Slashdot Mirror


YouTube Video Leads To Arrest For Speeding

JoshuaInNippon writes "A 42-year old man was arrested outside of Osaka, Japan in connection with a YouTube video of him going more than 130km/h (80mph) over the speed limit on his 1300cc motorcycle. The man reportedly borrowed his friend's camera and videotaped himself speeding at well over 180km/h in a 50km/h zone, illegally passing cars multiple times in the process. The man's friend then distributed the video online. Local police say they received an anonymous tip about the YouTube video and investigated. It then took them nearly half a year before making the arrest, but the motorcyclist, who apparently admitted guilt, is now likely facing both multiple fines and jail time. Japanese police say it is the first time they've used evidence from the internet to pursue such traffic violations. With a multitude of similar speed enthusiast home videos on YouTube and other sites, might more careless braggers start facing legal problems?"

39 comments

  1. Too Bad by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Youtube now says "This video has been removed by the user"

  2. What about Google? by Anita+Coney · · Score: 2, Funny

    Will Google's executives be arrested for this video too?

    --
    If someone says he and his monkey have nothing to hide, they almost certainly do.
    1. Re:What about Google? by Yvan256 · · Score: 1

      Well of course! This user uploaded a video showing himself going 130km/h over the limit. If we use the now-proven-in-court RIAA and MPAA logic, that means the Google executives ALSO went 130km/h over the limit.

    2. Re:What about Google? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That's a damn good point.

  3. Dumbass cops by kyuubiunl · · Score: 0

    So wait........that's ~112MPH in a 30.....ok, 80 over, goodbye license, but HALF A FUCKING YEAR? Don't you guys have you know, real police things to do?

    1. Re:Dumbass cops by frosty_tsm · · Score: 4, Insightful

      So wait........that's ~112MPH in a 30.....ok, 80 over, goodbye license, but HALF A FUCKING YEAR? Don't you guys have you know, real police things to do?

      30 mph zones are generally ones with high congestion, lots of pedestrians, and not necessarily a lot of room to mess up. Imagine if this was in a car rather than a motorcycle (to my knowledge, the laws and penalties are generally the same for both). That's a lot of potential for death and destruction (and they'd be lucky if they didn't have an accident). Admittedly, a motorcycle has less potential for destruction but it's still potent at those speeds (especially since sidewalks in Japan are often crowded).

      Someone who commits this sort of recklessness needs to be made aware it is not acceptable. Revoking their license isn't enough to do that; they'll just ride without one.

    2. Re:Dumbass cops by fuliginous · · Score: 1

      The real irritation in Britain with similar convictions (speed wise not video evidence wise) is bikers go to prison for sometimes a year to 18 months. But company directors who are responsible for those people who work for the company often get caught doing similar speeds in big cars but just get a fine and short ban.

      Despite the simple math showing that the killing force and actual likelihood of incident in the first place (due to cross section and time in that zone) being way lower for the bike than car.

      I'm not grumbling about the convictions (caught breaking the law and proven so equals conviction) merely the imbalance in consequence. I often think shouldn't the director go to prison longer as he wasn't only risking the physical result of his action but the livelihoods of all his employees (subverting their own defence lawyers arguments.)

    3. Re:Dumbass cops by Dutchy+Wutchy · · Score: 2, Informative

      50kmh zones are the highest for non-highway and non-by-pass roads (there may be a few exceptions where the limit is 60). I caught a glimpse of the video when it was on TV, it appeared to be country roads with no pedestrians (no walking friendly destinations). Also, the no passing zones are labeled for where cars cannot safely pass. Though motorcycles are still held to the same passing laws, it almost certainly was not a high-congestion pedestrian-filled street but generally a wide (for Japan) country road. Not trying to defend him, just trying to paint a more accurate picture.

    4. Re:Dumbass cops by Dutchy+Wutchy · · Score: 2, Informative
    5. Re:Dumbass cops by bidule · · Score: 1

      High congestion, lots of pedestrians, crowded sidewalk? You realize this is a mountain road, no?

      Moreover, there's lots of room to mess up if you don't mind falling off the cliffside.

      --
      ID: the nose did not occur naturally, how would we wear glasses otherwise? (apologies to Voltaire)
    6. Re:Dumbass cops by Tukz · · Score: 1

      So wait........that's ~112MPH in a 30.....ok, 80 over, goodbye license, but HALF A FUCKING YEAR? Don't you guys have you know, real police things to do?

      He wasn't exactly a immediate threat to society as we know it, I'm sure they estimated it wasn't a priority case and the rookie could handle it whenever he got time.
      It's great they actually bothered to do something about it, but realisticly I'm not expecting any law enforcement to pursue stuff like this with number 1 priority.

      --
      - Don't do what I do, it's probably not healthy nor safe. -
    7. Re:Dumbass cops by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      But company directors who are responsible for those people who work for the company often get caught doing similar speeds in big cars but just get a fine and short ban.

      [Citation needed]

  4. Proverbs 16:18 by Locke2005 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."

    --
    I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
    1. Re:Proverbs 16:18 by Yvan256 · · Score: 1

      A bit late for that, as I'm reading your comment it's currently 19:59.

    2. Re:Proverbs 16:18 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      You're the very definition of hilarious.

    3. Re:Proverbs 16:18 by element-o.p. · · Score: 1

      One word for you (or is it two?): "Timezone"

      --
      MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
    4. Re:Proverbs 16:18 by Volante3192 · · Score: 1

      Doesn't explain the minutes being off as well.

    5. Re:Proverbs 16:18 by element-o.p. · · Score: 1

      Details, details...

      --
      MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?
    6. Re:Proverbs 16:18 by edittard · · Score: 1

      The lord moveth in mysterious ways...

      --
      At the bottom of the /. main page it says 'Yesterday's News'. Well they got that right.
  5. He almost got away with it by boudie2 · · Score: 0

    I just hope when he gets out of jail, he gives his buddy who posted the vid a karate chop. To the nuts.

    1. Re:He almost got away with it by fuliginous · · Score: 1

      Surely he sues them for breach of copyright as they clearly had no right to distribute his copyright work. He can after all show loss directly consequent of the copyright material being distributed.

  6. HALF A FUCKING YEAR? by denzacar · · Score: 1

    HALF A FUCKING YEAR?

    Yeah... they had like... "real" police things to do.
    So they didn't really think it was important enough to chase him down with helicopters, SWATs and since it is Japan - ninjas and giant fucking robots.

    It's like "We got him on tape for a potentially dangerous but victimless crime he committed earlier. It can wait until we find the time to haul his ass in.".

    --
    Mit der Dummheit kämpfen Götter selbst vergebens
  7. Similar in France... by dargaud · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Last month in France there was a story of a video camera found by the side of the road by a cop, containing images of speeding from a motorbike. The cop stood around for a while until he saw a slow-going motorbike obviously looking for something. He asked the guy who said he was looking for his camera... bingo.

    --
    Non-Linux Penguins ?
    1. Re:Similar in France... by JWSmythe · · Score: 1

      Certains d'entre nous ne parlent pas français, vous inconsidérée bâtard!

      --
      Serious? Seriousness is well above my pay grade.
    2. Re:Similar in France... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      fukken moonspeak

  8. Dumbass system by Blymie · · Score: 2, Insightful

    The problem is not the police, hands down. They are there to apply the law, whenever they can.

    Frankly, the *last* thing I want to see, is a state where the police do not apply the law, because they don't feel like it. That's damned dangerous, in terms of the stability of the state.

    Regardless, again, the problem is the way wacky speeding laws are passed. Here in Canada, we have new, moronic laws which (in some Provinces) can cause an automatic suspension of a license, if you are doing more than 50km/hr (30mph) over the limit.

    This law includes towing of the vehicle, and entire families have been left at the side of the road -- with no way to get help.

    Now, this sort of law makes sense in a 30km/hr zone. After all, generally all 30km/hr zones (here) are school zones. I don't care what your opinion is, screw you -- if you want to drive over 2 1/2 times the allotted speed, where children are running and playing.

    However, we also have roads where the speed limit is 100km/hr, and where the *normal* traffic flow is 130km/hr. So, that means if you deviate by 20km/hr over the flow of traffic, you get your car impounded, and lose your license for a week?!

    Absurd!

    Back to other absurdities.

    Take a look at this road:

    http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=45.453542,-75.925224&spn=0,359.996063&t=k&z=19&layer=c&cbll=45.453619,-75.925304&panoid=qZDB8JSv42kTdg16DizW5g&cbp=12,146.26,,0,1.87

    Proceed up the hill, and notice what you see. That's right, driveways hidden from view on both sides of the road. Now, the speed limit on this road is 90km/hr. Frankly, that's fine! You need to be aware of your surroundings, and provide additional awareness around such corners.

    However, if a road like the above is 90km/hr (and trust me, that's a MILD example in this area), why is this road only 100km/hr?:

    http://maps.google.ca/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=44.888004,-75.567334&spn=0,359.992125&t=k&z=18&layer=c&cbll=44.888031,-75.568744&panoid=0gn7kAXFZ5xIKPY5t7SANQ&cbp=12,349.6,,0,2.61

    This is on of the '400' series of highways in Ontario. The speed limit on ALL of them, is 100km/hr. In the above shot, you can see in the distance a mild corner and incline. These roads are all built and designed for speed.

    Yet, 100km/hr?!

    These roads should be set to 160km/hr at a bare minimum. Or, the 90km/hr road should be set to 40km/hr.

    Either way, it makes absolutely no sense.

    Further, speed limit should vary defendant upon road conditions, the tires you have, etc.

    For example, I live in Quebec, and have spiked tires. I can on icy roads, safely, at a significantly higher speed than people without spikes on their tires.

    Why are speed limits so absurd? Well, frankly, it's because most legislators are from a time, when cars were designed quite differently than now.

    Have you ever seen someone that is 70 drive a car? Yes, some of that is indeed age, but other parts of it are how the cars were designed, when they were young!

    Anyhow... bah.

    (sorry about the formatting -- for some reason, my input box is a mere 40 chars wide... someone at /. mangled something)

    1. Re:Dumbass system by clone53421 · · Score: 1

      (sorry about the formatting -- for some reason, my input box is a mere 40 chars wide... someone at /. mangled something)

      That’s the Idle theme, and you can easily fix it by deleting “idle.” from the URL as soon as you notice you’ve accidentally come here.

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    2. Re:Dumbass system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Don't slashdot while drunk.

    3. Re:Dumbass system by silanea · · Score: 1

      Here in Canada, we have new, moronic laws which (in some Provinces) can cause an automatic suspension of a license, if you are doing more than 50km/hr (30mph) over the limit. [...] Now, this sort of law makes sense in a 30km/hr zone. [...] However, we also have roads where the speed limit is 100km/hr, and where the *normal* traffic flow is 130km/hr. So, that means if you deviate by 20km/hr over the flow of traffic, you get your car impounded, and lose your license for a week?!

      You do not seriously argue that it is ok to drive at 150% the allowed speed? As far as I am concerned anyone who goes more than 20km/h or 20% over the limit - whichever is greater - should lose their license for a week for the first offence, a month for the second and permanently for the third, with no way of getting it back. The same goes for not keeping minimum safety distance, driving without lights in the dark and overtaking where it is forbidden. Such people are simply not fit to behave responsibly in public traffic and thus should be removed from it.

      There are procedures for requesting changes to speed limits when they are put up without cause or are too strict. Not every limit makes sense. But giving people a carte blanche for breaking the law when they feel like it? Sorry, no.

      --
      Rudolf Hess edited Mein Kampf. He was the very first grammar nazi.
    4. Re:Dumbass system by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your mindless submission to an arbitrary limit deeply concerns me and I don't think you are fit to drive, since your capacity for judgement seems limited.
      There is as much carte blanche in this situation as there are effective procedures for changing speed limits i.e. none. Please, there's no need for hyperbole.

    5. Re:Dumbass system by silanea · · Score: 1

      My submission is not mindless. I accept that speed limits are necessary a) because I do not know (and cannot always identify quickly enough) every dangerous road segment and b) to keep the 25% of traffic participants who are complete and utter morons from killing themselves and, more importantly, me. I may not agree with every particular limit at a given place, but I would rather have to file a request to re-evaluate that limit with the respective authority (yes, that is possible, and in most areas it does happen quite timely) than allow everyone to go as fast as they please.

      To qualify that position I am a medic with an emergency organisation. The vast majority of accidents I was called to so far was caused by someone being an idiot, not by technical malfunction or external factors. So I am willing to trade a bit of freedom for a bit of safety here, within reason.

      --
      Rudolf Hess edited Mein Kampf. He was the very first grammar nazi.
    6. Re:Dumbass system by Blymie · · Score: 1

      My submission is not mindless.

      How can it not be, when you ignore all the specifics of my post when replying to it?

    7. Re:Dumbass system by silanea · · Score: 1

      What specifics? That everyone breaks the law at that part of the road, and so breaking it a little more does not hurt?

      To break that down: You say there are road with a 100km/h limit where everyone goes 130 (and, deducting from your post the police do nothing about that), and you complain when people get busted for going 150. What exactly is your issue? Are you arguing that the limit is unreasonable and should be raised to the 130 everyone is doing? Well, even then those who go 150 would be open to punishment. Are you arguing that the limit should be raised to 150? Are you arguing that there should not be limits at all? What is your point?

      --
      Rudolf Hess edited Mein Kampf. He was the very first grammar nazi.
    8. Re:Dumbass system by Blymie · · Score: 1

      My points are quite clearly listed in my original post, but you missed those.

      So, as I said:

      "How can it not be, when you ignore all the specifics of my post when replying to it?"

    9. Re:Dumbass system by silanea · · Score: 1

      I did not miss those, there simply are none other than that you do not like the current system. Your proposals are, sorry, laughable. Essentially you want everyone to be able to go as fast as they think is reasonable. Well, except in front of schools, where you still think it reasonable to lose your license only if you go almost three times the allowed speed.

      Most people overestimate their driving skills. Most people do not keep up with maintenance on their cars as much as they should. Most people do not keep their mind on the road while driving as much as they should. So most people need a limit to keep them and their fellow drivers safe. If you do not need one, fine. Then the limit is not there because of you. But it still protects your life from inexperienced or distracted drivers and inconsiderate morons.

      --
      Rudolf Hess edited Mein Kampf. He was the very first grammar nazi.
  9. Um... by clone53421 · · Score: 1

    Isn’t it sort of just plain old common sense to not post videos of yourself doing illegal stuff on the internet?

    Or at least making sure that you aren’t identifiable... and consider that people have been identified by their shoes...

    --
    Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    1. Re:Um... by SCPRedMage · · Score: 1

      Deadpool would like a word with you...

      --
      My sig can beat up your sig.
    2. Re:Um... by clone53421 · · Score: 1

      Oh, trust me, I’m not the one that he needs to have a word with...

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
  10. Miranda? by element-o.p. · · Score: 1

    I had always wondered about the wisdom of posting such videos on-line. I understand that the desire to brag about how fast you can ride your superbike or sports car can be pretty powerful, but if you take a video of yourself driving/riding well in excess of the speed limit, and then post it on-line, what is to stop the police from using it against you? You've essentially confessed to the crime, so all they would have to do is prove who was riding at the time. Is it really that hard to prove that? I guess there might be an issue with jurisdiction, too, but it still seems to me that anyone driving or riding that fast and then posting the video, deserves the jail time and/or fines they get. That's just stupid.

    --
    MCSE? No, sir...I don't do Windows. Yes, I am an idealist. What's your point?