408 cops "caught" in bus lanes in Birmingham
Discussion
Terzo123 said:
Post some valid points and i'll happily answer them as long as you are not just trolling.
"I would counter that they are exempt if it is for a police purpose which requires them to drive in the bus lane. This seems fair & reasonable."I would add that this view sems to be shared by the chief constable & the council.
I would further add that any of the individuals fined could argue their case in court if they felt they were justified, yet none of the 300-odd has done so. They haven't fought their case together nor asked their federation to fight the case on their behalf. I conclude that their case isn't very strong.
Threads like this are pure comedy gold and yet another example of the same old crap being discussed and the usual suspects spouting their anti police agendas.
Granted, Officers parking on double yellow lines whilst getting their butties i can agree with but using a bus lane to get around/patrol etc come on?
The usual suspects will be the first to complain about response times etc and argue about Policing duties without any knowledge / experience like the usual barrack room lawyers that they are.
Good for entertainment value though so please carry on...
Granted, Officers parking on double yellow lines whilst getting their butties i can agree with but using a bus lane to get around/patrol etc come on?
The usual suspects will be the first to complain about response times etc and argue about Policing duties without any knowledge / experience like the usual barrack room lawyers that they are.
Good for entertainment value though so please carry on...
Whilst police officers are working and driving police owned vehciles I couldn't give a monkeys whether they drive in bus lanes or not, and I say this as someone who is quick to criticise any abuse of power or other dishonesty or inappropriate nehaviour.
Why the f
k are they pursuing these tickets when bus lanes are clogged by fking minicabs, which ARE NOT TAXIS!? Every city in the country seems to offer a free pass to these fkers, 24hrs a day. The occasions on which they are probably working as a minicab (ie carrying a fare paying passenger) appear to be a tiny percentage based on my own observation.
Why the f
k are they pursuing these tickets when bus lanes are clogged by fking minicabs, which ARE NOT TAXIS!? Every city in the country seems to offer a free pass to these fkers, 24hrs a day. The occasions on which they are probably working as a minicab (ie carrying a fare paying passenger) appear to be a tiny percentage based on my own observation.
From agreeing with me on recent threads to suggesting that I am somehow supporting... Well: Im not even sure - are you?
Many bus lane schemes are introduced with an eye on their future profitability and the enforcement systems are certainly sold on that basis, so theyre hardly something that I am going to support.
Im a strong libertarian (in a non-polictal sense) and strongly opposed to police dishonesty, abuse of position, lethargy and any attempts to increase their powers or restrict our freedom.
Against that backdrop I say that compared to piss-taking minicabs taking advantage of a concession that I don't even believe that they qualify for, but which they seem to avoid prosecution over; police officers driving through bus lanes whilst working doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Many bus lane schemes are introduced with an eye on their future profitability and the enforcement systems are certainly sold on that basis, so theyre hardly something that I am going to support.
Im a strong libertarian (in a non-polictal sense) and strongly opposed to police dishonesty, abuse of position, lethargy and any attempts to increase their powers or restrict our freedom.
Against that backdrop I say that compared to piss-taking minicabs taking advantage of a concession that I don't even believe that they qualify for, but which they seem to avoid prosecution over; police officers driving through bus lanes whilst working doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Edited by GC8 on Tuesday 21st January 17:16
GC8 said:
From agreeing with me on recent threads to suggesting that I am somehow supporting... Well: Im not even sure - are you?
You've lost me there; I wasn't suggesting anything other than most people have a dislike of Brum minicab drivers.GC8 said:
Many bus lane schemes are introduced with an eye on their future profitability and the enforcement systems are certainly sold on that basis, so theyre hardly something that I am going to support.
Im a strong libertarian (in a non-polictal sense) and strongly opposed to police dishonesty, abuse of position, lethargy and any attempts to increase to increase their powers or restrict our freedom.
Against that backdrop I say that compared to piss-taking minicabs taking advantage of a concession that I don't even believe that they qualify for, but which they seem to avoid prosecution over; police officers driving through bus lanes whilst working doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Generally with you.Im a strong libertarian (in a non-polictal sense) and strongly opposed to police dishonesty, abuse of position, lethargy and any attempts to increase to increase their powers or restrict our freedom.
Against that backdrop I say that compared to piss-taking minicabs taking advantage of a concession that I don't even believe that they qualify for, but which they seem to avoid prosecution over; police officers driving through bus lanes whilst working doesn't bother me in the slightest.
My position on this, though, is that those caught have been caught fair & square breaking (petty) rules without good reason & should be treated exactly as I would. No more, no less.
Rovinghawk said:
"I would counter that they are exempt if it is for a police purpose which requires them to drive in the bus lane. This seems fair & reasonable."
Where to start with that. It's the equivelant of asking how long is a piece of string, a retorical question.If its for a policing purpose then it shouldn't really matter.
I haven't looked at the council bylaws in relation to this particular matter, i'm only assuming that the exemption is for "policing purposes" much like most other city councils.
What i would have considered a valid point to be was if you had highlighted that the legislation covered only police vehicles with blue lights activated. Much as it would have annoyed me, i would have had to admit you were right. It would have been a valid point. I might then have argued the sense beind such poor legislation but i would have to had bowed down at the alter of Rovenhawk and admitted i was wrong.
But no, you post a typically smarmy response, much like the majority of your posts, which does nothing for any purposeful debate.
Terzo123 said:
But no, you post a typically smarmy response, much like the majority of your posts, which does nothing for any purposeful debate.
Leaving aside the insults- The police have the power to arrest people. But only when necessary.
I contend that their permission to do many of the things that they do is contingent upon it being necessary rather than just making lives easier. I include driving in restricted lanes.
Rovinghawk said:
Leaving aside the insults-
The police have the power to arrest people. But only when necessary.
I contend that their permission to do many of the things that they do is contingent upon it being necessary rather than just making lives easier. I include driving in restricted lanes.
Whats does "necessary" mean in the world of Rovenhawk in relation to this issue?The police have the power to arrest people. But only when necessary.
I contend that their permission to do many of the things that they do is contingent upon it being necessary rather than just making lives easier. I include driving in restricted lanes.
And i would agree that buying lunch, going shopping etc would not be necessary.
Infact Rovenhawk what policing purposes would would not be necessary? Lets have some specifics and none of this vague rubbish.
Edited by Terzo123 on Tuesday 21st January 17:33
Rovinghawk said:
GC8 said:
From agreeing with me on recent threads to suggesting that I am somehow supporting... Well: Im not even sure - are you?
You've lost me there; I wasn't suggesting anything other than most people have a dislike of Brum minicab drivers.GC8 said:
Many bus lane schemes are introduced with an eye on their future profitability and the enforcement systems are certainly sold on that basis, so theyre hardly something that I am going to support.
Im a strong libertarian (in a non-polictal sense) and strongly opposed to police dishonesty, abuse of position, lethargy and any attempts to increase to increase their powers or restrict our freedom.
Against that backdrop I say that compared to piss-taking minicabs taking advantage of a concession that I don't even believe that they qualify for, but which they seem to avoid prosecution over; police officers driving through bus lanes whilst working doesn't bother me in the slightest.
Generally with you.Im a strong libertarian (in a non-polictal sense) and strongly opposed to police dishonesty, abuse of position, lethargy and any attempts to increase to increase their powers or restrict our freedom.
Against that backdrop I say that compared to piss-taking minicabs taking advantage of a concession that I don't even believe that they qualify for, but which they seem to avoid prosecution over; police officers driving through bus lanes whilst working doesn't bother me in the slightest.
My position on this, though, is that those caught have been caught fair & square breaking (petty) rules without good reason & should be treated exactly as I would. No more, no less.
Presuming this to be the case then I am happy for police vehicles to drive on the available roads rather than waste hours and hours every week being funnelled into the deliberately planned bottlenecks.
Edited by GC8 on Tuesday 21st January 19:07
The biggest problem with bus lanes is the rules aren't consistent regarding their times of operation and what vehicles may use them.
You can get variations in the same City.
Here in Worcester for example, they are all bus and cycle only, but they all have different times of operation. (They aren't enforced here, at all, so they've become a bit of a free for all).
Obviously they tend to mainly be in inner City areas (although not exclusively), so looking out for detailed signs, whilst watching for scameras of all types, constantly varying speed limits, traffic lights, other vehicles, suicidal cyclists and pedestrians, so called filtering motorcycles, and trying to find your way around yet another City to get to a customer ........ I can understand why people can make mistakes.
Then you have "occupant" lanes, "all vehicles except cars and small van" lanes , .... etc etc, everything is becoming different in different areas.
You can get variations in the same City.
Here in Worcester for example, they are all bus and cycle only, but they all have different times of operation. (They aren't enforced here, at all, so they've become a bit of a free for all).
Obviously they tend to mainly be in inner City areas (although not exclusively), so looking out for detailed signs, whilst watching for scameras of all types, constantly varying speed limits, traffic lights, other vehicles, suicidal cyclists and pedestrians, so called filtering motorcycles, and trying to find your way around yet another City to get to a customer ........ I can understand why people can make mistakes.
Then you have "occupant" lanes, "all vehicles except cars and small van" lanes , .... etc etc, everything is becoming different in different areas.
Police, bus lanes, sandwich run?
Sure, why not.
It's not like a cop in a marked car is ever actually off duty, they are always moments from a call or from seeing something that they have to respond too.
As for wasting money or making money.
I'm guessing more man hours are wasted trying to check for each tickets good reason than the bus lanes make on the tickets.
By making all market police cars allowed to use bus lanes a huge swathe of pointless admin is eliminated.
Sure, why not.
It's not like a cop in a marked car is ever actually off duty, they are always moments from a call or from seeing something that they have to respond too.
As for wasting money or making money.
I'm guessing more man hours are wasted trying to check for each tickets good reason than the bus lanes make on the tickets.
By making all market police cars allowed to use bus lanes a huge swathe of pointless admin is eliminated.
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