Originally posted by Sith
Since when do the police pass sentence in court?

[Edited by BuRR - 3/9/2002 9:57:28 AM]

Boost, agreed. He could have been riding like a total pr@tt in a very dangerous area. We don't know.

However, we do know that far more serious motoring offences which do end in disaster, get off with next to nothing.

In my view, this is a politically motivated sentence by an ignorant judge who believes the myth "speed kills". Lock him up, too, I say.

Richard.

PS Edited to add that I live near to one of the fastest roads in Europe, the A1M between Alconbury and Stilton (near Peterborough). In the right car/bike and at the right time, 160mph is perfectly safe. A couple of years ago a mad Jap in a 1,000bhp Skyline did 196mph. Max Power published the story. He was locked up for the night and then send home with a slapped wrist. Oh, and he also did a few dough-nuts right accross four lanes of motorway which the police witnessed. It was early hours of a winter morning, but from what I've heard, the man was certifiably mad (and also very rich).

[Edited by Hoppy - 3/9/2002 2:27:23 PM]

Ok, like BORO v EVERTON tomorrow?? 0-0 ?? ;)

Lanark?? thats a nice place if its where I am thinking - Scotland?

Pete

Edited to say:- It Sank !! :( ;)

[Edited by pslewis - 3/9/2002 10:06:17 PM]

As has been said before, we haven't seen the vid so we can't really judge what kind of thing he was up to.

However what we do know is that though he was going bloody quick at times, it was his first offence, and no-one was hurt. 12 months banged up is over the top IMHO.

Surely a much more appropriate sentence would be some sort of income related whacking great fine forcing the guy to sell his bike, and a lengthy ban for him to reflect on his actions. Same result (biker off the road, public safe etc. etc.) without the hardship being inflicted on his family.

Incidentally, I lost one of my best mates almost a year ago on an R6 in Wales, I had sold my ZX6 and was after an R1 when this happened. He 'only' killed himself, but seeing the devastation left behind now he's gone is enough to stop me ever getting a plastic rocket again, I still can't believe he's gone forever. He was 50 times the rider I could ever be, and it was the first time he'd ever come off. Now when someone says 'Drive carefully...' it means a whole lot more to me.

I do think some people not just bikers need slowing down, before they kill themselves or someone else, but banging them up has got to be the last resort when all else has failed.

I'm concentrating on 'making progress' on 4 wheels.

Muf


[Edited by Mufasa - 3/9/2002 10:59:05 PM]

Hmmmm ok, it was a long film and I only watched it the ONCE ;) maybe your missus should have got a year inside for making you watch it? :D

I wear the trousers in my house .................. you can just see them under my pinny!! ;)

To anyone who took offence at my 'Story' I regret they took it the wrong way - as for those who say I should have warned people before the story was told .... it would have lost a lot of the impact I was hoping for!

I STILL think someone who does something so idiotic as 160mph on public roads deserves what he gets - I travelled at 147mph once in my Calibra for about 3 miles on an empty dual carraigeway, I have to admit, I was amazed at how 'slow' bends become 'very fast' bends!!

He will not serve 1 year of course and will probably be out in 4 months - he will be a model prisoner, if what everyone says about him is correct.

My argument that he probably deserves it in NO way, shape or form means that I am saying that car thieves and scum shouldnt get nailed (as I said in my first post, I would PERMANENTLY remove these scum from society!!)

Pete

[Edited by pslewis - 3/10/2002 4:59:56 PM]

160 mph on public country lanes. God knows what could have happened. Utterly utterly iresponsible. I personally think the punishment fits the crime. Its the punishments for all the other crimes that don't fit, not this one.

just my humble opinion.

Also, he had 2 previous convictions for speeding so obviously previous deterrents weren't enough.

------------------------

Incidentally there was a big article on the failing justice system in the Times yesterday. The main problem seems to be the Crown Prosecution Service. In a high percentage of cases the prosecuting lawyers are turning up and have absolutely no documents / eveidence to work with and don't have a chance of securing a conviction. Documents don't turn up / go missing, evidence gets lost etc, and when they try to talk to the CPS half the time the people they're talking to can't even speak English properly and don't understand what they're being asked for etc.

Christ how cr@p is this government? Add to this the insulting p@p being spouted by various ministers etc. about how crime is falling. My backside!! Hope others read the same piece. Crime is going up big style and our prisons are full. Judges are being told not to jail anything but the most serious offenders. FFS!!!

We need to build more jails and find a decent leadership from somewhere. Don't ask me where though!


[Edited by juan - 3/11/2002 11:25:58 AM]

I must admit to being shocked at the original headline. But I also read the article posted above (Daily Telegraph) and, on reflection, thought the punishment less severe having read about the way he was riding. I still think a 6 month sentence would be more appropriate along with a lengthy ban.

As for Pete's story, it was far les shocking than the advert on TV about speeding where it shows a kid being hit by a car. I don't recall anyone complaining about the graphic nature of that. Lots of people mentioned the rear wheels not locking up though.

All in all, I think the biker was harshly treated. I think he drove too fast for the conditions and was extremely stupid to video himself, but, in relation to the derisory sentences handed out for far worse crimes (that actually result in tragedy), he was treated far too severely.


[Edited by Jerome - 3/11/2002 10:35:33 PM]