Illegal speed trapping tonight!

[Gomario]

Honestly, I never thought you were a Police officer.

The amount of twaddle that you utter and just how little you know about the operation of the law and the policeforce in this country has been enough to show that from the first time you claimed to be a "cop".

I hope you've learned something about South Africans here, in that you can talk twaddle but the chances are we won't believe you anyway.

Hmmm . . . Actually I ain't so sure about the last paragraph. Are you sure I am not a real cop ? By reading some 'cop treads' in this forum, I guess I am pretty much behaving like one Wouldn't you say so? Anyway, let's chat more about the topic at hand and less about me. If you don't like my postings just press the 'ignore' button And concerning the 2 fines you 'illegaly' got for overspeeding, my advice is to put them to good use - next time you have a barberue. If you ever get in trouble because of them, tell the Judge about this nice forum and the advice you got from the cop 'gomario'. I hold thumbs for you (oops I have to cut short the post - school bell is ringing -)

 

[Frankie]

Ok. You people assume everything is working by the book, which obviously is not ! You are quick to apply the law when it suits. Fine. Remember this is 2009 ! Of course you can prove some of the warrants where issued wrong but do you think the police man, checking your vehicle on a sunday afternoon 1000km away, will believe you or the arrest warrant? Trust me, you'll be locked up in no time and if you resist (rightfuly or not) you'll be charged for that too. I witnessed quite a few of this over the years. I could'nt care less if the warrant is wrong. Is not my work to check the validity thereoff. At the start of the holidays I am getting a batch of warrants from all over which I try to 'jackpot' and that's it. Jeffrey's Bay is a very popular vacation place. And N2 (the Garden Route) is very busy. Lots and lots of GP number plates too. The modus operandi on the police's site is not quite right either but this is how it is and it works. I am not going to get into that. Usually I tell the suspect to stop crying/screening/kicking etc and contact his/her layer immediately to sort out the *****. If none of the other passagers have a valid drivers licence, I even organise for a constable to drive the vehicle to the nearest town (usually only a few km away). Some passagers are cross,some rude. Usually, after a few ours of waiting next to the road, the tempers calm down and they agree to be driven away. I can tell you lots of stories like this. Once I had a 4year old boy running on N2 after the police van, taking his dad away All what I am asking for is PLEASE sort out the issues BEFORE I get you ! A start to a nice holiday can quickly turn into a nightmare ! Yes, some of the warrants may and are issued wrong (most are Ok though - or at least I hope so).Either way, I MUST lock you up REGARDLES ! If you ever get into a situation like this, please DO NOT resist arrest ! That will be another charge and you'll be found guilty regardless. Don't try to explain anything to the SAPD members on the scene. Is not their duty nor authority to question the validity of such warrant ! You'll be taken to the local police station (arrested) and detained there untill the next day when you'll be taken to court. Here is the place where you can and should explain whatever you have to say. You'll be released (unless you hurt or damaged something during the arresting procedure - in which case the cops will be there and arrest you on that case right away !) I know is IDIOTIC the whole procedure, but this is how it is. I close this debate (from my site), by once again begging you to: - PLEASE, if there is half a chance that a arrest warrant is issued in your name, get to the bottom of the story before the cops get you !

We should keep my privat life out of the discussion (actually this does not matter anymore now). I am not South African at all. I like to play the Devil's Advocate in different forums and countries. The only rule I have is - don't blatantly insult forum users ! Depending to the forum and countrie, in some places I get away with more then in others. This expands my insight in the minds of otherwise different people. Most readers in this forum take me for a south african police man. That alone says a lot. I remember a similiar discussion, on a Australian forum a few years ago, turned out quite differently. I learned quite a bit about the Aussies that time around . I hope you've learned something too - N E V E R see/accept as facts things you read on the net ! ! ! No matter how convincing they may sound. Friendly greetings and all the best

Now I wonder why most here would "take you for a South African police man" ??

So how long did it take the Aussies to pick-up on your duplicity?

 

[ToxicBunny]

Hmmm . . . Actually I ain't so sure about the last paragraph. Are you sure I am not a real cop ? By reading some 'cop treads' in this forum, I guess I am pretty much behaving like one Wouldn't you say so? Anyway, let's chat more about the topic at hand and less about me. If you don't like my postings just press the 'ignore' button And concerning the 2 fines you 'illegaly' got for overspeeding, my advice is to put them to good use - next time you have a barberue. If you ever get in trouble because of them, tell the Judge about this nice forum and the advice you got from the cop 'gomario'. I hold thumbs for you (oops I have to cut short the post - school bell is ringing -)

Yes I'm sure you're not a cop, because the BS you spout about how the cops operate is patently illegal.

As for how the cops behave, possibly.. but behaving on duty and behaving off-duty are two different things... You are a troll, and unless you correct your behaviour you can expect your posts to start being reported as such.

We're talking about the issue at hand, you claimed to be a cop in a previous thread, then denied it in this thread but are still "pretending" to be one and spouting spurious advice.

As for the 2 fines I illegally got, I will not pay them, I will wait for the cops to do the legwork and find me and issues me with a valid summons, where upon I will go to the public prosecutor and tell them to nullify the fines and the summons or that I will proceed to take the police station in question to court for trapping illegally and that I will do so VERY publicly. There is no grey area with this one, the court ruling was pretty much cut and dried on this one.

 

[Gomario]

Hey, did you check that 22y old chap in Ctown (M5) doing 221kmh in a 100kmh zone? He has been caught by the 'ghost squad'. I sort of like that name. But is it legal? I am sure not (according to you). @Toxic please enlighten us. What exactly does that funny named squad do? I assume they are driving in unmarked vehicles and do not wear police uniforms? Surely they are illegal Aren't they supposed to stick to the rules and guide lines you talk about? Hmmm . . . As a second thought, perhaps you should not use the fines you got for overspeeding, the way I recommended in my last post looking forward to read what you come up with this time around. Nice tread

 

[Frankie]

Hey, did you check that 22y old chap in Ctown (M5) doing 221kmh in a 100kmh zone? He has been caught by the 'ghost squad'. I sort of like that name. But is it legal? I am sure not (according to you). @Toxic please enlighten us. What exactly does that funny named squad do? I assume they are driving in unmarked vehicles and do not wear police uniforms? Surely they are illegal Aren't they supposed to stick to the rules and guide lines you talk about? Hmmm . . . As a second thought, perhaps you should not use the fines you got for overspeeding, the way I recommended in my last post looking forward to read what you come up with this time around. Nice tread

Do you think that the so called "ghost squad" have the balls to take on the serious threat to road safety like the taxis?
Do you have the balls to take them on?

I don't think so.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Well no I didn't hear about the 22y/o caught doing 221 in CPT. (do you have a link to verify your claims, because anything you post is BS until you provide a story or law, etc to back up your post)

As for my response (should it be a true story), is do the ghost squad have evidence of the man doing 221kph such as court admissable photos, where they chasing him?, where they were full traffic officer uniforms when they pulled him over?, did they use dangerous tactics when pulling him over? These are all questions that need to be answered because should say they not have been wearing full traffic officer uniforms, or not have decent court admissable evidence, then they open themselves up to procedural challenges.

 

[Slootvreter]

Speed trapping in ZA is for profit only. I remember when they caught Lolly Jackson doing 280+, they packed up and left, as if they got the big fish now. Never mind those who are speeding afterwards.

 

[quiksilver]

Coincidentally there was a Special Assignment episode last night about illegal speed trapping. Very interesting show. The Traffic dept blames the private companies and the private companies have no comment.

I think it's similar to a Nigerian scam. They send out 1000 illegal fines and it's a profit for them if 100 people pay.

When I get a fine I always write them a letter and 98% of the time they reduce the fine amount. Sometimes you don't even hear from them again as it was thrown out.

 

[Smooth Criminal]

Coincidentally there was a Special Assignment episode last night about illegal speed trapping. Very interesting show. The Traffic dept blames the private companies and the private companies have no comment.

I think it's similar to a Nigerian scam. They send out 1000 illegal fines and it's a profit for them if 100 people pay.

When I get a fine I always write them a letter and 98% of the time they reduce the fine amount. Sometimes you don't even hear from them again as it was thrown out.

While it's cool that illegal fines are discarded once you write to them, the real problem is why should we always have to inconvenience ourselves (which often costs us time and/or money) to prove our innocence? I'd like to see some form of regulatory body handling this on our behalf.

 

[chris2.0]

I'd be all for LEGAL speed fines if the proceeds goes to the RAF and NOT the cops/municipalities...

 

[ToxicBunny]

Actually thats a good idea.... needs more refinement, I don't trust the RAF as far as I could spit at them.... but hey... rather than enriching a municipality, etc... it should go to a public fund related to transport

 

[Gomario]

Nobody in here knows about the existance of the Ctown 'Ghost Squad'. It looks like they are doing a great job in keeping themself out of the public eye. Obviously they are more effective that way. I wonder why South Africa has to revert to such 'low blow' tactics. I might just be right after all. Visible policing only can do so much in preventing infringements/crimes (proactive policing) If the nr. of law breakers is very high, reactive policing has to kick in. How do you chaps feel about fines issued when not stopping at a STOP sign. You seem to have plenty of this stupid STOP streeds all over (I belive they are called 4way STOP). Should this fines be considered illegal too?

 

[rebel998]

I remember Joburg had a ghost squad many years back. Do they still exist? If I recall correctly they used motorbikes.

 

[milomak]

That special assignment was actually very interesting.

 

[Beetman]

Nobody in here knows about the existance of the Ctown 'Ghost Squad'. It looks like they are doing a great job in keeping themself out of the public eye. Obviously they are more effective that way. I wonder why South Africa has to revert to such 'low blow' tactics. I might just be right after all. Visible policing only can do so much in preventing infringements/crimes (proactive policing) If the nr. of law breakers is very high, reactive policing has to kick in. How do you chaps feel about fines issued when not stopping at a STOP sign. You seem to have plenty of this stupid STOP streeds all over (I belive they are called 4way STOP). Should this fines be considered illegal too?

yip of course not stopping dead, only slowing down to 10kph is just as dangerous as the overloaded taxi's driving recklessly....

And its fine to give me a R500 fine while not bothering to patrol for these taxi's as they will not pay the fines in anyway....

Traffic law enforcement is about the money, not about safety in this country.

 

[Gomario]

Well, fines issued by the police are not paid into the Municipality's coffers, are they? Hmmm . . . Can't recall a Ghost Squad in Jhb. However the Capetown one, is very much 'alive and kicking' I like the idea of a culture of non payment. Anarchy is the way to go in Africa. Only total anarchy is true freedom. If I want laws I reside in the rainy Europe But then again, lawlessness has its draw back As my grany says: choices, choices and more choices - welcome to the 21st century. Can't wait to get my drivers licence

 

[ToxicBunny]

Who is talking about anarchy....

We're talking about making sure the police do the job they're supposed to instead of turning laws into profit making enterprises.

There is a reason I have no time for the Metro police, of ANY city...they're useless and money-hungry

 

[kevinswan007]

Well, fines issued by the police are not paid into the Municipality's coffers, are they? Hmmm . . . Can't recall a Ghost Squad in Jhb. However the Capetown one, is very much 'alive and kicking' I like the idea of a culture of non payment. Anarchy is the way to go in Africa. Only total anarchy is true freedom. If I want laws I reside in the rainy Europe But then again, lawlessness has its draw back As my grany says: choices, choices and more choices - welcome to the 21st century. Can't wait to get my drivers licence

I heard the government (municipalities) make R30 million a month from speeding fines country wide. Im sure thats whats declared!

 

[Hosehead]

The CPT Ghost squad drive late model white VW golfs with CCT Reg Plates. They are easily identified from behind as they have 2 blue lights inside the upper rear hatchback window, one in each top corner. Two blue shirted traffic cops (senior ones) are in each. There are currently 4 Honda Pan European/ST 1300 motorcycles, all solid colours, white, green and blue. Harder to spot, but if it's a pan European (Honda Sports Tourer 1300cc) with full fairing chances are its the Ghost squad. This is what the bikes look like minus the rear box. Honda city center supplies and services these for the squad. So if you see one there, give the kickstand a push and say "oops" to no one in particular.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honda_ST1300

 

[Gomario]

@Hosehead Tx for that info bud I'll tell my dad to be on the lookout when we come to Ctown next year. Do they work only 08:00 to 16:00 or after hours too?