Report him or not?

[Hamster]

So, there I was this morning, waiting behind a taxi at a set of red lights. They were about to change but said taxi driver decided he was done waiting and that he would just go through the red light. You know, kind of like we all see pushbikes doing on a regular basis.

Now, my initial reaction was "what a knob, got that on film I'm going to report the pratt"

But then I got to thinking, maybe he's no worse than me. After all I break the law on the road (we all do), what right do I have to assume that when I break it that's fine, but when other people do things I'm not prepared to then they're complete lunatics and I should shake my zimmer frame and report them.

Now I tend to group running red lights, drink driving and texting while driving as things I think are unacceptable and I won't do them. But I, like all of you*, do things that an orificer of the law, applying the letter of the law, could book us for. *(come on, everyone breaks the laws of the road in some way every time they go out. If you say you don't you're either lying or so shit you don't even realise the rules you're breaking).

So I thought it might be fun to get some more views, which I've heard the internet is pretty good for.

Is it reasonable for him to do as I do, albeit in different situations, and say "I've assessed the risks correctly, I know this is illegal but I'm applying common sense and there is no unreasonable increase in those risks"?

Or

Has he overstepped a line (metaphorically as well as physically) especially as a professional driver, who not only has the standard responsibilities but also those of ensuring the safety of paying passengers on a daily basis. (no, there was no passenger in this instance).

We all love a good poll so I've included one here, and below is the evidence for your perusal. Over to you.

Spoiler: show

Taxi 1 by Hamsters Pics, on Flickr

Taxi 2 by Hamsters Pics, on Flickr

Taxi 3 by Hamsters Pics, on Flickr

Taxi 4 by Hamsters Pics, on Flickr

Taxi 5 by Hamsters Pics, on Flickr

[Rich...]

Here's the thing...

Where is the victim of the horrendous crime he has committed?

[Hamster]

So should coppers follow obviously drunk drivers home and only nick them if they hit someone?

attempted murder ok?

[rgvlee]

Fuck [MENTION=5421]Phildo[/MENTION], dob the bastard in.

[Hamster]

Damn, I was hoping no one would recognise his cab from the back.

[rgvlee]

It was the Hawaiian shirt that gave him away

[J.J]

I'm not a dobber, its un-Australian

Imagine a place where every one carried cameras and dobbed people in one in if they filmed the slightest indiscretion.. then sent it to Today Tonight. Oh wait!.. that's Australia..

[whowalks]

So,

Now I tend to group running red lights, drink driving and texting while driving as things I think are unacceptable

You forgot those car dont have and indicator stick on the column



Fuck him I say its not the first and its not the last time he will run a red and the dont call it SMIDSU because they actually see you and intentionally knock you off your bike.

He's probably rushing to refuse a fair to old nanna in a zimmer anyway

[kapyong]

Ler's head towards a society like this. Offer a reward to dob in neighbours, drivers (look at that fuker, he can't drive for shit)............. anyone we don't like, there could be some cash in it for us!

Cash rewards up for grabs in bikie crackdown - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Queenslanders have been promised rewards of up to $500,000 for information about criminal bikie gangs.

The State Government says tips used to shut down clubs or prosecute members could earn substantial payouts.

The promise of cash rewards comes as the government works on what it calls the world's toughest anti-bikie laws.

The Bill is being hastily prepared to go to the next sitting of Parliament in less than a fortnight.

Police Minister Jack Dempsey says $1000 payments will be offered for information used for successful raids.

"It might be information of a criminal act that has been committed by these criminal gangs, the associations of certain people, the types of illegal businesses that they are operating," Mr Dempsey said.
The government says it will offer protection to citizens who come under threat for providing tip-offs about criminal motorcycle gangs.

Gold Coast policeman-turned-criminologist Terry Goldsworthy says the initiative has merit but people will be taking a risk by coming forward.

"There'll be some people who'll be prepared to take that," he said.
"What I'd hate to see is someone actually does it, gets a reward, then suffers serious injury or worse."

Mr Dempsey says protection will be available.
"Obviously from witness protection to other different areas depending on the level of protection that is needed."

The Police Minister also says the government is working to stop bikie clubs out-manoeuvring efforts to have them declared criminal gangs.

The Finks have reportedly struck a deal to allow most of its members to switch to the US based Mongols club.

It is unclear what the move could mean for legal efforts to have the Finks declared a criminal organisation in Queensland.
But Mr Dempsey says name changes and club swaps should not count for much.

"Any criminal gangs, it will not matter what they change, what spots they change or the uniforms they change, if they are a criminal gang, a criminal gang has no place in Queensland and we'll certainly be coming after you like never before," he said.
Premier Campbell Newman says unexplained wealth laws would also be used against bikie gang ringleaders.

The legislation recently took effect.

But it has not been put into action yet.

Mr Newman says it reverses the onus of proof.

He says suspects are required to explain the source of their income and assets.

"That's why we want to do information sharing with the Australian Tax Office and also organisations like Centrelink, because by sharing this data we can actually go after them and remember how they got Al Capone?" he said.
"As I recall and I'm sure people recall it was tax evasion at the end of the day."

[Huggy]

No one was coming. No one got hurt.

I run reds all the time, fuck waiting.

[CharlieBrown]

Ler's head towards a society like this. Offer a reward to dob in neighbours, drivers (look at that fuker, he can't drive for shit)............. anyone we don't like, there could be some cash in it for us!

recommend re-reading 1984. It's damn scary how fast we're travelling down that road.

[Machast]

got that on film

welcome to the 19th century

[Kia]

I did that once. I was in a rush due to an emergency and Id filtered through to the front at Mirrabooka Ave and Yirrigan southbound. Arrow turns green and I mistakenly launch off. What Im trying to say, you don't know the circumstances and he probably realised his mistake if he only did it once (Im assuming he did).

Dont be that guy. Leave it be.

[Hamster]

All interesting responses. I already know what I'm going to do, but I thought it would be interesting to see what others think.
Re the lights Kia, yes I can see that situation occurring. Here there were no turn arrows though.
It's not surprising there are differing views on what level of law breaking is acceptable. Zero tolerance seems unreasonable, and not reporting that you've just potentially witnessed a child being abducted is equally unreasonable.
The line in between gets drawn in a variety of different places and everyone thinks their line is correct.

[Hurtlegear]

I don't do that, I just don't. However, the Taxi Driver is a full time road user, and from the photos provided it seems he's come to a complete stop and looked both ways, then (correctly) assessed that there was no other traffic coming. Seems like responsible road use to me.

We can't make it legal because there are heaps of Fucktards out there who would see that as a change in road rules that allow them to treat Reds as optional, and would go through when there was traffic opposing them.

In this case it looks like "no harm, no foul", and I really don't want to live in a place where every other road user is filming me so that I can be reported for not indicating when I'm splitting, or crossing an unbroken line as I filter up at the lights, or coming to an almost stop at a stop sign.

Don't be the guy that started that process.