Police Officer Falsely Accused Me of Not Wearing a Seatbelt - Why You Must Have a Dash Cam

Lcomputer barn find on 10/10/2018 - 14:44
Last edited 10/10/2018 - 16:03 by 1 other user

Hello, here is something peculiar that happened to me today (Vic)

I am driving in my town on the way home when a police car follows me then pulls me over, the police officer then asks me why I wasn't wearing my seatbelt and I was very surprised since I always make sure to wear one since a long time ago I didn't and I got a fine for it.

So I tell him that I was wearing it and then he says he doesn't believe me, I then ask if his car has a video camera in it and he says that it does so I mention that if he checked it he could verify that I was wearing a seatbelt. He then says he won't because he doesn't believe me and questions if I think that he is lying, I don't accuse him of lying because that would trigger him so I just say that I was wearing my seat belt. After a little while he goes back to his car and then decides to let me off, I then thank him for that and suggest that maybe some reflective material on my belt would prevent such issues in the future, he then just says or you could wear your seatbelt.

So I continue on my way and park in front of my house, I then see that same police car thrash the crap out of his car accelerating on a quite street, he wasn't chasing anyone and it was a narrow street, this is dangerous driving.

Anyway the whole point of the story is that if the police officer decided to charge me, I would had have no proof that I was innocent, I am, also pretty sure that the officer was pointing a video camera at me but I'm not sure. This is why you must have a dash cam, the more the better.

Automotive

Comments

  • dapt on 10/10/2018 - 14:46
    +96

    If you had a dash cam, surely it would be pointing forward and wouldn't show you wearing a seatbelt.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/10/2018 - 14:58
      +139

      This is why you must have a dash cam, the more the better.

      Front face, rear facing, in car, in bonnet, upskirt, in boot, facing cupholder…

    • FirstNameLastName on 10/10/2018 - 16:18
      +7

      you may not need evidence to support you were wearing a seatbelt 'beyond a reasonable doubt'.. just enough to prove you were wearing one 'on the balance of probability'.

      so the footage, being absent of any seatbelt activity sounds, may be a win.

      if it wasn't accepted, you could appeal or get a 3rd party specialist to determine the audio is unadulterated and contains no seatbelt sounds.

      if needed.. this could be coupled with bodycam/dashcam footage from the officer.. and if that can't be supplied then there may be no case.

      (Comment Edited)

      • computer barn find on 10/10/2018 - 16:31
        +6

        Also consider that you could get hit on the side and its not like these cameras are expensive.

        I think that the role of police officer attracts some people who want to feel like they have power over others but even that is false because the individual police officer really has no power, rather they are acting on behalf of the government and doing their bidding. I have met some nice cops though but some of them have anger issues.

        I have noticed that whenever I am speaking with a cop they will use sneaky ways to get you to admit wrongdoing such as asking why you did such and such, this cop that pulled me over was pretty old so I think his eyesight wasn't that good.

        As for the comments saying that I am a troll, well that is the sort of thing I would expect from whirlpool, I consider ozbargain to have a more respectable membership as I have viewed this site for a couple of years.

        • Flanders on 12/10/2018 - 01:03
          -5

          I think that the role of police officer attracts some people who want to feel like they have power over others

          I doubt it, they have to risk their lives every day for very little pay, then tet disrespected for just doing their job. Hardly something you would go into just to have some kind of authority or "power".

          have met some nice cops though but some of them have anger issues.

          Think about what they have to deal with in the course of their position as police officers. They have to witness some of the most horrible things,on a regular basis. Accidents involving death (including car accidents with deceased kids) . Domestic violence. Regularly getting threatened and attacked both physically and verbally. Think about it, many people would have issues after all of that… Police officers and also our military personnel do not get enough support for what they go through. Many end up with PTSD . Think about how you would be, having to attend car accident with dead kids regularly, having people attempt to assault you and even trying to kill you, having to attend circumstances where women have been bashed, where kids have been raped . Do you really you would be totally fine with that, and that you would always be able to keep yoir cool ?
          Police are just human. They are essential, and should be shown respect for what they do for us all (exception being corrupt cops that help crims, but they are not real cops, and they are few and far between).
          Much more support and counseling needs to be provided to police officers and military personal, with what they have to go through, to keep all of us safe from harm and anarchy.

      • victorwilson on 10/10/2018 - 17:07
        -2

        Traffic offences are strict liability - there is no standard of proof (beyond reasonable doubt or balance of probabilities).

        • Peace Maker on 11/10/2018 - 18:20

          I don't know what your sentence means. Beyond reasonable doubt is the burden of proof for the prosecution for traffic matters. What are your trying to say?

          • TheMindsetTraveller on 11/10/2018 - 22:38

            @Peace Maker: Even though driving offences no matter how small are "criminal acts" … the driving offences are strict liability …. what this means is if you are seen doing the "act" eg not wearing a seat belt OR driving higher than the speed limit, there is an automatic proof/guilt that you had "intention" to break the law.

            Thus, if you have actus rea + mens rea = guilt

          • victorwilson on 11/10/2018 - 23:28

            @Peace Maker: You have no idea what you're talking about. "Beyond reasonable doubt" is a standard of proof, not a burden of proof.

            As I said earlier, traffic offences are strict liability offences. DrunkOnTheGoodLife is mostly correct. Strict liability offences only require actus reus ("the guilty act") to be proven. The mens rea (the intention to do the act) is not required to be proven. So if you're going 70 in a 60 zone, the police prosecutor does not need to prove you had any intention of speeding.

            A quick Google search of "strict liability offence" could've given you an answer faster than typing your previous comment and complaining you don't understand what others are talking about.

            • trapper on 18/10/2018 - 15:26

              @victorwilson: You are correct, not sure why the downvotes.

              It also means for example that your speedo reading incorrectly (say 60 when it should be saying 70) is no defence - you were still going 70 and thats all that matters.

    • backpaqer on 11/10/2018 - 09:07
      +14

      Dashcam would record the sound of the seatbelt reminder chime going nuts in the background

      • lgacb08 on 11/10/2018 - 11:26
        +5

        Not if your car is a 10+ year old shit box

        • John Dough on 11/10/2018 - 12:45
          +1

          Or if you have modded that sh&^ out of your car :)

          • Pantagonist on 12/10/2018 - 20:57
            +2

            @John Dough: Or if you did the seatbelt up behind your back like a normal person trying to stop the chime.

            So any car with a MY < 2008 is a shitbox now?

            My 1994 Nissan Ute has a seatbelt unfastened warning light on the instrument cluster, but whether it turns on or not depends on what the electrics feel like doing on a given day.

    • RandomFox on 13/10/2018 - 06:16

      It would pickup sounds of the seatbelt clicking/unclicking unless purpopsly doing it quietly.

      So say if OP was not wearing it and lied (Not saying you are) and put it on while being pulled over the dash cam would pick up the sound of that. Or even the sound of OP putting it on as he left their destination.

  • pyramid on 10/10/2018 - 14:47
    +25

    User created profile 10 mins back just to let us know to use dash cam…wow…

    • Scrooge McDuck on 10/10/2018 - 15:47
      +1

      Alternate account.

    • follow on 10/10/2018 - 16:34
      +66

      Big Dash Cam pushing their agenda

      • Oz8argain on 11/10/2018 - 09:27
        +12

        illuminati confirmed

        • Musing Outloud on 13/10/2018 - 12:09
          +2

          The anti-seatbelters will be out soon saying seat belts cause autism.

    • 1Kenobi on 11/10/2018 - 11:44
      +3

      to reduce trolls maybe Mods should stop "new" or inactive accounts from creating forum topics (ie less than 14 days old)

      • TheCutter on 12/10/2018 - 21:35
        -1

        not long before the "trust everyone - the rum corp cops love us all" brigade turn up
        I believe the OP - the cops are there to screw us
        as .gov becomes more corrupt the more they will use the police to tax us to pay for their crap

        sian sucks it up

    • Name on 11/10/2018 - 13:48
      +1

      Wouldn't surprise me if a deal gets published for dashcams later tonight!

    • Melong on 13/10/2018 - 12:26

      Zapals or xiaomi rep for sure

  • CodeXD on 10/10/2018 - 14:48
    +18

    This is why you must have a dash cam

    If your dashcam verifies you are wearing a seatbelt, you are doing it wrong

    • pyramid on 10/10/2018 - 14:48
      +11

      Or he could be sitting on bonnet wearing belts?

  • nocure on 10/10/2018 - 14:48
    +3

    how would a dash cam show you were wearing your seatbelt?

    • Yummy on 10/10/2018 - 15:52
      +2

      Possibly, if the dashcam records audio and OP drives modern car, surely the dashboard would beep the hell out of it if OP didnt wear seat belt.

      • geoffs87 on 11/10/2018 - 09:15
        +3

        Yeah i got done a few years back because a passenger in the front seat wasnt wearing a seat belt. I had a modern car, but the seatbelt chime wasnt going off! For the life of me i haven't been able to replicate the situation whereby sitting in that seat in any way without a seatbelt doesnt trigger it. Just so damn unlucky that the one time someone wasnt wearing a seatbelt, the chime for whatever reason wasnt triggered, and i got pulled over for an RBT and bam… Double demerit weekend too :(

        • bmerigan on 11/10/2018 - 21:25
          +1

          So I deduce the passenger was young, given that you were fined not them. I believe the weight wasn't high enough for the seat sensor to register.

          • [Deactivated] on 11/10/2018 - 23:25
            +5

            @bmerigan: Has to be younger than a laptop and a supermarket roast chicken cause that's all it takes for my car to demand that I administer safety protocols.

          • geoffs87 on 12/10/2018 - 10:08
            +2

            @bmerigan: foreigner, didnt have local license, and was an adult.

            To make matters worse, I had offered to drive them to the station after they came to my house to buy something off gumtree, they were going to then walk the 25mins to the station to get home… i offered to drive them.

            Needless to say, that transaction was a net loss for me.

            • lousy on 13/10/2018 - 13:00
              +2

              @geoffs87: There are still nice people left in the world

      • lainey13 on 12/10/2018 - 00:41

        Dunno about you but I put my seatbelt on then turn on the car…. so no chance of forgetting and no chance of the audio being on the dashcam either.

    • Oz8argain on 11/10/2018 - 09:29

      some cams regards both directions i think, but they are for uber/taxis

    • ozgeek on 12/10/2018 - 02:10

      Have a look at this. This is one of my dashcams. It is pointing at the driver area of my car as I am the only sole passenger/driver of the car. This also records any interaction with the police if I am pulled over. As you can see I am seen wearing my seatbelt and hand on the wheel and the other hand is not seen but in really holding the gearstick. I have 2 more dashcams recording the road front and behind the car.

      https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aot-_iE5idROhYE1JklFLwyzcLbwgQ

  • boomramada on 10/10/2018 - 14:55
    +1

    perhaps take a selfy before start driving?;)

    • Findo on 10/10/2018 - 15:05
      +2

      As long as the ignition hasn’t been turned to the on position

      • therooftop on 10/10/2018 - 17:42
        +13

        hot and fresh off the kitchen/mama rollin' that body..

  • payton on 10/10/2018 - 14:58
    +1

    I am, also pretty sure that the officer was pointing a video camera at me but I'm not sure

    You're pretty sure but not sure
    If he had footage you would have been booked no questions needed

    Trolling I reckon

  • dylo on 10/10/2018 - 14:59
    -1

    cool story bro

  • mbck on 10/10/2018 - 15:09
    +4

    I know you. I saw you the other day doing burnouts and giving everyone the middle finger out near Werribee. Then you clipped a beamer and drove off.

    I didn't get your rego tho. Moral of the story. Have a camera on your head so you can record everything and not forget.

  • arkanis50 on 10/10/2018 - 15:16
    -6

    Cool story, bro.

    • FirstNameLastName on 10/10/2018 - 16:22
      +1

      the forc.. errr forum is not strong within you Arkanis.

  • dogboy on 10/10/2018 - 15:22
    +3

    Why do some cops have such fragile egos?

    • Diji1 on 10/10/2018 - 16:15
      +14

      Australia could wipe out this police corruption immediately by ignoring any officer's claims that are not accompanied by body worn video camera evidence.

      Australia has a long, sorry history of police corruption. Before the 1980's it was just a given that the police would assault citizens and criminals. Then we chose to ignore any interviews under caution that are not video taped. Magically allegations of being beaten up with phonebooks stopped occurring.

      • victorwilson on 10/10/2018 - 17:09

        Hmm yes. It's all Labor/Liberals' fault, isn't it?

        • Quantumcat on 10/10/2018 - 17:13
          +3

          Actually I have been noticing a lot more variety in his responses and wanted to give him a thumbs up for the effort

        • macrocephalic on 11/10/2018 - 12:26

          In Queensland it was the Nationals who were most blatant about it.

      • whooah1979 on 11/10/2018 - 18:34
        -1

        the police would assault citizens and criminals.

        This kept antisocial behaviour in check.

        • MessyG on 11/10/2018 - 21:52

          Loitering at Flinders St station doesn't warrant the old puncho through the phonebooks.

    • WT on 11/10/2018 - 10:27

      probably small appendage syndrome.

      On another note, I asked an ex cop I used to work with why he became a cop, his reply "so I could bash people". realistically, it we all know its the power trip he was on

      • TCM on 12/10/2018 - 09:04
        +1

        I had a similar experience when I was reporting a traffic accident in A Sydney station. There was a brawl at a footy game and the Constable who was assisting me was disappointed he couldn't go out with the boys to beat the crap out the those guys. I mean sure, those guys are probably idiots and deserved to be charged but finding enjoyment in beating up people is inappropriate.

  • MathNerd on 10/10/2018 - 15:33
    +3

    Another day, another new user, another first post wonder.

  • bargainhunter87 on 10/10/2018 - 15:33
    -1

    troll

  • hawkeye on 10/10/2018 - 15:34
    +5

    They must be on points system. Every cop needs to get so many points a week in fines. I used to have a police scanner back in analog days and you'd hear them talking about it from time to time.
    That's why he pissed off in a hurry.

    • Zachary on 11/10/2018 - 08:14

      need for speed?

  • Clear on 10/10/2018 - 15:35
    +4

    So we need like 6 dashcams? Front, back, left, right, front inside facing the back and back facing the front inside?

    • FirstNameLastName on 10/10/2018 - 16:24
      +1

      yeah.. or alternate those like a i do my underwear

      • sn809 on 13/10/2018 - 16:02
        +1

        Whilst driving?? Houdini style?

  • Popo on 10/10/2018 - 15:43
    +5

    The amount of mental illness in this line of work, I do feel for them.
    https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/topic/mental-health
    "Over the five-year period reviewed by SWA, the occupations with the highest rate of claims for mental health conditions were:
    defence force members, fire fighters and police (5.3 claims per million hours), specifically police (6.6)"

    Now to share my story. I slowed down as I saw a police car do a 3 point turn over double lines on the Princes Highway and he pulled to a stop. I drove around him. He tailed me a few kms into the next suburb and pulled me over to blow in the breatherlizer. Poor kid was given a large-sized shirt when he should have asked for a small. He complained about my driving. I was polite and he left me to go on my way.

    I'm glad to have shared that instead of bottling it inside for years.

    • Ti-au on 11/10/2018 - 09:09
      +8

      Your user name actually says your a cop.

      • Antikythera on 11/10/2018 - 13:31
        +5

        they have to tell you if they are a cop

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 10/10/2018 - 15:52
    +4

    We could have all be saved this terrible anecdote if you had just worn your seatbelt.

  • DarkProject on 10/10/2018 - 15:56

    new user = troll? Or maybe it annoyed them enough to create an account. Some really constructive advice in here too, it really is a cesspool. I guess he/she was asking would they be up shit creek if the officer did write them up a ticket for driving without a seatbelt and what can be done to avoid false allegations.

  • onetwothreefour on 10/10/2018 - 16:19
    +3

    Was you wearing the seat belt when he was talking to you?

  • Yummy on 10/10/2018 - 16:38

    I always make sure to wear one since a long time ago I didn't and I got a fine for it

    Just a friendly Police reminder. Move along.

    • rompastompa on 10/10/2018 - 17:17
      +4

      Probably searched his plate number, saw the owner being fined previously for not wearing a seatbelt. Pulled them over to re-enforce it. ;)

      • MrSammyMcG on 12/10/2018 - 10:44

        Thats what i thought, makes sense but cops dont need to be so aggressive/ forceful/ misleading..

  • [Deactivated] on 10/10/2018 - 17:23
    +4

    This is a perfectly legal tactic cops use telling you they will let you off with a warning (or lesser penalty) then changing their mind.

    The other big one is they ask "do you know why I have pulled you over" which is a loaded question to lead you to make a confession.

    • altomic on 10/10/2018 - 17:41
      +4

      "do you know why I have pulled you over"

      "because I have beautiful blue eyes? "

    • WT on 11/10/2018 - 10:30
      +1

      reminds me of liar liar
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i26-iBmq-Ps

    • bmerigan on 11/10/2018 - 21:28

      I read that it's legal for them to lie to you in order to get a confession.

      • [Deactivated] on 12/10/2018 - 19:52

        this is correct. doesn't matter if it is a murder confession or a not wearing a seatbelt confession, cops loves confessions for any crime and they are trained to try and get one no matter how minor the crime.

  • herecomestheoost on 10/10/2018 - 17:48
    +4

    This happened to me but I didn't get off.

    I was teaching my ex gf on her L's how to drive.. We pulled into a strip of shops, I jumped out of the car to enter a store while a police officer pulled into the car park next to us and stopped me. He proceeded to ask me why I wasn't wearing my seat belt..

    I assured him that I was wearing my seat belt.. He then asked my gf if I was wearing my seat belt and she also assured him that I was.. He then started writing out a fine, I attempted to argue politely that I had not done anything wrong.. He became enraged with me and started yelling.

    Fearing that he would go over the car and 'look for things wrong' I backed down like a true wimp and copped the fine.

  • James987 on 10/10/2018 - 17:58
    +1

    Love cameras. WHY?? Road rage baby. When people see your camera, they tend to back away. Especially if you point it towards them. On the negative, they could smash your window and reach in. Never had the later happen though but the former has….

  • Godric on 10/10/2018 - 18:01
    +2

    Should i put a dash cam in my boot too?

    • Euphemistic on 10/10/2018 - 18:53
      +2

      Yeah it’s a handy way to determine the time of death from suffocation.

      • iand on 30/12/2018 - 21:56

        boots generally aren't airtight so best if you suffocate them before placing in the boot

  • [Deactivated] on 10/10/2018 - 18:27
    +1

    It hasn't been a great year for the police, with the revalation about the extensive false breath testing and gun collection for planting on suspects.

    • payton on 10/10/2018 - 22:29

      least none of them have gone postal…. yet

    • Baysew on 10/10/2018 - 22:54
      +1

      At least they bagged The Joker & Harley Quinn.

  • Zachary on 11/10/2018 - 08:15
    -2

    But how is a dash cam gonna prove that you're wearing a seatbelt unless you have one pointing towards you?

    • chriskq on 11/10/2018 - 09:49
      +6

      congrats on being the 10th person to say that. As others have replied above, you can get front/dual facing camera or have multiple cameras.

      • Zachary on 25/10/2018 - 19:39
        -1

        That's why I mentioned:

        unless you have one pointing towards you

  • chumlee on 11/10/2018 - 08:19
    -4

    You left out the last part of the story where your mum wakes you up and tells you to get up and get ready for school

  • Lockieasy on 11/10/2018 - 10:15
    +1

    Doesn't your car chime like crazy when you aren't wearing a seatbelt anyway OP? I would've used that fact as part of my argument.

  • [Deactivated] on 11/10/2018 - 10:58

    What's the clean up like?

  • happirt on 11/10/2018 - 11:05
    +2

    it's the police that needs the dashcam/evidence you were not wearing seatbelts, not the other way around… so if you were wearing one, they have no evidence, and you wouldn't need a "reversed dashcam" to record yourself.

    • [Deactivated] on 11/10/2018 - 11:41

      Indeed. I can't imagine that being 'falsely' accused of not wearing a seat belt is a common occurrence. A reversed dashcam would hardly be needed to record the fact.

    • dogboy on 11/10/2018 - 12:21

      It is this whole issue of guilty until proven innocent. Most people just cop the fine because fighting it is just too costly in time and money.

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