7 October 2011

RAPID strikes

| johnboy
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An unlicensed 19-year-old Narrabundah learner driver, with her small child in the rear of the car and her unlicensed male partner in the front passenger’s seat, was among the drivers caught by ACT Policing’s RAPID Team yesterday (Thursday, October 6).

A total of 22 unregistered vehicles were also detected by RAPID yesterday, during mobile operations conducted in Belconnen and the city areas in the lead-up to the forthcoming long weekend.

There were also nine vehicles detected yesterday without CTP (Compulsory Third Party) insurance, and two unlicensed drivers (including the 19-year-old female learner).

RAPID scanned more than 7000 vehicles yesterday, and 40 Traffic Infringement Notices were issued for a range of offences including failing to stop at a red light in Civic and using a handheld mobile phone whilst driving.

Police were disappointed at the high number of unregistered vehicles detected and reminded motorists that should their vehicle be detected as unregistered, it may result in their registration plates being seized on the spot, and the car therefore required to be towed away.

Earlier this week, members of the RAPID Team arrested a 44-year-old Kaleen man after he was detected driving on Ellenborough Street. The man had been driving in contravention of an immediate licence suspension notice issued previously. He was later bailed from the ACT Watch House.

ACT Policing Traffic Operations will be patrolling key arterial roads in and out of Canberra this long weekend.

[Courtesy ACT Policing]

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buzz819 said :

Don’t all ACT Police have in car computers?

http://the-riotact.com/never-to-see-the-office-again-afp-get-in-car-computers/13099

No, caged vehicles don’t, some unmarked cars don’t. How much (or how little) they get used is another story which I’m not going to go into here.

KeenGolfer said :

Henry82 said :

KeenGolfer said :

Only the RAPID cars have the ability to scan on the go.

I’d expect more police cars to gradually get rapid anyway. I would assume at most RBTs they’d have one rapid car at the entrance to the RBT to check for flagged vehicles etc.

Actually some of the other traffic vehicles have the system, but no general duties vehicles. No rego labels would be ok when all police vehicles have the system but that is a long way off IMO in the ACT. In WA where rego labels were abolished police have instant access to vehicle rego status via their hand held and in vehicle TADIS system. The ACT doesn’t have a comparative system at this time.

Don’t all ACT Police have in car computers?

http://the-riotact.com/never-to-see-the-office-again-afp-get-in-car-computers/13099

Henry82 said :

KeenGolfer said :

Only the RAPID cars have the ability to scan on the go.

I’d expect more police cars to gradually get rapid anyway. I would assume at most RBTs they’d have one rapid car at the entrance to the RBT to check for flagged vehicles etc.

Actually some of the other traffic vehicles have the system, but no general duties vehicles. No rego labels would be ok when all police vehicles have the system but that is a long way off IMO in the ACT. In WA where rego labels were abolished police have instant access to vehicle rego status via their hand held and in vehicle TADIS system. The ACT doesn’t have a comparative system at this time.

KeenGolfer said :

Only the RAPID cars have the ability to scan on the go.

I’d expect more police cars to gradually get rapid anyway. I would assume at most RBTs they’d have one rapid car at the entrance to the RBT to check for flagged vehicles etc.

Henry82 said :

krats said :

And the numbers of unregistered cars will only increase if the ACT goes ahead with abolising vehicle restoration labels.

why, doesnt it make sense having everything linked to your numberplate? You can easily check rego online (just with the numberplate, nothing else). If you’re clumsy get a permanent marker and write the expiry date on the glass

Guaranteed the number of unregistered vehicles in use will increase if rego labels are abolished. The sort of people who drive unreg vehicles will think they can get away with it as there’s no label on the windscreen for easy checking. Many police will visually scan every vehicle they pass while driving for out of date rego labels and pull over the vehicle if the label isn’t current. Only the RAPID cars have the ability to scan on the go.

It means you as a motorist can expect more delays at RBTs, traffic stops etc whilst police check registration status on the radio (could take 5 minutes if busy) against a 2 second glance at the label.

It also means if you drive an old clunker you’ll be more likely to be pulled over so the police can check the reg status, rather than being able to do it on the go visually when there is a rego label.

obamabinladen10:57 am 09 Oct 11

@ gooterz

Where’d you pull your information that learner drivers have the highest accident rate? I just finished a traffic offenders program and one of the speakers was from the NRMA and his information was L platers have the lowest accident rate however P platers have the highest accident rate.

dungfungus said :

buzz819 said :

dungfungus said :

Why do mobile police patrols with a “cool” acronym and bristling with technology have to be the only way to detect unregistered vehicles in the ACT? Surely the RTA can do a print-out at any time of all the details; vehicle, rego number, name and address of registered owner etc. and then the patrol cars can make a home visit. While one officer is removing the plates off the car and issuing defect notices the other one can be checking out the property to see what stolen property is around and how the crop is growing. The RTA should make it a condition that plates have to be handed in immediately the rego expires and enforce non-compliance with heavy fines.
Physical police presence in the ‘hood is reassuring for those of us that are law abiding and sobering for those who aren’t.
Why is it that these days, nothing can be achieved unless the latest gee-whiz technology is being used followed by heaps of media spin?

So what you are saying is you want the Police to go over to every house where there was a car registered there and that is not out of rego? Are you mad? They would have to go to every single house in Canberra.

How are Police supposed to enter the property to check for stolen goods? The RTA give them a warrant at the same time?

My post was referring to UNREGISTERED vehicles, dimwit. Seeing that you appear to know everything, please advise me how unregistered vehicles were detected before RAPID?

You are suggesting police enter someone’s property without a warrant to take the plates of unregistered cars? Or have I misunderstood?

It is not illegal to own an unregistered car, as long as you are not driving it.

dungfungus said :

buzz819 said :

dungfungus said :

Why do mobile police patrols with a “cool” acronym and bristling with technology have to be the only way to detect unregistered vehicles in the ACT? Surely the RTA can do a print-out at any time of all the details; vehicle, rego number, name and address of registered owner etc. and then the patrol cars can make a home visit. While one officer is removing the plates off the car and issuing defect notices the other one can be checking out the property to see what stolen property is around and how the crop is growing. The RTA should make it a condition that plates have to be handed in immediately the rego expires and enforce non-compliance with heavy fines.
Physical police presence in the ‘hood is reassuring for those of us that are law abiding and sobering for those who aren’t.
Why is it that these days, nothing can be achieved unless the latest gee-whiz technology is being used followed by heaps of media spin?

So what you are saying is you want the Police to go over to every house where there was a car registered there and that is not out of rego? Are you mad? They would have to go to every single house in Canberra.

How are Police supposed to enter the property to check for stolen goods? The RTA give them a warrant at the same time?

My post was referring to UNREGISTERED vehicles, dimwit. Seeing that you appear to know everything, please advise me how unregistered vehicles were detected before RAPID?

What your plan doesn’t take into account are the cars undergoing full or partial restoration which will often still have plates while the work is done, that way they can be registered for single day permits in order to be driven to a mechanic or from a mechanic to a paintshop.

For many who restore older cars this is the best way to do it because tow trucks in Canberra charge so high its not funny.

The Traineediplomat4:28 am 09 Oct 11

Tooks said :

Wrong. A learner’s permit is just that – a permit. It is not a licence.

Wrong back. You get a learner’s licence not a “permit”, but semantics is an evil mistress. Check out rego.act.gov.au. Onto an unwarranted theory, perhaps she had no licence and when pulled over said “oh I’m a learner” or “just doing some log book practice” or something. Or even has held a learner’s licence before but never progressed to “Ps”

Tooks said :

Wrong. A learner’s permit is just that – a permit. It is not a licence.

Um, No, Wrong. It is a Learner Licence. There is no such thing as a learner’s permit in the ACT.

dungfungus said :

buzz819 said :

dungfungus said :

Why do mobile police patrols with a “cool” acronym and bristling with technology have to be the only way to detect unregistered vehicles in the ACT? Surely the RTA can do a print-out at any time of all the details; vehicle, rego number, name and address of registered owner etc. and then the patrol cars can make a home visit. While one officer is removing the plates off the car and issuing defect notices the other one can be checking out the property to see what stolen property is around and how the crop is growing. The RTA should make it a condition that plates have to be handed in immediately the rego expires and enforce non-compliance with heavy fines.
Physical police presence in the ‘hood is reassuring for those of us that are law abiding and sobering for those who aren’t.
Why is it that these days, nothing can be achieved unless the latest gee-whiz technology is being used followed by heaps of media spin?

So what you are saying is you want the Police to go over to every house where there was a car registered there and that is not out of rego? Are you mad? They would have to go to every single house in Canberra.

How are Police supposed to enter the property to check for stolen goods? The RTA give them a warrant at the same time?

My post was referring to UNREGISTERED vehicles, dimwit. Seeing that you appear to know everything, please advise me how unregistered vehicles were detected before RAPID?

hey dimwit why should the police have access to my garage just because one of my motorbikes is unregistered? I have two and only register one at a time (one is a better summer bike, one is better in winter). I am allowed to keep the plates provided i register them once every 12 months

You know it’s perfectly legal to not register your car as long as you don’t drive it on the road. For example, if you are going overseas for a period of time you can keep your car unregistered for up to a year before you need to re-register it without having to go get an inspection. It’s not illegal to own an unregistered car – just to drive one on the road.

ScienceRules said :

Also, I’m pretty sure that they are looking for unregistered vehicles that are on the roads, not on blocks in someone’s front yard.

That’s right. There’s no law against owning an unregistered vehicle, it only becomes an issue when an unregistered vehicle is used on a road or road related area.

dungfungus said :

My post was referring to UNREGISTERED vehicles, dimwit. Seeing that you appear to know everything, please advise me how unregistered vehicles were detected before RAPID?

And what are the police going to do when they get there, and find an unregistered car parked at a house? Charge you with owning an unregistered car? Oh that’s right…the offence is DRIVING an unregistered vehicle…so I guess they’ll invite you to take a drive down the road, so they can grab you then? Or do you think they should stake out all of these homes, waiting for someone to go for a drive, and then nab them?

Before RAPID, unregistered cars were detected any number of ways. If you were stopped for a Random Breath Test, they’d check your rego label. Pulled over for another offence, they’d check. And by using the highly sophisticated ‘using their eyes’ method while out on patrol. I was once pulled over by a motorcycle cop – fortunately, my car was registered, I’d just neglected to put the new label on – but he spotted it while riding on the road.

I’m pretty sure that you’ll find that all of these methods are still used – I very much doubt the police have decided since they’ve got RAPID now, everyone else can just stop looking.

ScienceRules wrote:
“I’m pretty sure that the idea of RAPID is to make the best use of available resources. You can have one or two officers checking thousands of cars a day while driving around but doorknocking takes the efficiencies away. Also, I’m pretty sure that they are looking for unregistered vehicles that are on the roads, not on blocks in someone’s front yard”
You really believe that a RAPID car driving around (most are static at the roadside) checking 7000 cars to bag 22 unregistered is efficient? The RTA with one keystroke can give a printout of every unregistered vehicle in the Territory so the police can “do a milkrun” to the addresses; that’s efficiency.
If the unregistered vehicle is on blocks on someone’s front yard they simply remove the plates. They are probably chasing the owner for unpaid fines and outstanding warrants as well. If the vehicle is still be driven then they can act accordingly by issuing a fine, affixing a defect notice and removing the plates. How many times do we hear of villians doing a runner at a petrol station using false plates to avoid being traced? Recent statistics reveal that unregistered vehicles are predominant in serious motor vehicle accidents. And who complains about increasing CTP premiums?

krats said :

And the numbers of unregistered cars will only increase if the ACT goes ahead with abolising vehicle restoration labels.

why, doesnt it make sense having everything linked to your numberplate? You can easily check rego online (just with the numberplate, nothing else). If you’re clumsy get a permanent marker and write the expiry date on the glass

dungfungus said :

buzz819 said :

dungfungus said :

So what you are saying is you want the Police to go over to every house where there was a car registered there and that is not out of rego? Are you mad? They would have to go to every single house in Canberra.

How are Police supposed to enter the property to check for stolen goods? The RTA give them a warrant at the same time?

My post was referring to UNREGISTERED vehicles, dimwit. Seeing that you appear to know everything, please advise me how unregistered vehicles were detected before RAPID?

Dimwit? Do you have any idea what you are typing, or do you find that you drift in and out?

Why would Police go to a place where there might be an unregistered vehicle, for an infringement offence of not returning number plates? Do you know how many vehicles would be recorded as being unregistered from any different house?

You are the dimwit that expects Police to look for unregistered vehicles that might just be having some mechanical work being done to them, being done up, or used as scrap? Should these people be fined for that? If the car isn’t out the front, they can’t really do anything, so really another reason why it would be a waste of time.

Then you go onto say that Police would then be able to wonder around the property looking for stolen property and cannabis? Where do they get the power to enter these premises?

But good work, Armchair Constable, you shall get a promotion to Armchair Constable Who Shouldn’t talk to others.

How were they found before RAPID? By looking at that little label that shows what month and year it is registered till, then a rego check etc. Are you really that daft that you thought people weren’t caught before RAPID? Or are you just upset that you don’t have a job with a “cool” acronym?

dungfungus said :

buzz819 said :

dungfungus said :

Why do mobile police patrols with a “cool” acronym and bristling with technology have to be the only way to detect unregistered vehicles in the ACT? Surely the RTA can do a print-out at any time of all the details; vehicle, rego number, name and address of registered owner etc. and then the patrol cars can make a home visit. While one officer is removing the plates off the car and issuing defect notices the other one can be checking out the property to see what stolen property is around and how the crop is growing. The RTA should make it a condition that plates have to be handed in immediately the rego expires and enforce non-compliance with heavy fines.
Physical police presence in the ‘hood is reassuring for those of us that are law abiding and sobering for those who aren’t.
Why is it that these days, nothing can be achieved unless the latest gee-whiz technology is being used followed by heaps of media spin?

So what you are saying is you want the Police to go over to every house where there was a car registered there and that is not out of rego? Are you mad? They would have to go to every single house in Canberra.

How are Police supposed to enter the property to check for stolen goods? The RTA give them a warrant at the same time?

My post was referring to UNREGISTERED vehicles, dimwit. Seeing that you appear to know everything, please advise me how unregistered vehicles were detected before RAPID?

I wouldn’t be throwing the dimwit tag around when you’re advocating that instead of using the technology available (which would definitely be more cost-effective) that police should go door to door in the case of unregistered vehicles. Being that the car is unregistered, how are they supposed to ascertain that where the driver of that unregistered car lives? I’ve got a car out the front which has been unregistered for a couple of years now, it’s last rego was for my mate across the road. Are you expecting that the police then question the last registered owner of the house, then start the trail from there just to fine a person for an unregistered car? I dont think you’ve thought this quite through given the resources restraints police currently have even getting patrol cars out on the streets.

krats said :

I meant to say registration labels

I’m not sure how you’re coming to this conclusion. You do realise we already have number plates which the RAPID car is scanning to ensure registration, no label required, same when police do roadside checks.

I glad they’re doing away with rego stickers if that’s actually happening. When you can pay rego online, can check registration online, and cars already have identifying plates, what’s the point of having a sticker? It’s a bit outdated.

ScienceRules10:48 am 08 Oct 11

How are Police supposed to enter the property to check for stolen goods? The RTA give them a warrant at the same time?

My post was referring to UNREGISTERED vehicles, dimwit. Seeing that you appear to know everything, please advise me how unregistered vehicles were detected before RAPID?

I’m pretty sure that the idea of RAPID is to make the best use of available resources. You can have one or two officers checking thousands of cars a day while driving around but doorknocking takes the efficiencies away. Also, I’m pretty sure that they are looking for unregistered vehicles that are on the roads, not on blocks in someone’s front yard.

buzz819 said :

dungfungus said :

Why do mobile police patrols with a “cool” acronym and bristling with technology have to be the only way to detect unregistered vehicles in the ACT? Surely the RTA can do a print-out at any time of all the details; vehicle, rego number, name and address of registered owner etc. and then the patrol cars can make a home visit. While one officer is removing the plates off the car and issuing defect notices the other one can be checking out the property to see what stolen property is around and how the crop is growing. The RTA should make it a condition that plates have to be handed in immediately the rego expires and enforce non-compliance with heavy fines.
Physical police presence in the ‘hood is reassuring for those of us that are law abiding and sobering for those who aren’t.
Why is it that these days, nothing can be achieved unless the latest gee-whiz technology is being used followed by heaps of media spin?

So what you are saying is you want the Police to go over to every house where there was a car registered there and that is not out of rego? Are you mad? They would have to go to every single house in Canberra.

How are Police supposed to enter the property to check for stolen goods? The RTA give them a warrant at the same time?

My post was referring to UNREGISTERED vehicles, dimwit. Seeing that you appear to know everything, please advise me how unregistered vehicles were detected before RAPID?

dungfungus said :

Why do mobile police patrols with a “cool” acronym and bristling with technology have to be the only way to detect unregistered vehicles in the ACT? Surely the RTA can do a print-out at any time of all the details; vehicle, rego number, name and address of registered owner etc. and then the patrol cars can make a home visit. While one officer is removing the plates off the car and issuing defect notices the other one can be checking out the property to see what stolen property is around and how the crop is growing. The RTA should make it a condition that plates have to be handed in immediately the rego expires and enforce non-compliance with heavy fines.
Physical police presence in the ‘hood is reassuring for those of us that are law abiding and sobering for those who aren’t.
Why is it that these days, nothing can be achieved unless the latest gee-whiz technology is being used followed by heaps of media spin?

So what you are saying is you want the Police to go over to every house where there was a car registered there and that is not out of rego? Are you mad? They would have to go to every single house in Canberra.

How are Police supposed to enter the property to check for stolen goods? The RTA give them a warrant at the same time?

Why do mobile police patrols with a “cool” acronym and bristling with technology have to be the only way to detect unregistered vehicles in the ACT? Surely the RTA can do a print-out at any time of all the details; vehicle, rego number, name and address of registered owner etc. and then the patrol cars can make a home visit. While one officer is removing the plates off the car and issuing defect notices the other one can be checking out the property to see what stolen property is around and how the crop is growing. The RTA should make it a condition that plates have to be handed in immediately the rego expires and enforce non-compliance with heavy fines.
Physical police presence in the ‘hood is reassuring for those of us that are law abiding and sobering for those who aren’t.
Why is it that these days, nothing can be achieved unless the latest gee-whiz technology is being used followed by heaps of media spin?

I meant to say registration labels

And the numbers of unregistered cars will only increase if the ACT goes ahead with abolising vehicle restoration labels.

gooterz said :

what_the said :

Well of course she’s an unlicensed Learner, how can you be a licensed learner when you’re on a permit?? Who writes these things? At least it didn’t have alleged in it fifty billion times for things that are actual facts.

Two things: You need a licence to learn to drive. Meaning that you’ve done the theory and have taken steps to learn to drive properly! Also a learner needs someone with experience in the car to teach them. She had an unlicenced person so fails on two counts!

Thirdly she had a kid in the car! Learners have the highest accident rate and having a small child in the car is both dangerous to them (espically since no one in the car knows how to drive) and distracting!

How well does rapid work in a car park?

Wrong. A learner’s permit is just that – a permit. It is not a licence.

gooterz said :

Learners have the highest accident rate

no. licensed learner drivers are the safest on the road. P1 drivers are the most dangerous.

mr_wowtrousers11:09 pm 07 Oct 11

@what_the – agreed. I have a 6cylinder and a bike and just had to plank down $600 for the bike, car coming up soon. I couldn’t help but notice that almost $400 of the rego fee for the bike was CTP.

I note that the NSW government is undertaking an internal review after it was noticed that the insurance companies were doing, ahem, “very well” (25%+ profits) out of green slips by consistently overestimating payout amounts and jacking up premium prices:

http://smh.drive.com.au/roads-and-traffic/the-25-billion-green-slip-slap-20110917-1kf01.html

Apparently “The Insurance Council refused to comment but its submission says the system is effective and equitable.”

I am sure they think it is . . .

what_the said :

Well of course she’s an unlicensed Learner, how can you be a licensed learner when you’re on a permit?? Who writes these things? At least it didn’t have alleged in it fifty billion times for things that are actual facts.

Two things: You need a licence to learn to drive. Meaning that you’ve done the theory and have taken steps to learn to drive properly! Also a learner needs someone with experience in the car to teach them. She had an unlicenced person so fails on two counts!

Thirdly she had a kid in the car! Learners have the highest accident rate and having a small child in the car is both dangerous to them (espically since no one in the car knows how to drive) and distracting!

How well does rapid work in a car park?

what_the said :

Well of course she’s an unlicensed Learner, how can you be a licensed learner when you’re on a permit?? Who writes these things?

Learner license expired i think, but i agree with you its poorly written. Judging by that car vs bus thread, i don’t think it will change in the next generation

Driving along Parkes Way into the City yesterday, I saw a car pulled over by one of the RAPID cars. Today, there was another – pulled over by the same RAPID car, in almost exactly the same position. Took a moment and a bit of thinking to decide that it wasn’t in fact deja vu!

I’m kinda surprised though – I’d have thought that scanning 7000 cars would be all part of a normal day’s work for the RAPID fleet, not the result of any type of special effort. My understanding of the RAPID technology is that none of the equipped cars should have any dramas scanning each and every car they come across in Canberra traffic, and surely these cars would spend a lot of time every day driving around scanning merrily away. Each car scanning a few thousand plates a day shouldn’t be that uncommon?

Well of course she’s an unlicensed Learner, how can you be a licensed learner when you’re on a permit?? Who writes these things? At least it didn’t have alleged in it fifty billion times for things that are actual facts.

And if police are concerned about the rising number of unregistered cars, maybe they should have a chat to the ACT RTA, I just got renewal – $800 for a 4 cylinder and $600 for my motorcycle. No surprises in the rise of unregistered when the rego fee is catching up to the unregistered fine.

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