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Thread ID: 108438	2010-03-28 23:00:00	I thought I liked the police	Thomas01 (317)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
870724	2010-03-28 23:00:00	Having lots of police friends and relatives over the years I have generally been on their side but :- On TV2 the other night I saw the most amazing display of stupidity by the police. A young man on his bike exercising his dogs in what looked like a very quiet neighborhood was stopped by a police woman who demanded his identity, as he had no crash helmet. He got a bit stroppy and refused as he had done nothing wrong and this is not a police state. She sent for reinforcements and soon three cops were engaged in throwing him into handcuffs and taking him to the nearest interrogation - sorry police station. More pressure applied and they found his wallet. He apparently had never been in any sort of trouble - even knew one of the officers from them being at school together,but was obviously appalled at the way three police were involved in a non crime plus the way he was treated. They were obviously very determined on the identity problem, almost as bad as the eastern European states I have been in and America of course. I agreed with the lad all the way. Wearing crash hats is sensible but no way should be compulsory for cyclists. I wonder if these police ever read anything that affects their work - if so they would have known that the UK acting from surveys, discovered that making crash hats compulsory would save lives but more for car passengers - bus passengers and even pedestrians than for cyclists. So they dropped the idea. Can you see the logic in having to wear a crash helmet to go to your next door neighbours. From my study window, being retired, I see many cyclists - huge numbers of them not only riding on the pavement (which in this area is obviously the safest place to be) but also no helmets apart from the school children. The Christchurch police apparently use common sense. Two comments:- 1) This is not a police state. 2) Rules are made for the guidance of the wise man and the observance of the idiot Tom	Thomas01 (317)
870725	2010-03-28 23:07:00	Getting the Police involved usually runs the risk of unnecessary escalating the situation, They have to prove they have the power and it all goes downhill rapidly. In a lot of cases if they weren't so hell bent on proving they have the power(or perhaps a case of being immature) then they would get respect and wouldn't be having to prove anything by being twats.	Metla (12)
870726	2010-03-28 23:08:00	The guy was a complete numbnuts smart arse he wouldnt give his name. The helmet rule is a rule just like the seat belt rule if you let people go on that they will take it as a weakness and break more rules. Pity the cameras were rolling if I was the police lady I would have hit him on the head with a baton for resisting arrest. The helmet rule is good one with a free public hospital system like nz sure that bozo would have gone to a free hospital if he hit his swede on the pavement and my taxes pay for that ninkinpoop. I had my bike licence when you didnt need a skid lid unless you went over 30 mph like dickheads we were we took out helmets off to drive in town. As far as everyone else doing it yeah thats a good excuse isnt it?	prefect (6291)
870727	2010-03-28 23:08:00	However. If he had given his full name when asked it would not have gone that far would it?	Sweep (90)
870728	2010-03-28 23:11:00	Yes I saw the program and yes the guy deserved all he got. He was a proper idiot. :)	Trev (427)
870729	2010-03-28 23:56:00	He pushed it too far. Having said that I know someone who was not arrested but taken in for something, then there was a discussion out back about a thing they were going to do that legally they couldn't. 3 woman cops went ahead and did it. There was a ruckus about it but they got away with it in the end. So, moral - you may have a point or even be right but you will lose and they will get carried away.	pctek (84)
870730	2010-03-29 00:47:00	first off, crash helmits are required by law, the fact that you dont like the law is not a excuse to ignore it. second, if the police ask you for your name/address/ID is pays to be helpful. there is no point is pissing them off. third, sounds like he got what was comming....	robsonde (120)
870731	2010-03-29 01:02:00	another dick-head who thinks laws apply to everyone except him. will probably be a real hard-man when he grows up.	Scouse (83)
870732	2010-03-29 02:15:00	I wonder if people read my last comment about rules, and how they should be observed. There have been many lousy laws and many people have fought against them. If from the UK I wonder if you followed the law about NOT leaving your parish on a Sunday. Wasn't repealed until a handful of years ago. Do you think that seeing cyclists are supposed to wear helmets then we should also wear them when on a bus, in a car or walking the streets? If your answer is YES please give reasons. I must admit to disliking rules about having i/d all the time. In America when going out with my (alien) family we had to carry 13 i/d cards. We could be arrested any time if found without them. I asked the authority about my 7 year old - "YES he has to carry his i/d at all times" How about when he went swimming with his class mates. "No problem - swimming trunks are available in his size with a zip fastener and the card he has to carry is waterproof!" Just how daft can you get? The several hundred kids who cycle by my house every day on the footpath are also breaking the law - should they be arrested, handcuffed and taken away until they can proof who they are? Or perhaps they should be forced onto the cycle tracks that do exist - I could guarantee it would only be a very short time before we had at the very least many accidents perhaps some fatal. No I still reckon the lad was right - the policewoman was way off course. A friendly word to the cyclist would have been enough.	Thomas01 (317)
870733	2010-03-29 02:36:00	No I still reckon the lad was right - the policewoman was way off course. A friendly word to the cyclist would have been enough. I think if he showed a bit more respect then he may have got away with a warning....	robsonde (120)
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