Fined by ‘rude officer’

FRIENDLY BIKER writes:

I was travelling on Zuurfontein Road on August 4, exceeding the speed limit, I admit.

On entering the corner of Allandale Road I was pulled off by a metro police officer. He ordered me to drive up the pavement onto the gravel with my motorcycle, which I could not do and tried to explain to the officer.

The more I told him I could not drive up the slope and on the gravel, the more he raised his voice, almost shouting in a very aggressive manner. “I am on duty, wearing a uniform, you better do as I tell you.”

I put out my stand on the tar and switched off my bike. The officer aggressively continued he was going to arrest me. He was out of it, he did not give me a chance to speak. As soon as I tried to explain, he ignored me and continued with his aggressive manner.

He told me I was a danger for oncoming traffic from behind, right on the corner where the police (legally) show the cars off the road – in the danger zone on the corner.

I always thought that a speed camera should be on a save place, outside any danger zones. This camera was right in the middle of the intersection next to the traffic light on the middleman – out of reach for any driver to see the actual speed recorded on the camera, for it is too dangerous to cross the road to view.

I was not given the opportunity to view the camera. Instead the officer shouted at me and continued with the fact that he was on duty and he would arrest me.

Once again, I do not deny that I travelled faster, according to the officer. Any speed camera can be faulty. I wonder when last the camera was calibrated.

I do not have an issue with the fine but the manner in which it was done, stinks from the metro police’s side.

105km/h on a motorcycle is like standing still. The offence was not on the corner, as my fine stated.

This happened at 8.24am. If this officer was so aggressive at this time of the morning, I feel so sorry for the poor guy he stopped at 3pm.

What is happening with some of our metro police officers?