[ED - This is a follow up to the story a month ago about how senior police deal with speeding fines in Canberra. The Herald Sun has done an amazing job pursuing the story]
A SENIOR Australian Federal Police officer allegedly caught travelling at more than 40km/h over the speed limit escaped a fine after a fellow officer decided a warning was sufficient.
This was because the traffic was light and he was an experienced driver, according to documents seen by the Herald Sun.
The documents were produced after Richard Curie, a junior officer who pulled over off-duty Supt Eric Grimm for allegedly travelling at 120km/h in an 80km/h zone, complained he had been pressured to issue a warning notice and not a fine after he returned to his station.
The full story is well worth reading before making comment.
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Reckon we’ll see a whole raft of questions directed at officers who pull mortorists over for speeding from now on:
“Is your vehicle a speed certified one?”
“In your opinion is the traffic light?”
“If so would you say my inadvertant lapse in concentration is unlikely to represent a danger to fellow road users?”
“Are you aware of any other driver in a similar situation who was issued a caution despite being in a high range speed offence?
etc
I have lots of experience speeding, I should be let off too.
Wait, what?
In all fairness, I was pinged doing 20 Ks over on the highway near Hume, and I only recieved a caution in the mail (no, not the speed camera, I was actually pulled over).
Mind you, I wasn’t a dick about it, I admitted what I was doing, and I also aknowledged there was no excuse.
I don’t think we can associate this bad attirbute with all AFP officers, surely?
Not fairly, anywayz.
ConanOfCooma said :
Not the speeding. The question is the getting out of the fine. I got done 35km/h over limit, clear sunny day light traffic, and the cops took great pains to emphasise how serious an offence it was. I don’t hold being caught and fined against them (was doing it after all), but am a little miffed at how this dude got away with it.
It’s not WHAT you know…
depends if he had made his quota for the day….
Excellent. I’ll use that next time I’m done.
Non certified Police vehicles used for years taking money from us! CORRUPT
Police double standards, good driver with light traffic, PRS accept this! CORRUPT
Grimm denies speeding yet a caution is issued! CORRUPT
Constable Curie is inexperienced at speed checks, how many had he done before Grimm?
AFP quick to defend last Herald Sun release containing an alleged err in the topic, where is the latest post on the BlueLine of CORRUPTION?
Why did Grimm put a lanyard on his neck when he was ‘off duty’?
What happened to members estimating the offending vehicles speed regardless of speedos?
If we denying the travelled speed 43+km/h, mention the traffic was light and sook to a Senior member of Police, will we get off?
What has the fact that the offending driver was a trained surveillance office relevant?
What exactly did PRS investigate?
Are there times during the day that it is safe to speed?
Should drivers be issued with caution notices if detected by Police vehicle with non-certified speedos?
THIS IS CORRUPTION AT ITS BEST – DISAPPOINTING!
ExFeds said :
So when you were doing a speed check on him, how far away from him and how long did you follow him for? Did you see him put the lanyard on his neck?
How many speed checks had you conducted at that time?
ExFeds said :
Yep, the Wood Royal Commission pales into insignifance compared to this travesty of justice.
THIS IS CORRUPTION AT ITS BEST – DISAPPOINTING!
Did a rozzer stomp on your cat when you were young?
I would like to know who leaked the documents to the Herald-Sun, noting they were not obtained under FoI. That aside, Grimmgate seems to undermine any pretence the AFP diligently carries out its traffic duties. Oh yes, is Grimm out of a job yet? Or have they closed ranks?
Tooks said :
Yes, he was only a little bit illegal. What happened to there is no such thing as safe speeding?
I now wish I argued my last fine (fixed speed camera – 88 in an 80 zone) by stating that I was the only car in the immediate vicinity, I am an experienced driver, I was driving a new car with a 5 star safety rating and I have good car control due to racing experience. So there was no danger to me or anyone else.
Anna Key said :
I think you missed my point – completely. I was having a dig at exfeds ridiculous statement that it was corruption at its best. Anyway…
You can argue any fine you want, but unless you have a legitimate reason disputing liability, it’s generall up to the issuing officer whether or not you receive any leniency (and before anyone says “But what about Grimm!?” – read the next paragraph first).
Like I said in the other related thread, it is a fair question to ask why this TIN was withdrawn, and it would certainly be interesting to know the full story.
And this is news?
In the U.S. police get a special emblem to put on there license plate so when they are parked illegally the cop sees it when writing the ticket and knows he will have to rip that ticket up.
Tooks:
Are you suggesting the this is an acceptable outcome and not corrupt?
1- No admission to speeding offence by driver.
2- Caution issued for excessive speed.
3- Lanyard placed over neck whilst off duty.
4- PRS accept Ghirardello’s comments as the out to the saga.
You try pulling on that the traffic was light and your a good driver, not doubting your ability, when detected at 40+ over the limit.
You asked why this TIN was withdrawn? The AFP.gov.au states “Specifically the article alleges that the speeding fine was downgraded to a traffic caution notice”, was a TIN ever issued? No doubt we will eventually learn the full story as time passes!
Does the officer in question have to pay FBT on withdrawn TINs?
georgesgenitals said :
Funniest post I’ve seen in a while.
Tooks said :
So an offcier stealing a chocolate bar would be of the same minor nature as this then eh? How it always starts. Denial, trivialising the offence. Point is an offence was committed, hell an offence that in NSW you would more than likely be arrested for. Would you be arrested for stealing a chocolate bar? Not really so it’s OK for cops to steal things as long as it is minor…….. thats my point where does it end?
bigred said :
Yes bigred very interesting. Because the only real source of PRS documents would be…….. you guessed it, PRS
No doubt the AFP will attempt to hang Mr Curie in alleging that it was he who leaked said docs. OK so a junior member (now ex member) who would have no chance on earth of getting his hands on them. So Tooks would that kind of behaviour be more fitting to your royal commission requirements?
“thats my point where does it end?”
Seemingly never for you and a couple of others.
Anna Key said :
Anyone who has ever overtaken another car knows that that is just pure bullshit anyway. You speed up to minimise the amount of time you’re on the wrong side of the road – it used to be a legitimate defence to a speeding fine.
ExFeds said :
You might be right there, ExFed.
Have to say it’s CORRUPTION AT ITS WORST that I fear the most.
Perhaps the issue is that in NSW the rule is (or at least used to be) that more than 30km/h over the limit meant automatic license disqualification.
Me no fry said :
No it didn’t
vg said :
It probably was, before radar and breathos, when you were right to drive, so long as you could hold yourself upright in the seat….
exfed2 said :
Congratulations on also missing the point…completely. Bravo to you, sir.
p1 said :
Yes, that’s how far back I meant, in the days of derestricted speed limits (pre 1980, if memory serves).
Ahhh, so overtaking was an excuse for speeding before speed limits?
Keh?
p1 said :
Oh, for God’s sake, I can see I haven’t phrased it correctly. Here goes (warning – old man alert: details may be 100% accurate). Prior to 1980, NSW (and other states? not sure) used to have roads on which there was no set speed limit. This was indicated by a sign showing a black circle on a white background with a black slash through it. As I recall it, while there was no limit the police could book you for speeding if you exceeded 80 km/h, and you could plead your case in court. You would have to be speeding in a most egregious manner before most cops would even bother.
I think in those days there were only 3 speed limits: 60, 80 and derestricted – a bit different to today, with 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100 and 110.