9 September 2013

Gun holstered under the drivers' seat

| johnboy
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ACT Policing arrested a 32-year-old Queanbeyan man following the seizure of a gun during a routine traffic stop last night.

About 10.15pm officers from Woden Patrol conducted a routine traffic stop on a vehicle in Launceston Street, Phillip.

After making several enquiries officers located a loaded firearm and a holster underneath the driver’s seat. Police then seized the vehicle.

The man was arrested and taken to the ACT Watch House where he received Watch House bail.
South District Superintendent Paul Shakeshaft has commended the actions of the officers involved.

“Due to the diligence of the officers who conducted the traffic stop there is one less firearm on Canberra streets,” Superintendent Shakeshaft said.

“I would like to remind Canberrans that all our officers are working hard to remove illegal firearms from our community.”

The man will be summonsed to the ACT Magistrates Court at a later date on firearms offences.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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MrBigEars said :

I’m not sure that it’s political clout or a good lawyer that worked in this case. I’ve known other folks (admittedly not in the ACT) who have got off a first time, low-range drink driving charge with the same method: Plead guilty early, get a reference from your boss or a person in good standing in the community, show remorse and promise never to do it again.

I seem to recall a report a few months ago about someone getting off because they were going to the US for work (movies, tv or sports or something like that) and they argued the conviction would make it harder for them to achieve that.

I think they paid a fine but didn’t have a conviction recorded.

I’m not sure that it’s political clout or a good lawyer that worked in this case. I’ve known other folks (admittedly not in the ACT) who have got off a first time, low-range drink driving charge with the same method: Plead guilty early, get a reference from your boss or a person in good standing in the community, show remorse and promise never to do it again.

Perhaps the word of George Brandis might be more persuasive than say Barry from the pub, but I think that’s more a social thing than political.

But don’t drink and drive. It’s not that hard.

Lookout Smithers4:58 am 11 Sep 13

If you hear police radio communications over the waves, its not really something that surprising. They can radio an ID of someone and they get back “Intel” as they call it about that Identity. So if for instance the intel was something like “charged with possession of fire arms or weapons, bla bla bla”, you have innate Police gut feelings kicking in hard and there you have it. No different to police searching the bag of a teenager with red eyes, tack mouth and pissing himself laughing in the middle of civic at 10am.

LSWCHP said :

This is the crappest crap.

We now have a situation where only 2 days after Abbott’s crew get in his number one offsider (with some help from an influential friend) gets off a charge that would result in a fine and licence suspension for the rest of us. This is the worst look I’ve ever seen from a new gummint.

They live in a different world where shame does not exist.

Ah stuffit. My ADSL modem has been dropping out all night, and I’ve somehow managed to mistakenly put my thoughts about the Peta Credlin get-out-of-jail-free in here by mistake.

This is the crappest crap.

We now have a situation where only 2 days after Abbott’s crew get in his number one offsider (with some help from an influential friend) gets off a charge that would result in a fine and licence suspension for the rest of us. This is the worst look I’ve ever seen from a new gummint.

They live in a different world where shame does not exist.

Roundhead89 said :

Instant Mash said :

Superintendent Shakeshaft!? Best name ever.

Sounds like a character in a gay porno movie.

Well you’d know, I’m sure.

Robertson said :

fernandof said :

Robertson said :

Dunno why the police bother, when the magistrates do nothing to support them:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-10/credlin-escapes-punishment-as-drink-driving-charge-dropped/4947944

Can anyone point me to where I could find statistics around drink-driving offenses being dropped? Would be interesting to see how likely it is for the rest of us to get the same treatment as Ms Credlin.

I like the incomplete information on what she blew.

My guess would be the magistrate.

Instant Mash said :

Superintendent Shakeshaft!? Best name ever.

Sounds like a character in a gay porno movie.

Robertson said :

fernandof said :

Robertson said :

Dunno why the police bother, when the magistrates do nothing to support them:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-10/credlin-escapes-punishment-as-drink-driving-charge-dropped/4947944

Can anyone point me to where I could find statistics around drink-driving offenses being dropped? Would be interesting to see how likely it is for the rest of us to get the same treatment as Ms Credlin.

I like the incomplete information on what she blew.

I read she blew .075 on the ABC’s news website and that incoming attourney-general George Brandin (not sure if I’m getting his last name right, but he was on Q&A last night if that helps) wrote a letter to the magistrate involved that talked about what a top bloke she is (or words to that effect) and that she should be let-off. It’s a load of crap if you ask me, and that it only happened with George’s influence 2 days after his party came to power seems almost corrupt. I mean, assuming the ABC figure is correct, .075 is a relatively significant BAC when you consider that it’s’ 50% greater than the legal limit. It’s not the kind of scenario where a simple miscalculation of drinks is a plausible excuse for the DUI charge. At that point she should have known not get behind the wheel and doesn’t deserve this level of leniency at all, IMO. But whatever, maybe it’ll set a precedent I can abuse if I ever get busted for a DUI in the future.

Shame on the lot of ’em.

fernandof said :

Robertson said :

Dunno why the police bother, when the magistrates do nothing to support them:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-10/credlin-escapes-punishment-as-drink-driving-charge-dropped/4947944

Can anyone point me to where I could find statistics around drink-driving offenses being dropped? Would be interesting to see how likely it is for the rest of us to get the same treatment as Ms Credlin.

I like the incomplete information on what she blew.

Robertson said :

Dunno why the police bother, when the magistrates do nothing to support them:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-10/credlin-escapes-punishment-as-drink-driving-charge-dropped/4947944

Can anyone point me to where I could find statistics around drink-driving offenses being dropped? Would be interesting to see how likely it is for the rest of us to get the same treatment as Ms Credlin.

Barcham said :

Acting aggressive or being unhelpful is a giant flashing red light above your head.

I wonder how I’ll go when they want to see my license, but don’t want me to get out of the car, but I need to get out of the car to get to my wallet where I had concealed it previously before my sporting event.

BimboGeek said :

I’m guessing the Plod in question has a well honed sense of when some junky is trying to hide somethung or starting to panic. If your answer to “Have you had any drinks today?” is anything other than yes or no or you are particularly unfriendly, there may be someyhing to see here…

This. Been told multiple times by Police that the number one way to get searched is to act like you really don’t want to be searched.

Acting aggressive or being unhelpful is a giant flashing red light above your head.

Dunno why the police bother, when the magistrates do nothing to support them:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-09-10/credlin-escapes-punishment-as-drink-driving-charge-dropped/4947944

Spiral said :

I’ve been pulled over for a routine traffid stop heaps of time and have never even been asked to get out of my carm let alone have the police search under my seat.

Must have been something in the computer when they ran his name/rego.

No word on the status of this firearm? Registered? Stolen? Illegally imported? It is great that there is one less deadly weapon out there, but without some more information about crimes like these how is the public supposed to have a clue about how they should be prevented in the future?

I’m guessing the Plod in question has a well honed sense of when some junky is trying to hide somethung or starting to panic. If your answer to “Have you had any drinks today?” is anything other than yes or no or you are particularly unfriendly, there may be someyhing to see here…

Spiral said :

So what would the real story be here.

I’ve been pulled over for a routine traffid stop heaps of time and have never even been asked to get out of my carm let alone have the police search under my seat.

Does that sort of thing really randomly happen to people or has a dipstick upset a mate who has dobbed him into the police?

+1, good point. Why were they making enquiries as well? Were they repeatedly asking if he had a gun?

So what would the real story be here.

I’ve been pulled over for a routine traffid stop heaps of time and have never even been asked to get out of my carm let alone have the police search under my seat.

Does that sort of thing really randomly happen to people or has a dipstick upset a mate who has dobbed him into the police?

Instant Mash11:58 am 09 Sep 13

Superintendent Shakeshaft!? Best name ever.

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