I was pulled last night..
Discussion
Last night whilst travelling home on an empty motorway, I was pulled over for the first time in my driving life. Exciting!
The limit was 70mph, and there was a red Focus in the outside lane travelling around 60mph. I wasn't in a hurry, and other than mumbling to myself, I was happy to just sit back and wait on them to pull into lane one. After around 3 miles of them sitting there, I gave a brief flash of main beam - all the time sitting well back. They then slowed to around 40mph. I won't use the term "brake tested", because I was far enough back that it was never dangerous.
They then pulled into lane one, and I passed in lane two at an indicated 80. They then started flashing their headlights in my mirror which I ignored. They pulled alongside me, and I saw it was full of three uniformed officers gesticulating for me to pull over. I pulled over and got into their car. They took my details, did a few checks and gave me a b
king, asking why I felt the need to dazzle them, and why my need to pass was greater than theirs, etc. I was very apologetic and never argued at all. They really gave me a fright - quoting figures of 90mph, dangerous driving charges, etc. I know this is PH, and this is only my side of the story, but I did not agree with their version of events.Anyway.. to cut a long story short. They then told me I was lucky they had other things to deal with, and let me on my way. They wrote down my details for their insurance/license/wanted-person checks, but other than that they never said the words "I'm reporting you for the consideration..", or anything like that. I wasn't given any paperwork or asked to sign anything, although they wrote my details down in their notebook. Can I confirm that this was just a b
king - and I'm unlikely to hear anything else about it? I don't want to debate the rights and wrongs of my/their actions, as I think they perhaps just wanted to give me a fright and a talking to. I like to think I passed the attitude test, and their car was also not a traffic car (they pulled me by flashing their headlights and the passenger waving his police hat at me).How did you resist not telling them they were in the wrong bloody lane and were causing an obstruction to you for the last 3 miles? You have more personal restraint than me!
Now I've reread you your post, I'm not sure I would have been inclined to pull over if their only indication was some hat waving! Could have been anyone with a semi official looking uniform on!
Now I've reread you your post, I'm not sure I would have been inclined to pull over if their only indication was some hat waving! Could have been anyone with a semi official looking uniform on!
Edited by xr287 on Monday 1st March 17:35
fastfreddy said:
erdnase said:
(they pulled me by flashing their headlights and the passenger waving his police hat at me).
Off to a fancy dress party perhaps?PNC checks etc are conducted over the radio and not written down for later!
You need to report this just in case.
saaby93 said:
Impersonators - did you catch their ID
I doubt it. Perhaps up until I pulled over, it was possible - but in their car, they ran checks over the radio that I heard.I didn't mention that they were in the wrong lane or anything like that. When they asked why I felt the need to "dazzle" them, I only replied that I was making sure they were aware of my presence.
erdnase said:
saaby93 said:
Impersonators - did you catch their ID
I doubt it. Perhaps up until I pulled over, it was possible - but in their car, they ran checks over the radio that I heard.I didn't mention that they were in the wrong lane or anything like that. When they asked why I felt the need to "dazzle" them, I only replied that I was making sure they were aware of my presence.
But get it reported, bloody dangerous.
^Slider^ said:
Ok, they may have been BiB. But still needs reporting, I know it may sound stupid but they may have been off duty or comming from training.
But get it reported, bloody dangerous.
They should have known better than to be travelling in the outside lane at 60mph - and also their braking manuever was perhaps.. odd. However, given that there were 3 of them and one of me, I don't see anything I report holding much weight.But get it reported, bloody dangerous.
Who could they have been? They weren't traffic police, and wouldn't CID be plain clothed? Their vehicle had no specialist equipment on board. Perhaps a little strange, but my only real reason for posting was to put my mind at ease, regarding hearing any more about it.
erdnase said:
^Slider^ said:
Ok, they may have been BiB. But still needs reporting, I know it may sound stupid but they may have been off duty or comming from training.
But get it reported, bloody dangerous.
They should have known better than to be travelling in the outside lane at 60mph - and also their braking manuever was perhaps.. odd. However, given that there were 3 of them and one of me, I don't see anything I report holding much weight.But get it reported, bloody dangerous.
Who could they have been? They weren't traffic police, and wouldn't CID be plain clothed? Their vehicle had no specialist equipment on board. Perhaps a little strange, but my only real reason for posting was to put my mind at ease, regarding hearing any more about it.
All i would report is the facts of the driving prior to the stop, also stopping you with no emergency kit on a hard shoulder.
As that is unnaceptable behaviour.
As i said, it may well have been off duty BiB in their own private car. They can be traced from the PNC check.
erdnase said:
saaby93 said:
Impersonators - did you catch their ID
I doubt it. Perhaps up until I pulled over, it was possible - but in their car, they ran checks over the radio that I heard.I didn't mention that they were in the wrong lane or anything like that. When they asked why I felt the need to "dazzle" them, I only replied that I was making sure they were aware of my presence.
Nice bit of police work that.......
erdnase said:
^Slider^ said:
Ok, they may have been BiB. But still needs reporting, I know it may sound stupid but they may have been off duty or comming from training.
But get it reported, bloody dangerous.
They should have known better than to be travelling in the outside lane at 60mph - and also their braking manuever was perhaps.. odd. However, given that there were 3 of them and one of me, I don't see anything I report holding much weight.But get it reported, bloody dangerous.
Who could they have been? They weren't traffic police, and wouldn't CID be plain clothed? Their vehicle had no specialist equipment on board. Perhaps a little strange, but my only real reason for posting was to put my mind at ease, regarding hearing any more about it.
Theres plenty of departments that use unmarked cars with no kit on board, could have been three bods just off a course or going between stations.
Do agree with your comments about their driving habits though.
Blackpig2 said:
Theres plenty of departments that use unmarked cars with no kit on board, could have been three bods just off a course or going between stations.
Do agree with your comments about their driving habits though.
Surely it's very unusual (might even be against local rules?) for an unmarked non-traffic car to stop someone on a motorway?Do agree with your comments about their driving habits though.
Lancashire Police have standing instructions not to stop people on the M6 at night even in fully marked cars unless it's vital as it's considered too dangerous.
Well, their "outside lane for 3 miles" antics, combined with the sudden slowing and flashing their headlights as I passed - then when they sped up and drew alongside (I avoided eye contact, not wanting to get involved in what I thought could be a road-rage incident), I seriously considered putting as much space between them and myself as possible. Glad I didn't, now!
erdnase said:
Well, their "outside lane for 3 miles" antics, combined with the sudden slowing and flashing their headlights as I passed - then when they sped up and drew alongside (I avoided eye contact, not wanting to get involved in what I thought could be a road-rage incident), I seriously considered putting as much space between them and myself as possible. Glad I didn't, now!
That's what they wanted.philthy said:
erdnase said:
Well, their "outside lane for 3 miles" antics, combined with the sudden slowing and flashing their headlights as I passed - then when they sped up and drew alongside (I avoided eye contact, not wanting to get involved in what I thought could be a road-rage incident), I seriously considered putting as much space between them and myself as possible. Glad I didn't, now!
That's what they wanted.I admit I passed at an indicated 80, which is a true speed of around 73-ish mph.
I put my hands up to that.
Edited to add: I'm not claiming any bullying or harassment. I've always had, and still do have the utmost respect for the police. This particular cars behavior was peculiar from my point of view, and my main reason for posting was to find out it I'm likely to hear any more about this.
I put my hands up to that.
Edited to add: I'm not claiming any bullying or harassment. I've always had, and still do have the utmost respect for the police. This particular cars behavior was peculiar from my point of view, and my main reason for posting was to find out it I'm likely to hear any more about this.
Edited by erdnase on Monday 1st March 21:27
Poor driving habits at night in unmarked cars seems to be very popular at the moment, I followed an unmarked astra from my parents house to a mile or so away from mine on a mixture of backroads and main roads yesterday. Duration of circa 5miles in total, For the first mile or two i thought i was behind a drunk driver. 25MPH on every road, regardless of whether it was a 20 or a 30. Sudden braking when he spotted a (No longer in use, very old) speed camera and clipped a fair few kerbs going around corners at low speeds. Was going to boot it past him on a long open stretch but decided to sit behind at 25. Glad i did because i spotted the radio on his shoulder when we pulled up at the next set of lights.
Should of known it was a copper though, Car was far too new, clean and dent free to be a local.
Should of known it was a copper though, Car was far too new, clean and dent free to be a local.
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