Fined by a Officer Who Ended up Being Found Guilty of Stealing $15,000 from The Highway Patrol Fund

Capo93 on 05/01/2019 - 12:20
Last edited 07/01/2019 - 12:44

Reading this post got me thinking of my experience

So I was riding my motorcycle on the 2nd October 2015 South along Station Street in Dapto, NSW. See this image for your under standing.

The red arrow was my path of travel, the red line is where the two HWP cars were parked. The blue square is a CCTV camera from the railway station.

As i was riding down Station street, an officer jumped out from no where waiving his arms at me pointing me to pull in, i complied and they both preceded to tell me I had been speeding, they did not have he on radar but one estimated my speed at no less then 80km/h but no more then 85km/h and the other officer at no less then 80km/h and no more then 90km/h. Now from what I had been told to estimate speed you basically need markers, for example 3 evenly spaced light poles. You need to the distance how long it takes to travel between pole 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 at the signed posted speed limit which is 50km/h for this street. And estimating speed head on is near impossible. Now if you street view this street you'll notice the side of the road the HWP cars were on, the whole side walk is covered with trees, so I unbroken straight line of sight is impossible on that side of the road.

Anyway they proceeded to fine me, I ended up taking the fine to court in 2016 and representing myself, both officers showed up to court, however the judge would not let both officers enter the court room at the same time as they were both still carrying there weapons, neither officers wanted to take there weapons back to the secure area, the officers were not happy about this as I feel they wanted to collaborate there stories together.

In the court room I caught them both lying as they each said they were standing next to each talking when they "heard my exhaust revving loudly", when I asked where they were each standing they each indicated at the front of there own patrol car, however the patrol cars were parked nose to tail so they could not physically be standing and talking to each other if they were in front of their own car.

I had subpoenaed CCTV from near the near by rail way station, camera marked by the blue box in the image. This proved where the officers were standing, however the courts video player software didn't like the format of the video so I couldn't use it.

The judge ended up finding me guilty, I later find out this judge is very pro police and will always side with police. I paid the fine, took the demerit points and moved on with life.

Fast forward to April 2017, the officer who wrote the fine was charged with stealing money $15,000 from the Highway Patrol Adventurer Club bank account.

See these news articles about it all:

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4595734/former-ill…
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4764310/ex-lake-il…
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4854480/disgraced-…
https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/4965001/thieving-e…

Jason Hall's statement in the Brief of Evidence was written on 19th April 2016, in the middle of one of his stealing sprees.

Is there anything I can do in regards to this fine with the officer being found guilty? He was being dishonest and stealing money whilst fining me and other people.

EDIT 07/01/2019

To add further to the story, I remembered the brief of evidence I received in the mail was incorrect, it was missing 2 pages and when I showed up for court they told me and gave me the missing pages.

Automotive

Comments

  • abuch47 on 06/01/2019 - 22:18
    +1

    Lol at OzBargain not having any motor enthusiasts.

    Loud pipes can be obnoxious, I think valved exhausts will become more common.

    That said exhaust systems are part of the performance of a vehicle and probably one of the safest (to the public) modificatikns around.

    Some vehicles already come stock with loud performance exhausts as well.

    It's fine for every Harley, Porsche or Ferrari to be loud but not for a more common vehicle? FOH.

    • Capo93 on 07/01/2019 - 11:44

      One think I was taught at the RMS when doing my L's for the motorbike was a exhaust can be your best friend and safest option sometimes. Plenty of times I've had no where to go, can't speed up or slow down, sound the horn, nothing, drop the clutch in and red line and they magically see you.

    • macrocephalic on 07/01/2019 - 15:19
      +2

      Harley's don't come from the factory with loud exhausts, it's jut that, due the small genitalia of the owners, they never get ridden off the lot without the exhaust being swapped over.

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 07/01/2019 - 10:33

    Did the video recording cover the entire incident?

    • Capo93 on 07/01/2019 - 11:45

      Yes but because I subpoenaed it for the case I was never allowed to actually hold a copy for myself, I had to attend Sydney Trains head office in Sydney to view it. A copy was sent to NSW courts and was already at the court house on the day of my case but the format didn't work on the courts system.

      • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 07/01/2019 - 12:33
        +2

        You should have obtained legal representation. That should not have occurred. How are you supposed to review subpoena evidence prior to the hearing date? You could also also sought an adjournment regarding the issues experienced.

        • Capo93 on 07/01/2019 - 12:43

          I viewed the CCTV footage at the Sydney Trains head office.

          • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 07/01/2019 - 14:18

            @Capo93: Did you:
            1. have the time or capacity to mathematically calculate your actual speed?
            2. record the time the officers began observing your bike?
            3. record the time the officers indicated you to pull over?

            • Capo93 on 07/01/2019 - 14:40

              @Typical16-bitEnjoyer: No because the camera didn’t show me coming down the road, the camera was literally just in the direction of the officers. The camera was also off in the distance so you could only just see the officers off in the background

              • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 08/01/2019 - 08:18

                @Capo93: If your answer is No to all 3 questions then the video would not have assisted in anyway.

                Essentially it boils down to your word against 2 trained traffic police officers. Even viewing the video I doubt the Judge would have decided otherwise.

                I'd suggest moving on.

        • macrocephalic on 07/01/2019 - 15:20

          And the evidence relating to the case was not viewed by the judge. Surely that isn't supposed to be allowed.

  • Capo93 on 07/01/2019 - 12:44

    To add further to the story, I remembered the brief of evidence I received in the mail was incorrect, it was missing 2 pages and when I showed up for court they told me and gave me the missing pages.

  • freakatronic on 07/01/2019 - 19:04
    -1

    The only surprising thing is when cops turn out not to be dirty. Police are entirely useless but for one thing - extracting extra taxes from the working populace.

  • Thenarrator on 07/01/2019 - 20:32
    -2

    Just cause hes guilty of stealing 15000 doesnt mean he actually did. just like how youre guilty of your fine, youre arguing youre not. circular reference.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 07/01/2019 - 23:15
    -1

    Victorian Police are revenue raising pigs they treat the victims like criminals and criminals like Victims and only laws they uphold are ones that result in heavy fines

  • myusername on 08/01/2019 - 10:11

    you aren't going to be led off for anything

    i was raided and arrested by a very corrupt officer years ago.

    the stole money from our wallets 'called it proceeds of crime' bragged about 'dont forget to look at me when you're in court and take notice of the new suit you paid for'.
    they stole some of the items we stole from a shop and bragged how their mrs would love these gold chains. this ened putting our fine up.

    jump forward 10 years later, still 20 years ago and that particular cop got looked up for corruption.

    finally someone had listened to our complaints to the fitzgerald inquiry. ended up getting my conviction cancelled or whatever you want to call it.

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