The Victorian Police Force, Hard at Work
29 Oct, 2007
56 Comments 
Two acts of hypocrisy and idiocy have enraged me this week, both originating at the hands of the Victorian Police Force.
Firstly, according to the VicRoads Road Rules manual, in particular -
Part 11 - Rule 130 - 1: b) - http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/Home/Cars/RoadRulesRegulations/
130. Keeping to the left on a multi-lane road
(1) This rule applies to a driver driving on a multi-lane road if—
(a) the speed-limit applying to the driver for the length of road where the
driver is driving is over 80 kilometres per hour; or
(b) a keep left unless overtaking sign applies to the length of road where
the driver is driving.
You would assume that if anyone, the Police would understand the road rules and if not, big white signs that read “Keep Left Unless Overtaking.” Unfortunately, the undercover Police officer I followed from Melbourne to Geelong not only didn’t adhere to the sign on any occasions, he also felt it necessary to exceed the speed limit for the entire 80km trip.
If breaking the ‘keep left’ rule wasn’t bad enough, a marked Police car then approached the undercover vehicle out of nowhere. After two or three seconds, the undercover Police car moved from the right hand lane to let the marked Police car pass. Soon after passing, the marked Police car accelerated to approximately 115km/h and continued at that speed all the way into Geelong and through two fixed speed cameras deviously attached to the back of overpasses.
After catching up to both vehicles again at the set of traffic lights entering Geelong, I was able to follow both vehicles back to the Geelong Police station where they pulled in. At no point during the entire journey did either vehicle have lights or sirens on. Also, at no point during the journey did either vehicle make a stop. So it can only be assumed both vehicles were exceeding the speed limit for no valid reason.
It can also be assumed that any pending speeding fines will happily be cleared from the register soon after the vehicles in the photos are identified as Police vehicles. It’s nice to see the Victorian Police Force employing double standards.
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The second gripe I have encountered this week was with regards to a stolen vehicle and the lack of attention given by the Police. Just over one month ago, I reported a stolen vehicle to the Police that had been dumped at a highway-facing car park (KFC car park, Westgate Freeway, city bound).
I reported that the vehicle had a smashed driver’s side window and had several people surrounding the car soon before I drove over. To my surprise, after arriving back at the same location one week ago, the same car was still there, in the same park.
The part that sent my levels of rage into the red occurred yesterday evening, when the same car was in the same spot, except vandalised within inches of its life:
So if you ever encounter the unfortunate circumstance of having your car stolen, rest assured that the Police are hard at work - doing absolutely nothing about it. Obviously charging people for exceeding the speed limit by 3km/h is a greater priority than returning one’s form of transport and stopping hooligans from vandalising anything that moves.
- Paul Maric
Location: Home / Speeding, Road Rules, Holden, Safety, Opinion / ...
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October 29th, 2007 at 8:20 pm
I hear ya :)
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October 29th, 2007 at 8:33 pm
i heard cop say that he can get caught riding a 600cc motorbike while on his 250cc licence and can promise that the other cops will do absolutely nothing about it. seems the police have an immunity against all crimes!
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October 29th, 2007 at 8:49 pm
Arsenalroc:
I’ve heard similar stories about Police being pulled over - along with ambo’s - and all they do is flash the badge and they turn a blind eye - how convenient.
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October 29th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
My first question is why were you driving to Geelong? Geelongians deserve everything they get. I know first hand, I am an ex-pat of normal society living in Geelong. And secondly report the car to council, we had one in a Safeway carpark in Highton and the council took it. Thirdly on the Geelong road as any regular (and normal non-geelongian) would know, one has to stay in the right lane for much of the journey as most geelong drivers do 90-95, IF YOU ARE LUCKY! Many think they cameras will get you for doing dead on 100! Seriously they do. The left lane (for anyone who knows that 100kph on most speedos is not 100kph) is a complete write off and the centre lane is a sometimes affair. And lastly, Vic has the lowest crime rate of any state so I don’t much care if they drive on the right, speed (they are given training) and ignore dero cars. They are also quite underpaid compared with every other state. No I am not a cop nor am I related to one. I speak for pragmatism and common sense.
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October 29th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
hear hear nick,
its all well and good to pay out on speed cameras and every other “life saver” implemented by the government but the simple fact is the police are doing a job. i have no problem with the police infact i respect them immensly, thye have a tough job arent paid enough and its the ********* that hang **** on them that makes it all the worse. they are doing a job and nothing more. they dont make the rules they just enforce them and u know what, who cares if they decide to do what they do. cut them some slack and focus on the real problem. the bigwigs in victorian parliament.
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October 29th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Police don’t have to obey the same arbitrary rules we peons do? I’m both shocked and outraged! No wait, just annoyed. Business as usual.
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October 29th, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I thing as the police, they have to set an example and obey the law. It really annoys me when they activate the siren, to get through a busy intersection, then once they’re through switch it off and go on thier way…
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October 29th, 2007 at 9:07 pm
quoting Nick: ’speed - they are given training’ - I didn’t realise that was the only requirement to enable you to drive above the posted arbitrary limit set by some other public service crud.
I seriously hoped that this was a tongue in cheek comment - unfortunately you seem to actually believe that… sheesh!
Common Sense? You haven’t found yours…
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October 29th, 2007 at 9:13 pm
Gleno - Don’t give us the the bullshit ‘just doing their job’ line.
You CHOOSE to do a job - and if you CHOOSE to do an arsehole’s bidding - you deserve all the horse shit you get.
Respect? I have yet to meet a Highway Patrol anyone who deserves it…. Maybe you should get to know some of these clowns personally. Egging on other drivers to speed is a lot of fun. Also they don’t mind drink driving. If only you knew the scum of the earth that is filling a vast majority of the Highway Patrol Officer’s boots. If only…
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October 29th, 2007 at 9:19 pm
Police car not keeping left on a freeway?
What has the world come to!!
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October 29th, 2007 at 9:32 pm
The Police really dont care what they do anymore, they are above the law, so why should they follow it, I have seen then do illegal uturns for no reason, put on their sirens to go thruogh traffic lights, hell I’ve even seen one drive with his hands hanging out the window! (QLD Police are scum)
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October 29th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Have to agree with some of the comments posted here - you really need to go a bit easier on the men in blue. For the amount of sh!t they cop day to day they aren’t getting paid well enough. Driving in the right lane is one of the only perks of their jobs!
As for the comments about cops just flashing their badges and getting off tickets - good luck because it doesn’t happen anymore. A close buddy of mine was a cop through the 80’s in southern Sydney and he said that rubbish was on its way out all the way back then.
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October 29th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Gleno:
So it’s OK to enforce rules that you don’t actually obey yourself?
Yeah, that’s great, everyone should pay taxes except debt collectors…they’re just doing their job.
Nick:
So anyone who has completed a defensive driving course should be allowed to speed? Yep, great thinking.
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October 29th, 2007 at 9:46 pm
I dont have any issues with the first points… given they are in their police car they are obviously commuting between tasks, means they get their quicker… a bad thing? And you say they were speeding… if they were speeding then obviously they are going faster then traffic, in which case they can stay in the far right lane to overtake…
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October 29th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
Hahaha, good one Toyota Paul.
Try using that excuse with a Police officer next time you’re pulled over - “Oh yeah…I was late for work, I’m commuting between tasks,” you’ll get laughed off the road.
There is absolutely no reason they should need to exceed the speed limit (unless it’s an emergency). The article says there were no lights & sirens and that they simply pulled into the Police station when they were done…
From what I can see in that photo Toyota Paul, there is no traffic to be overtaken!
I find it unbelievable there are so many suckers out there falling for this double standard crap the Police continually pull.
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October 29th, 2007 at 10:01 pm
And now, take a trip to SA. Bring Valium too.
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October 29th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
hey nick about cops being underpaid- go to every state.. they will tell you they are the least paid… it would be alright to ask fro a raise if they actually do their job properly but instead they are bullies- pure and simple.
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October 29th, 2007 at 10:18 pm
Benjie there shouldnt be an us vs them attitude like this article tries to perpetuate… cops have to do some of the worst jobs around for an avg income. No doubt their are some c*cks who pull you over for nothng, but at the same time there are also reasonable cops.
As for overtaking, unless Im seeing things there is a car that looks say 100m ahead, if your on the highway for example and your gaining on that car quickly (in this case due to speeding) then you dont just change lanes then change back do you… you continue on! As I said, I have no problems with them speeding if its warranted, you dont know why he was going fast… there could have been a reason.
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October 29th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Oh and dont get me wrong… I know speeding and all that is revenue raising bla bla bla. But looks beyond that:
a. They dont make the laws, government do, they have the job of enforcing them
b. Speeding tickets is one part of a far bigger job they do, a job which they risk their life in
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October 29th, 2007 at 10:26 pm
And just wandering, I dont know about the area in question… but it was an 80km trip… why would a cop car be travelling from one cop station pressumably in another area to another station… with what is potentially a marked car in support? Just throwing this out their, but maybe their is a reason? Was there for eg a person in their custody… maybe transporting for questioning… in which case you wouldnt have your sirens on BUT you wouldnt wanna dordle
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October 29th, 2007 at 11:04 pm
You’re so right, the cops are everywhere these days booking anyone for just going over the speed limit. Its absolute Bull S#$T that they can speed at anytime and wont get fined or anything and your average Joe who gets busted for going a few km/h over gets like a $150 fine.
It’s not fair
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October 29th, 2007 at 11:11 pm
The Police are not above the law, they also have to abide by the rules, they are no exception. That is what they tell the public, what goes on behind the scenes is totally different. One rule for them (none) and another for the rest of us. The Police couldn’t care less about rules or stolen cars, there’s no money in that, they would rather screw the public on road rules and fines to within an inch of our lives.
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October 29th, 2007 at 11:14 pm
I see Police cars exceeding the speed limits on a daily basis and like you, with no sirens or lights on etc. They do it beacuse they can get away with it, its that simple. What’s worse is that the courts will always believe the police over a law abiding citizen, so you are wasting your time trying to get out any type of parking or speeding fine, no matter what the circumstances.
“….. and justice for all” what a joke that statement is!
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October 30th, 2007 at 12:57 am
people exceeding the speed limit occurs all the time. its only when hooligans who break the speed limit too much to go fast to show off then trouble happens.
i think that commodore was problably an insurance job.
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October 30th, 2007 at 4:13 am
I like it when a cop speeds. means i can too!
and im serious. if you ever see a cop speed, just do the same speed as him and get to where youre going faster as well. as long as you dont gain on the cop or pass him, youre fine
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October 30th, 2007 at 6:25 am
To right ED, I was on highway Northern NSW and a 4cylinder Hyundai Excel overtook me at around 116kms hour. I tailgated some 6metres back and stuck at his speed. Some distance in front of us a cop car came over a hill and his lights on roof went off. He did a u-turn and pulled us over. He came up to me and said “You were speeding…” I said “Me, are you sure” He said “Well one of you were and as yours is a 6cylinder it would be you” I replied “But Iam the second car back from you and I find it hard to accept that” He then said “Why were you speeding” I said “I wasnt and I get sick of trucks right up behind my car pushing me along” He said “Well I cannot know clearly which one of you two cars were speeding so will give you a warning. If a truck is pushing you, pull over and let him overtake” I said “OK, but as I travel long distances, I cannot pull over every few minutes on a very busy highway willy nilly always” That was all he said to me. The car in front had the same warning too and we were let off.
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October 30th, 2007 at 8:59 am
Don’t worry Paul.
It’s apparent in other states too. WA in particular…
Re: the stolen car, I was just thinking the same thing. Not far from here is a Commodore. Yes, a VR as well. All windows smashed, all panels dented, etc. The only difference between it and these pics, is that it was green.
Oh, and it’s been there for about 2 weeks…
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October 30th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Speeding fines are revenue raising, getting a towing contractor to remove a car is not.
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October 30th, 2007 at 9:46 am
If the police expect us to respect the laws then they have to obey and enforce all of them.
The focus only on speed is crap, especially in a state where the government is to gutless to have annual roadworthy checks. In NSW they deduct points and enforce not keeping left and tail gating.
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October 30th, 2007 at 11:47 am
Just remember this people the next time eight guys are kicking the shit out of you! Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters maybe….
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October 30th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
I used to work with a guy who was in the process of becoming a police officer, his brother was one and his father was also for the past 30 years…i asked him one day if police are instructed to hit a quoter when they set up speed camera vans, his reply…
“there is an unoffical target to meet”
Work that one out yourselves…
There were many other occasions he admitted that many crooked behaviour exists, including drug shipments and how drug evidence can simply ‘disappear’
Me personally have experienced good coppers and very bad coppers, like school teachers but…
They are payed to do a job that can be hard, but CHOOSE this preofession, some get very good pay.
They musy set an example and treat the general public with respect where appropriate obviously, thats what they are god damn payed for!!! to act and bahve in a certain manner that DOES set an example.
Many don’t and they should be and they muddy the waters for the ‘good’ coppers out there.
The Queesnalnd goverment has just recently announced that they will begin raod side drug testing, like VIC.
whats made me laugh was the state leader Anna Bligh made the comment that’obviously drug driving is the biggest contributer to our record raod toll this year’ but i thought ’speed’ was the biggest killer on roads!? yeah right, we have a record number of speed cameras that AREN’T reducing our road toll, but they continue to gain revenue from…so now it’s drug driving!?
yeah i’ll believe the authorities when they start telling the truth.
Does anone think the drug problem in our society will ever go away? has it in the last 100 years? no because some layers of the higher authorities are rapped up in the drug trade as much as the drug dealers, why would it continue to thrive as it does?
You would have to be extremely naive to think that all is rosey with politicians and the general authorities…
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October 30th, 2007 at 6:51 pm
Cops have been breaking the rules for years. Nothing changes.
I now overtake on the left regularily. I’ve completely given up waiting for people in the right hand lane.
You can flash your lights (illegal, I believe) and they don’t see it, because they are the same people who never look in their mirrors.
You can beep the horn - equally useless, but at least it could be claimed as legal by “warning other users of the positon of you car”. Yep - right up your bumper buddy!
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October 30th, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Chris, that’s where Bi-Xenon headlights come in handy ;)
They either go blind or move out of the right lane…their choice!
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October 30th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
Outside lane & above the speed limit,no one knows the circumstances & no one outside ever will.Accept not everyone in the force is perfect they reflect society in general.I know some cops most are great but some just like anywhere else are bad news.
The other issue just another stolen car.Who cares & I guess this is the attitude of the police as well.If there are no bodies inside or not reported as stolen by owners they do nothing.
If these issues upset you see your GP for a blood pressure check.Attitudes can be adjusted for free.
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October 30th, 2007 at 8:09 pm
David:
You should also see that GP about getting a clue while you’re at it.
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October 30th, 2007 at 8:56 pm
cut them some slack?! right when was the last time a cop gave me some slack? so maybe they were speeding for a purpose the sirens there for a reason (which they abuse half the time anyway.
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October 30th, 2007 at 9:52 pm
least you know where you stand. break the speed limit get nicked. they are just doing their job.
I was pulled at 90mph (144Ks) recently, grovelled and apologised, I was warned but let of. Really nice copper, Respect
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October 30th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
I’ve never seen more hypocrites on one site in all my life. As if cops are any different to the rest of society. You play the game and sometimes you win and sometimes you lose! Most of you lot sound like a lot of sore losers. Every job has a perk and the only ones coppers get is half price McDonalds and a few less speeding fines. The rest of you probably get free tickets to the footy (not whilst having to fight drunks like coppers do), discounts or freebies in your line of work (corruption for coppers), or tax deductions that you really know aren’t work related (not available to government paid coppers).
The fact is coppers have two laws to answer to. The one everyone else has to and also the one the department adds on top. Yes coppers not only have to pay their speeding fines if they aren’t justified but they also get disciplined which can include further fines, demotion or if you are dishonest to an investigator, sacking. ALL speeding infringements by police (in Qld anyway) are rigoriously investigated, so for this goose Paul Maric to suggest you can just drive through speed cameras with immunity shows he hasn’t got a clue and has done no research to back up his article.
Further, police have no power to move stolen or abandoned vehicles if a tow authority hasn’t been provided by the owner at the time of reporting it stolen. Council are responsible for moving abandoned vehicles.
Also Paul, how did you decifer the car was stolen? Just guessing were you like the rest of your pathetically researched whinge?
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October 30th, 2007 at 10:58 pm
Yes coppers occasionally get let off a ticket or two by work mates, but so do many in the community. I’ve let off hundreds but reading this dribble stream, you’d wonder where they all were. If you are respectful, honest and your infringement doesn’t endanger other road users, chances are you might just get a warning too. I can tell you coppers never stand up for corrupt or criminal behaviour within their own ranks.
Thanks to the few who have have supported coppers on this stream, it is refreshing to see coppers get some support.
Yes coppers are just like the rest of society, 80% decent people and 20% dickheads. It’s just that the mojority of that 20% are attracted to traffic branch jobs, and that is who the most of society run into. Don’t brand all coppers the same just as you’d hate to be thrown in with the dick heads you work with. The Courier Mail seems to do this job well enough for everyone.
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October 31st, 2007 at 8:53 am
Well said Stevo :)
This article by Paul Maric comes across as just a blatant whinge and shouldn’t have been posted as it has nothing to do with actual ‘car news’.
Obviously Paul has had a bad experience with police and needed to vent his frustration. I am sure that you reported this incident to the police ombudsman since it has so infuriated you Paul. No? There’s a surprise!
As Stevo pointed out, police are human too and the police force has its share of wankers, just like every profession. I have met some of the motoring journalists that write for the big, popular newspapers and websites and a couple of them were true a***holes who thought their opinion was law and would have won 10 F1 championships if they were driving.
In NSW, police are also disciplined for any speeding infringement and can lose their police driving licence over a single incident.
Stevo is also correct regarding the ’stolen’ car. Once police have officially recovered it on their system and informed the owner, the responsibility to remove the car falls to the owner or council. It may in fact have been an ‘abandoned’ car, rather than stolen.
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October 31st, 2007 at 10:27 am
Stevo, Grumps, how long have you two been working in the force?
Don’t worry, I haven’t got any bacon, so don’t come and arrest me! haha
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October 31st, 2007 at 10:30 am
Ah, but don’t think we don’t have ways of finding you…we are watching….
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October 31st, 2007 at 10:31 am
…always.
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October 31st, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Haha, mate, you guys need to put back the drugs you seized…they are evidence! You can’t keep them for personal use!
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October 31st, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Benjie is right u can’t keep evidence for personal use even if the court has investigated it
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October 31st, 2007 at 4:29 pm
But the drugs make me feel good :)
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October 31st, 2007 at 5:12 pm
Benjie,Is that the best you can do?
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November 4th, 2007 at 9:08 pm
David, you’ve made a fool of yourself enough, further contribution from me simply isn’t required!
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November 7th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
Benjie,
Use your Bi-xenons on someone who deserves it.
Flash em opposite a mirror.
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January 31st, 2008 at 10:13 am
my sons girlfriends father is a SA speed camera operator during the last six months hes had three speeding fines quashed by SA POLICE because hes one of them.His excuse was he was depressed. WHY DOES HE GET SPECIAL TREATMENT? HE WAS SPEEDING, A THREAT TO OTHER MOTORISTS.WHY DOESNT HE LOSE DEMERIT POINTS,GET A FINE OR LOSE HIS LICENCE?? WHERES THE JUSTICE?? I WILL LOOK INTO THIS DEEPLY AND GET SOME HELP ON HOW TO FIGHT THIS INJUSTIS WITH SA POLICE
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February 6th, 2008 at 4:18 am
I love the fact that a police car apears in the top photo. How about you include pics of the other… oh… say 500+ cars that do this everyday? Big deal, a police car is breaking a minor road rule (they actually have a section in the road rules act that allows them to do so on duty).
Another great example of cop bashing by you people who have a problem with men and women who live their life so yours is better. Suggestion for the author: Scince the cops are lazy, incompetent revenue raisers.. please dont ring them when there is someone in your house stealing your tv or mugguing you in the city…. we dont wanna hear you cry about the 2.5 minute response time ok.
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February 7th, 2008 at 7:18 am
ha ha ha, come on get over it. who really gives a crap if a cop speeds a bit, and stays on the “right” or “left”
its a dangerous job, give em some credit for the things they do right, dont just pick on them when they f*** up.
(i agree its wrong what they do sometimes, but dont judge all the same.)
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February 16th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
Paul,
you’re a sad little man. Hangin’ on way too tight mate.
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May 6th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Police are supposed to drive in the right line so they have better view of road ahead and people who may be driving dangerously etc.
Yes sometimes police will turn on siren to get through an intersection then turn it of- if they are on the way to an urgent job and dont want to let the person get away because they can hear the siren!!
It could be the life of someone you love that they are saving when you are busy whingeing about them driving in the right lane.
There are more important issues to cry about people!! Have some respect.
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June 27th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Just as a point of interest it is a council responsibility to remove the car, NOT a police responsibility. Scince that particular servo is on the boundry of two separate councils and knowing City of Melbourne Council they were fighting over who didnt have to remove it. Nice try Paul. Get a clue about what your crying about.
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July 12th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
big deal so they’re speeding and hogging the fast lane who gives a ****. You all sit here bad mouthing the police force but if **** hit the fan pretty sure you wouldn’t hesitate to call 000. those who have never been there have no idea what the police go through every day wake up
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