Road traffic offensive

[fordfreak]

This afternoon, driving round in very wet conditions i became the victim of a NSW police officer.

I was doing a u-turn at the top of a hill. As you can imagine, wheel spin is something that happens fairly easily in a 5 speed AU xr6 ute. BEcause I was making a 180 degree turn it encouraged the LSD to take over.
Honestly, this wasn't entirely intentional. the wheelspin last for a couple of seconds - I didn't fish tail or loose control of the car. Was only a U-turn?

What is a professional way of explaining that due to the road conditions this happened?

the police officer couldn't fault me in anything else, although he looked under the bonnet, checked all the lights, tyres, etc. etc. Had my license, no alcohol.

He said the fine would come in the mail - no documents given to me on the spot. Am i actually likely to receive it?

FYI some of the polices comments: "its a tickford...so she has all the gear"
"You have traction control don't you?" My reply was "well yes ABS, but it doesn't do a whole lot during wet conditions does it".
"They are very light on the back end..."
He saw my extractors...wasn;t fussed.

[ebxr82nv]

Abs is not traction control. Not sure if any au xrs got it at all and if they did it was useless.

[fordfreak]

Originally Posted by ebxr82nv

Abs is not traction control. Not sure if any au xrs got it at all and if they did it was useless.

thank you thank you....

anything else you can recommend?

[blackf6]

If it was an accident and you are prepared to back your side of the event. Take the matter to court.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by teak81

If it was an accident and you are prepared to back your side of the event. Take the matter to court.

where the magistrate will ask, 'did you break traction'?

and when you answer yes, the offence is proven.

[ebxr82nv]

Originally Posted by b0son

where the magistrate will ask, 'did you break traction'?

and when you answer yes, the offence is proven.

Depends on the definition of the offence, you will have to wait and see what they do you for. Was it a highway or gd copper?

[2011G6E]

Originally Posted by b0son

where the magistrate will ask, 'did you break traction'?

and when you answer yes, the offence is proven.

exactly.

Welcome to the world of laws which state that if you aren't in absolute, 100% control of every aspect of your vehicle at all times no matter what road conditions, no matter what surprise pops up and means you lose control for even a second, you will be fined for it if Plod is around...because no one is allowed to be human, don'tcha know...
Plenty of motorcyclists have been fined for coming off their bike in greasy wet conditions or on patches of gravel in a corner for "not maintaining adequate control" or some similar wording...

[xxx000]

Originally Posted by 2011G6E

exactly.

Welcome to the world of laws which state that if you aren't in absolute, 100% control of every aspect of your vehicle at all times no matter what road conditions, no matter what surprise pops up and means you lose control for even a second, you will be fined for it if Plod is around...because no one is allowed to be human, don'tcha know...
Plenty of motorcyclists have been fined for coming off their bike in greasy wet conditions or on patches of gravel in a corner for "not maintaining adequate control" or some similar wording...

and this has always been the case, it's nothing new

[fordfreak]

thinking about it....ABS is a Anti Lock braking system.
Why didn't i think about this at the time??
ABS has nothing to do with loosing traction upon acceleration in rainy/wet conditions.

[nstg8a]

I don't understand the 'victim' part?

[fordfreak]

Will the fine have the offensive written on it? Sorry ive never had a fine before!

Yes was a highway patrol.

I don't believe breaking traction would be an offensive.

[b0son]

Originally Posted by fordfreak

I don't believe breaking traction would be an offensive.

and yet despite your beliefs, it most certainly is.

[pauljh74]

If the instant you lost traction you got off the throttle you might have had a chance. A couple of seconds means you got them spinning a little and kept it up.

[93EB_SXR6]

Unfortunately you don't have a leg to stand on. You pretty much just have to cop it on the chin and hope they don't try to get you for dangerous driving. Speak to a lawyer once you get the charges.

[ebxr82nv]

If it was a highway there's no reason he wouldn't have given it to you on the spot. They carry infringement books with them. More likely he just wanted to scare you. If nothing turns up in the next 3 weeks I'd say you're in the clear. If the offence is stated as "loss of traction" you're screwed but if its a "burnout" take it to court. Did he say what the fine would be for? And are you a p plater?

[lucas2]

In Victoria they could have impounded the car on the spot. "Loss of traction" is deemed a "hoon" offence, this had happened to a friend of mine in a similar situation to you. It really needs to be a case by case situation, a couple of times when its freshly wet I've had the wheels spin unintentionally and caught me by surprise.

[ebxr8240]

Take it to court any way..
The inside wheel will do this on utes with LSD ..
Just say you wanted to turn the safest way ..
Don't worry "in this case" about a lawyer unless its free..
Chances are you wont get a fine BTW..

[b0son]

Originally Posted by ebxr8240

Just say you wanted to turn the safest way

Anyone who tries to equate wheelspin with the safest way will be laughed out of court.

[cheap]

1. Unsafe driving
2. Lack of control
3. Something else

He's probably gone back to the station to discuss with the other coppers as to which offence to use for the situation.

[ebxr82nv]

^^^^^^wow!

[chevypower]

Wow is this an offense in mud too? Better make sure you have AWD to avoid this kind of porcine corruption.

[MercurySilver]

Good lord you'll get done for changing CDs with the push of a button one day.

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by MercurySilver

Good lord you'll get done for changing CDs with the push of a button one day.

You can get done for that... 'driving without due care' or something like that. Of course, at the descretion of the booking officer if they think you took your eyes off the road for long enough.

[prydey]

what i find odd is that people think doing a U turn without breaking traction is a difficult task??

being a manual makes it even more laughable.

[Maka]

The hwp officer probably saw you didnt lift off the throttle when your AU broke traction & heard the revs increase, so he busted you unfortunately.

cheers, Maka

[jpd80]

Unless you've made some attempt to back off the power and redress the wheel spin situation, I think he has you.

A similar thing happened to me a few years back turning right at a stop sign, I didn't see the RBT up the road
but had the good sense to quickly back out of wheel spin on a damp road so no bad... the copper said as much..

[Nikked]

You didn't drive to the conditions of the road, pay the fine, don't clog up a court system and waste tax payers money on something so trivial.

[GREGL]

Originally Posted by Nikked

You didn't drive to the conditions of the road, pay the fine, don't clog up a court system and waste tax payers money on something so trivial.

Perhaps the so called offence should be deemed trivial before it gets to that point !

[wodahs]

its a petty reason maybe but still the law and as others said if you get a fine they will have reason doesn't mean the court may show leniency but to me sounds like your still spinning your wheels n getting now where
ps the fine may also be less than what you end up walking away from court with is it worth that chance ?

[Rockape]

Its getting way to strict. People just seam happy to take it.