csteele,
Police are in tears about having to let the idiots & hoodlums off, they are utterly unsupported by the dumbcrap magistrates. The governments like to put cops where police would show too much sense & not reap the revenue that the cops bring in. That's why you'll never get a cop to support a victim because there's no revenue.
There's only one way to combat the me,me & I syndrome & that is two years national service & they leave the service at 21 as reasonably enlightened & responsible young adults. This pussyfooting & the mass production of the senseless over educated morons which are now becoming a serious burden has to be stopped & stopped now. Anyone disagreeing better come up with another workable idea.

Ludwig, you're sadly quite correct.

I've had a small problem lately, whereby somebody has acquired a set of plates that were last on a car registered to me that was disposed of a few years back. Due to a series of events, the sale wasn't properly finalised and the paperwork wasn't properly finalised at the time, but since it wasn't worth much I didn't think much of it until a couple of weeks ago when I started receiving toll notices and speed camera tickets for that rego, now attached to a different car! My first thought was to go to the police, so I duly hied myself off to Mt Gravatt police station to explain the matter and to get it resolved.

That was a mistake.

The large female constable behind the bullet-proof glass first accused me of lying, then informed I would be fined for not filling out the appropriate paperwork in the first place, then informed me that even if I could prove that I had disposed of the car and that the plates were on a different vehicle that the police would not do anything unless I could tell them who was driving: "how can I investigate if you don't tell me who was in charge of the vehicle?".

Naturally I was somewhat upset at this somewhat unexpected turn of events, so I asked to speak to her superior. At that point a further cohort of large female officers appeared and forcefully told me to "sit down and shut up, Sir", repeating this in ever more strident tones, hands on tasers, behind the glass. At that point I simply left, with one of them shouting at me, "good, go away" and me shouting back "what are you even here for?".

[cont]

I then spoke to a solicitor who told me all I have to do is complete an affidavit setting out the facts and submit it to the police camera office, which I have done, along with evidence that the plates were deregistered in 2009 and that they were on a different car when registered. They are obliged to accept the affidavit if they have no conflicting evidence, provided it is filed in time. The same applies to the tolling firms.

The steroidally-enhanced police-"women" at Mt Gravatt Police could and should have told me that and could have recorded a statement that the plates were being used illegally that could have been registered on the police database so that it red-flagged the vehicle for the automatic rego scanners fitted to patrol cars. I asked for that to be done and they refused, being more interested in trying to intimidate me into accepting being wrongfully accused of an offence, or find something else they could find to charge me. At no stage was any assistance offered, except from the nice civilian lady behind the counter who offered to call a constable. It was when the constable got involved that it all went downhill.

One of the more telling moments I thought was when I said "you people have sent this notice to the wrong person and the person you should be looking for is still driving around" and got the response "We're not 'you people', we're the Police", completely ignoring the salient point.

This is not a low SES, high crime area. It is a middle-class area with lots of families and students, smack bang in the middle of a sea of middle-class suburbs. I was polite and I am well-spoken, dressed in working clothes and I was asking for assistance.

They seem to be completely culturally alienated from the broad society.

Hasbeen…you will have to change your name to Fangio…what are you driving? When I retire my project will be a Triumph Stag, I have been collecting bits and pieces for a few years now and love the metal that becomes the apple of blokes eyes. I am running around in a Saab at present.

Many don’t understand how precious unblemished is. Sure you can fix it, but that’s not the point. The point is that it didn’t need fixing before a careless and preventable act blemished it. I wouldn’t have damaged the other vehicle and without witnesses sadly it’s your baby.

Just an observation on our reactions to situations as victims as opposed to observers.
When my kids were pre teen I purchased a car for my bride, late model, low klms, unblemished. I told the kids not to ride their bikes near it as soon as I got home. An hour later they did and a nasty scratch and dent materialized.

I am standing at the car yelling at the kids. My neighbour comes over consoles me about the damage then says “it’s only a car; kids have to play somewhere, more or less telling me to suck it up. A few months later footy season arrives as does a brand new car for my neighbour. A week later he knocks on my door and informs me that a football booted by my son has dented his pride and joy insisting that the kids stop playing footy…..amazing how perspectives change.

There is a reason that cops generally only socialize with other cops. The only thing I have to say about cops is that during WWII all cops from All occupied nations helped ship Jews to their fate. Cops are paid mercenaries. Why Anti they would give you a hard time given you present as a toe the line citizen is baffling. As Luddy said don’t go near them, stick with state revenue and the Roads Authority.

Hasbeen, I feel very sorry for you and your car. I love those shiny, well cared for, older cars.

I always think it better not to come down to a vandals level and retaliate with vandalism on their property. That only brands you as a vandal too.

RObert was correct in saying there are often cameras in many car parks now, so you may get a visit from the police yourself if you damage someone's car deliberately.

I would have written out my details and placed it on the windscreen, and hoped for the best.

I certainly wouldn't have gone down to the police station and started acting aggressive at the policewomen and then be surprised when they pulled their tasers and told me to leave, Antiseptic .
Would you have acted the same if they were big fat male police?