August 5, 2025 • 6 mins
We're joined by Sergeant Steven Planinic, here to answer all the questions you've ever wanted to ask a Highway Patrol officer. He's also here to talk about Beat The Blue your chance to race the police on the track! It’s all happening at Sydney Motorsport Park on August 9, and best of all, every dollar raised goes to NSW Police Legacy, supporting a great cause. Think you’re fast enough? Come prove it!
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is the Fitting and Whip with Kate Richie podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Great event happening this week in at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
It's called Beat the Blue. This is your opportunity to
beat the cops.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
This is in your car obviously. This is run by
volunteers and one hundred percent of the proceeds from participation
in merchandise go directly to the New South Wales Police Leaguer.
See one man will he be racing this week in
his Sergeant Stephen planinik He's part of the Auburn Highway
Patrol and he joins us now sergeants.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Day, thank you good I Sergeant Steve.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
So can I come down with my own car?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Yes? Yeah, we you can't use our cards unfortunately.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
So it's like if Tommy comes down he drives a
Toyota Yaris. Yeah, is going to be the twenty ten
yarras trying to beat one of your patrol cars. That's correct, Tommy,
stay away off, Yes, all right. That's an exciting opportunity
for people to come down, it is.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
That's the biggest draw card of the event, to test
their drive and skill against the police. What is the
average police car, Well, the higher patrol cars that will
be in us will be the five point thirty D
which is a sedan and now the higher patroler using
X five BMWs SUVs.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Right, okay, that's.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
My good And tell us about your driving, Steve. I mean,
how often do you actually have to get out in
the track and you know, for moments when you are
on highway patrol. We do see it on the news
quite a bit where someone decides to go for it
and get away from the cops. I mean, say, how
much are you practicing on the road.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
So it comes down to your training.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
So a lot of our training is around scenario work
on a racetrack. So and that's where we started Beat
the Blue so that we could recreate that in a
safe environment and show people that if you drive safely
and correctly generally, you're quicker. So each year, this is
our fifty year running Be the Blue. The cops of
one of the matchups with the plow. So with your
(01:52):
question with the pursuit stuff, again, it's that we get
that much training and oversight with what we do, which
is what we should have, that we we try and
our best. We're still humans, we make the mistakes, but
we do our best to prioritize that safety and switch off.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Now we've thrown it out there this morning, Sad and
Steve ae'en twenty fourteen. If you like Sad and Steve
to debunk any myths or clear up some laws for
our listeners. Julie has given us a girl from Pennant Hills.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
What's your question, Jules, I was wondering if I'm allowed
to drive with my dog in the car without him
being strapped in.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
We animals and in cars, and that they'd recommend it
heavily that they're strapped in.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
The biggest defense around that.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
So what you would get a ticket for is if
your dog was on your lap while you were driving.
So as long as they're not on your lap or
impeding you, you're you're fine. Fell on the back seats, Yeah,
that's right, it's just safer for them and strapped in.
I've got a lab at home, and you've got a
great little setup for the back seat so he doesn't
destroy it or eat it. He's strapped in and he's
(02:50):
nice and safe. Because again, you can be the best
driver in the world, and if something happens around you,
you don't want your loved lives to get hurt.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Great question, Julia, thank you Lucky in camera for Sergeant
Steve Flucky.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Not really a question about the laws, but more just
what's the fastest you've ever gone in your police car
and also your regular cars?
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Jeez, would that be at the track? It has to
be at the track. That's a good disclaimer there.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Well, I don't really after I've been in the place
for twenty years now, most of that in the higher patrol.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
It's not.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
There's no board at work. I sort of note down
the fastest we go, we don't have there's no limit,
and it's all based on the scenario in my race
car the racetrack. I've gone over two hundred and forty
coos an hour down the main street there park and
that's the place to do it, not on the street,
regardless if you're a police officer or not.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Steve Gimma in Parramotta. You got Serge and Steve, what
would you like to ask hello?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
I'd love to know.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Why is it when you pull someone over, but you
chap the car and leave your finger prints as you
walk off back to your police car.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Have you heard this, Steve?
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Yeah, it's we don't really tell people why we do
it because of the reason why do it, and it's about,
like you rightfully said, your fingerprints on the car.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
So I'll let you use your imagination as.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
To why I would leave bits of ourselves on someone's car,
because if something doesn't go well and that person drives off,
you've left something a marker on that car that they
can't refute.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
So yeah, it's very much deliberate. So it's a couple
of things.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
It's making sure the boot's secured so that no one
jumps out of it and leaving a marker on the car.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, there's quite a few things like that, Steve.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah, yeah, we do.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Like I said, the training that we get it's pretty
extensive and it's all towards our people getting home safely.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
There's so much technique too, because we were lucky enough
to go and see the training center of the Pistol
Range at the headquarters here in New South Wales, and
even getting the gun from.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
The holster has a technique.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
Yeah, definitely, and it's all all that training is about
muscle memory because when you're in a high stress environment,
you're cognitive process it has to be automated. So yeah,
just so much repetition in training, and that's what keeps
you safe.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
That's blitz.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Second decision, Steve, what you need to pull out, whether
it's a taser, pepper spray, your batten or it could
be a gun. And I know you tasted Tom just
outside the studio.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
He asked for it.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Serena's in five Dog question for Sergeant Steve.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Yes, I just want to know if a police car
comes up behind me in a hurry, but I'm at
a red light, do I go through it to make
way for the police car?
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Or do I stay at the red light? Old question.
It's a great question because that happens quite a lot.
If you can shuffle out of the way without crossing
the line? Yes, what if you can't? No, I wouldn't.
Don't move.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Do you like the show Highway Petrel Stave.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
I haven't really watched that, to be honest. I do
see clips of it on social media and the like
and have a smile, But now I know that it's
quite popular. Like the RBT Show and The Force and
the like, it does really show people some of the
things we deal with on a day in, day out basis.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
So I mean, Sergeant Steve in the urban area.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Got one more call here from Salim Mahaja.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Now he's getting married again this weekend.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Well, I'm off duty on Saturday. Actually right, are you
around for that wedding?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Student?
Speaker 1 (06:13):
No, I was working somewhere else. Oh thank god.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
If you want to get involved, to go to Beat
the Blue dot org and you can bring the kids.
There's a kid zone, there's a large car display, police
displays and get involved and go on the website and
find out a little bit more. There they are raising
money for the new South Wales Police Legacy.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
You do an amazing job, Steven.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
We really appreciate your time, buddy.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Thank you. I appreciate having an opportunity to come in
and have a chat.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Thanks.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Deve sits in Whipper with Kate Ritchie is a Nova
podcast walk great shows like this.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Download the Nova player, Fire the app Store or Google
Playing
This is the Fitting and Whip with Kate Richie podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
Great event happening this week in at Sydney Motorsport Park.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
It's called Beat the Blue. This is your opportunity to
beat the cops.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
This is in your car obviously. This is run by
volunteers and one hundred percent of the proceeds from participation
in merchandise go directly to the New South Wales Police Leaguer.
See one man will he be racing this week in
his Sergeant Stephen planinik He's part of the Auburn Highway
Patrol and he joins us now sergeants.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Day, thank you good I Sergeant Steve.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
So can I come down with my own car?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Yes? Yeah, we you can't use our cards unfortunately.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
So it's like if Tommy comes down he drives a
Toyota Yaris. Yeah, is going to be the twenty ten
yarras trying to beat one of your patrol cars. That's correct, Tommy,
stay away off, Yes, all right. That's an exciting opportunity
for people to come down, it is.
Speaker 4 (00:55):
That's the biggest draw card of the event, to test
their drive and skill against the police. What is the
average police car, Well, the higher patrol cars that will
be in us will be the five point thirty D
which is a sedan and now the higher patroler using
X five BMWs SUVs.
Speaker 3 (01:10):
Right, okay, that's.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
My good And tell us about your driving, Steve. I mean,
how often do you actually have to get out in
the track and you know, for moments when you are
on highway patrol. We do see it on the news
quite a bit where someone decides to go for it
and get away from the cops. I mean, say, how
much are you practicing on the road.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
So it comes down to your training.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
So a lot of our training is around scenario work
on a racetrack. So and that's where we started Beat
the Blue so that we could recreate that in a
safe environment and show people that if you drive safely
and correctly generally, you're quicker. So each year, this is
our fifty year running Be the Blue. The cops of
one of the matchups with the plow. So with your
(01:52):
question with the pursuit stuff, again, it's that we get
that much training and oversight with what we do, which
is what we should have, that we we try and
our best. We're still humans, we make the mistakes, but
we do our best to prioritize that safety and switch off.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Now we've thrown it out there this morning, Sad and
Steve ae'en twenty fourteen. If you like Sad and Steve
to debunk any myths or clear up some laws for
our listeners. Julie has given us a girl from Pennant Hills.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
What's your question, Jules, I was wondering if I'm allowed
to drive with my dog in the car without him
being strapped in.
Speaker 4 (02:24):
We animals and in cars, and that they'd recommend it
heavily that they're strapped in.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
The biggest defense around that.
Speaker 4 (02:30):
So what you would get a ticket for is if
your dog was on your lap while you were driving.
So as long as they're not on your lap or
impeding you, you're you're fine. Fell on the back seats, Yeah,
that's right, it's just safer for them and strapped in.
I've got a lab at home, and you've got a
great little setup for the back seat so he doesn't
destroy it or eat it. He's strapped in and he's
(02:50):
nice and safe. Because again, you can be the best
driver in the world, and if something happens around you,
you don't want your loved lives to get hurt.
Speaker 3 (02:56):
Great question, Julia, thank you Lucky in camera for Sergeant
Steve Flucky.
Speaker 4 (03:02):
Not really a question about the laws, but more just
what's the fastest you've ever gone in your police car
and also your regular cars?
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Jeez, would that be at the track? It has to
be at the track. That's a good disclaimer there.
Speaker 4 (03:16):
Well, I don't really after I've been in the place
for twenty years now, most of that in the higher patrol.
Speaker 1 (03:20):
It's not.
Speaker 4 (03:21):
There's no board at work. I sort of note down
the fastest we go, we don't have there's no limit,
and it's all based on the scenario in my race
car the racetrack. I've gone over two hundred and forty
coos an hour down the main street there park and
that's the place to do it, not on the street,
regardless if you're a police officer or not.
Speaker 2 (03:40):
Steve Gimma in Parramotta. You got Serge and Steve, what
would you like to ask hello?
Speaker 1 (03:46):
I'd love to know.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
Why is it when you pull someone over, but you
chap the car and leave your finger prints as you
walk off back to your police car.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Have you heard this, Steve?
Speaker 4 (03:55):
Yeah, it's we don't really tell people why we do
it because of the reason why do it, and it's about,
like you rightfully said, your fingerprints on the car.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
So I'll let you use your imagination as.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
To why I would leave bits of ourselves on someone's car,
because if something doesn't go well and that person drives off,
you've left something a marker on that car that they
can't refute.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
So yeah, it's very much deliberate. So it's a couple
of things.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
It's making sure the boot's secured so that no one
jumps out of it and leaving a marker on the car.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
Yeah, there's quite a few things like that, Steve.
Speaker 1 (04:25):
Yeah, yeah, we do.
Speaker 4 (04:27):
Like I said, the training that we get it's pretty
extensive and it's all towards our people getting home safely.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
There's so much technique too, because we were lucky enough
to go and see the training center of the Pistol
Range at the headquarters here in New South Wales, and
even getting the gun from.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
The holster has a technique.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
Yeah, definitely, and it's all all that training is about
muscle memory because when you're in a high stress environment,
you're cognitive process it has to be automated. So yeah,
just so much repetition in training, and that's what keeps
you safe.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
That's blitz.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Second decision, Steve, what you need to pull out, whether
it's a taser, pepper spray, your batten or it could
be a gun. And I know you tasted Tom just
outside the studio.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
He asked for it.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Serena's in five Dog question for Sergeant Steve.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
Yes, I just want to know if a police car
comes up behind me in a hurry, but I'm at
a red light, do I go through it to make
way for the police car?
Speaker 1 (05:26):
Or do I stay at the red light? Old question.
It's a great question because that happens quite a lot.
If you can shuffle out of the way without crossing
the line? Yes, what if you can't? No, I wouldn't.
Don't move.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Do you like the show Highway Petrel Stave.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
I haven't really watched that, to be honest. I do
see clips of it on social media and the like
and have a smile, But now I know that it's
quite popular. Like the RBT Show and The Force and
the like, it does really show people some of the
things we deal with on a day in, day out basis.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
So I mean, Sergeant Steve in the urban area.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
Got one more call here from Salim Mahaja.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
Now he's getting married again this weekend.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Well, I'm off duty on Saturday. Actually right, are you
around for that wedding?
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Student?
Speaker 1 (06:13):
No, I was working somewhere else. Oh thank god.
Speaker 2 (06:16):
If you want to get involved, to go to Beat
the Blue dot org and you can bring the kids.
There's a kid zone, there's a large car display, police
displays and get involved and go on the website and
find out a little bit more. There they are raising
money for the new South Wales Police Legacy.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
You do an amazing job, Steven.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
We really appreciate your time, buddy.
Speaker 1 (06:33):
Thank you. I appreciate having an opportunity to come in
and have a chat.
Speaker 3 (06:36):
Thanks.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
Deve sits in Whipper with Kate Ritchie is a Nova
podcast walk great shows like this.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Download the Nova player, Fire the app Store or Google
Playing
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