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

      • happirt on 11/10/2018 - 12:42
        -1

        perhaps OP is from north korea, china or japan…

        • guster33 on 11/10/2018 - 13:20

          whatever do you mean by that statement? :P lols

        • [Deactivated] on 12/10/2018 - 14:53

          edit.

  • elgrande on 11/10/2018 - 11:41
    +1

    I think you need to invest in a belt cam.

    • h4zey on 11/10/2018 - 12:59

      I was looking for this comment.

      I have a belt cam for all my seatbelt, it has save me time and money from situation like this.
      it also has a feature to remind you if you forget to put your seatbelt on, it also record how the seatbelt work during accident and works as a spy camera. it's a pretty useful little sh*t

  • Kamsi on 11/10/2018 - 12:58
    +1

    Everytime a cop that pull me over I always leave my webcam on. At least it records the voice conversation. Regardless if I was in the wrong or not.

    • MementoMori on 12/10/2018 - 10:40
      +2

      You have a PC in your car?

      • sn809 on 13/10/2018 - 16:08

        PC=Police Constable

  • guster33 on 11/10/2018 - 13:18
    -1

    That's a bit suspect of the cop to do so, and then follow you home after as well (if I read the post right) geez.

    Anyway I think dashcams are not the answer, correct me if I am wrong but most modern cars have black boxes that you can use to provide evidence (you can ask a dealer or service center or I believe even roadside assist to get that data with the timestamp). The black boxes record speed and distance information, if all occupants were wearing their seat belts and much more.

    • Sammy2000 on 11/10/2018 - 20:54

      Waiting to see if this is true…

  • macrocephalic on 11/10/2018 - 14:10
    +1

    Pro-tip: Just do up all the seatbelts in the car - then they won't beep.

  • No ONE on 11/10/2018 - 14:29

    Innocent until proven guilty. Take to court & he would have no evidence to back up.

  • bigticket on 11/10/2018 - 19:06
    +1

    I can't believe the comments here regarding misconception that the police officer will require physical evidence for court. S/he is the evidence. The officer is a unbiased witness and more than 9 out 10 times the judge will side with the officer.

    • munodi on 11/10/2018 - 19:18
      +3

      Police are not unbiased. Ther they're lazy pigs who like to occasionally harass, sneer, bully and attack the punters.

      • Flanders on 12/10/2018 - 00:47

        Nobody is 'unbiased' 100% no matter how hard we try.
        Also, most of the people who bxtch about cops "harassing" them, when you ask or get to know the person bxtchin about police harassment, it is usually because they have criminal history, so of course cops goin to 'harass' if you are known for thieving etc. They usually know who the crims are in any town, and don't hassle anyone else (generally).
        In OP case, sounds like the cop was just trying to look after safety, and almost certainly the cop knew from number plate details that driver has history of not wearing seatbelt, and it probably did look like he didn't have seatbelt on.
        If they wanted to Harass him, they would have given him the fine.

        • cloudy on 12/10/2018 - 09:05

          Calling OP having a history with the cops? Wow lol

    • cloudy on 12/10/2018 - 09:07

      That’s true, but cops are people, and people are not flawless. So I’d be worried if cops had the unfettered right just to apply sanactions just based on words in some cases. I’m fine with seatbelts, jaywalking, etc, since it’s just monetary, but I’d be worried if something a little more serious.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/10/2018 - 12:18

      yeh the police officer's statements are evidence
      but so is the statement of OP,
      they are both evidences,

      the onus is on the police to prove that OP was guilty,
      not for OP to prove he was doing the right thing

  • apey2000 on 11/10/2018 - 21:07

    Quality reading!

  • Flanders on 12/10/2018 - 00:41

    long time ago I didn't and I got a fine for it.

    They probably knew this when they pulled you over, and officer most likely did genuinely believe he had spotted you without seatbelt on. Maybe it was just the angle he saw you at or something. After all, he was not inside the car with you.
    You should be grateful from when you got a fine. You do realise he is trying to save lives right ? ie. Police officers have to attend fatal car accidents with dead bodies inside (sometimes from not wearing seat belt) .
    He did not give you the fine, so it was just something he thought he had spotted (and probably when they put your number plate in etc it pinged you as not having worn seatbelt and fined previously) .
    Stop giving the officer sh*t as if he did something wrong, by being diligent and trying to look after people's safety.
    A friend of mine was driving his monaro, used to drive crazy asf :/ but anyway, he ended up having accident, everyone was fine, except… His girlfriend who didn't have seatbelt on (because she doesn't like wearing them) she got knocked around, damage to her ear, major damage, got to hospital and they said to her "you weren't wearing your seatbelt were you" . She tried to deny it, but they knew from injuries. Not only was she badly injured, but also would never get any compensation from insurance no matter how bad injuries were, because she was 1 person in that car not wearing seatbelt.
    Sure, without a doubt, my friend shouldn't drive crazy… But if you do have a collision seatbelt can save lives and serious injury. You should thank that officer your bxtchin about, if you ever see him again. Cos you probably gave him a bad attitude, when he was just trying to look after your safety.

    • cloudy on 12/10/2018 - 09:04

      Sure the cop was trying to do the right thing. No argument there, but have you ever been accused of something you didn’t do? And when you explain it’s not what happened the accuser just refuses to believe you or refuses to admitt wrong?

      If you answer yes to the above, how often have you simply brushed it off as “ahh yes, it’s ok to call me a liar”?

  • zombie hunter on 12/10/2018 - 09:16
    +1

    Me think there 2 sides to the story.
    Cops generally will only pull someone over for alternative reason. Then they will questioned them to see responses both body and verbal. Maybe he mistaken the poster car for another has been known to police, who knows.
    Or he made mistake and thought you werent wearing one. Least you didnt get a fine. There will always rotton apples in all professions. Maybe ones on ozbargains as well……

  • ozgeek on 12/10/2018 - 12:41
    +1

    This is one of the reasons why I have a dashcam dedicated to recording me in my driver's seat. Also to dispute any allegations that I may be on my mobile while driving.
    But yes I need to readjust the camera so it shows my other hand (holding the gearstick).
    https://1drv.ms/u/s!Aot-_iE5idROhYE1JklFLwyzcLbwgQ

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

      That's ridiculous.

      It's not on you to prove you're innocent. If the cops accuse you of an offence, it's up to them to provide evidence of said offence.

      If you've volunteered unnecessary evidence, you are opening yourself up to other allegations.

  • HKS on 13/10/2018 - 08:36

    Pigs will do anything to meet their KPI's. if you have proof of your dash cam hearing you click in your seatbelt and not undoing it (also if your car is newish and makes a beep when your seatbelt is undone that is another possible way of getting away with it)

    pigs in general are just (profanity), i've only met 2 nice police officers and i get pulled over on a weekly basis because i drive a modified classic car.

    • sn809 on 13/10/2018 - 16:13

      And if they have a bacon sandwhich would they be called cannibals?

  • [Deactivated] on 13/10/2018 - 08:51

    Hi OP.

    I've had quite a few police acting this idiotically/pushy/arrogant.

    I had two stoned cops off their noggins making up stuff, arguing, and acting quite bizarre, so I turned them in and insisted on them having a blood test.
    Nothing was done except both were taken off duty for 13 weeks. I was then advised I could take it up with the ombudsman. Waste of time turning in these criminals.

    You could make a formal complaint. It made me feel better in the long run.

  • myusername on 13/10/2018 - 13:01

    it's your word against theirs.

    i was robbed years ago by some corrupt police, when i complained to my solicitor who ended up being corrupt also, he advised me it's your words against theirs and you're the criminal being arrested accusing the police of robbing you.

    fast forward a few years later and that particular officer was jailed on corruption charges.

  • Schmendrick on 22/12/2018 - 07:40
    -1

    A dash cam would be pointing forward,
    I think you need a selfie cam.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join