

          I can’t actually find any multi lane right turns from Punt Road near the oval.

          Am I blind, or did I just accidentally poke another hole in OPs story?

          Please show me I’m wrong.

  • If the person was a police officer and they believe you were on your phone, then you were on your phone. Even if you were not, it doesn't matter. If they think you were, then you were. The person gave you a fairly aggressive warning. I would take this as an opportunity to concentrate more on the road, whether you were or were not on your phone. You said yourself you were not fully attentive.

    If you follow this up, and the Officer says you were on your phone, then you may get a fine. If you don't follow it up, you won't get a fine.

    Take this as an opportunity, and once the dust settles it's pointless going back in to get smacked again.

    • -1

      Already reported.

      I wasn’t on my phone there is no way he can prove that because I was not on my phone which was beneath the console, not even visible.

      If he was an actual police officer he failed to identify himself, if he wasn’t then that’s another issue altogether. Anyway I left it in the hands of IBAC to deal with.

      You make it sound like I was going 100km/hr when I was in a stand still with the rest of traffic. I zoned out for 3 seconds which resulted in me missing a 1-2 metre gap which is recommended anyway.

      • Where did this happen? You said:

        It’s when two lanes go right and he cut off the other car in the intersection.

        In Google Maps/Streetview, I can’t find any multi lane right turns in the area around the oval from Punt Road. Am I blind? Is there some other explanation?

        • +1

          It's a troll thread

          • +1

            @Protractor: Agreed, it was quite by accident that I uncovered that OP was lying.

            To OP one could say

            Get off your phone f wit and concentrate on making plausible lies

            Any credibility to this story and OPs comments vanished.

            I don’t understand the motivation for these types of BS posts, but I know that if I were to ask OP what theirs is, it would just be more lies.

            • +1

              @2025: I'd say they are a live with Mum only child.She still supports & dresses him.He would have had a clash with the mods previously and shape-shifts all the time coming back to troll here.Thinking it's clever or superior.He probably has to borrow Mums car too, because his hilux has been impounded for chucking donuts out the font of a bus stop full off teenage schoolgirls.There lies a romantic dream he will never fulfill.

              • @Protractor: Ahahaha

                Unsurprisingly, your sequence of events is more plausible, there are indeed bus stops on Punt Road, while the 2 lane right turn in OPs story is nowhere to be seen.

                Probably one of those kids that went through school getting in trouble all the time, but OP was their mums angel and could do no wrong, each and every time it was the teachers fault. Fast forward a few years, and being held accountable for something they’ve done wrong is such a shock it drives them to complain on the internet and to VIC Pol.

            • @2025: Mate I shared the same route as the other party for a while. Being stuck in traffic means I shared the road for a while beyond those 10 metres that your brain can’t operate outside

              • @Melbournedriver: Fair enough, perhaps you could have pointed that out earlier when I asked, and without the judgement about my mental capacity?

                I mean, you were sooking that someone allegedly judged yours, calling you an f wit, and now you’re doing the same thing.

                Do I report you to IBAC and start a poll?

        • What is he going to fine me for?

          Thinking I was on my phone. My phone wasn’t even visible to me and I’m in the car how will this idiot prove I was on my phone?

          Showing a badge isn’t identifying shit. The woman I reported the case to said police officers should say their name and reason for coming up to you.

          • @Melbournedriver: As I said to you before, if the Police Officer says you were on your phone, then you were on your phone. It doesn't matter if your phone was in China, you were on your phone. He is a greater citizen than you and his word takes precedence over yours in the court of law. He does not need to prove a thing. The officer flashed his badge and advised he was a police officer. The issue does not go away because he did not announce his name, that is a slight he will be asked to avoid in the future. Officer will say that from a safety perspective he wanted to get his message to you as quickly as possible and then return to his vehicle.

            • @cunningdrew: He didn’t advise he was an officer just flashed a badge.

              If he was so worried about safety and thought he was in the right and was an actual police officer he should’ve asked me to pull over.

              The unprofessional manner is what escalated this.

              • @Melbournedriver: That is fair enough. If he wants to be a cop, he needs to go through the process. If not, he is a citizen. It's pretty rude to be half in half out.

        • This post from Creesy is spot on. I don't think OP understands that it doesn't matter whether you're right or wrong, it only matters that the cop is not wrong. This is going to end in a fine. You poke the bear, you're gonna get scratched. Worse than that, OP ran back to poke the bear after he was already inside the house. Best of luck OP, but I dare say this may not go the direction you want it to.

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