Eating Whilst Driving

[rmhodv]

Yahoo.co.uk said:

Tuesday January 25, 02:45 AM Cops use plane to nab apple-eating driver LONDON (Reuters) - Police called in a spotter plane, helicopter and video-equipped patrol car to help convict a woman who ate an apple while driving to work, newspapers have reported. After nine court hearings and a trial lasting more than two hours, nursery nurse Sarah McCaffery was fined 60 pounds on Monday when a court upheld a police decision to give her a penalty ticket. Police used the plane, helicopter and car to film road conditions on the route she took in Tyneside, northeast England, after officers pulled her over in December 2003. "It is a joke they put so much effort into this," McCaffery, 23, told the Sun newspaper on Tuesday. "You would think they had better things to do." She said she had both hands on the wheel of her Ford Ka and was driving safely. But police and public prosecutors said she was not in control and they were obliged to gather evidence when she chose to fight the fine in court. This story can be found online by clicking here

What I'd like to know is how do you have both hands on the wheel and eat an apple.

[raceboy]

Full marks to her, it's took 3 years for them to get an extra £30 out of her, if everyone made this kind of stand against every stupid little 'non-crime' the country would be a better place
It could have been one of those McD's 'healthy' options, a bag of sliced apple
Just loved it on Radio 1 News how the police comment was 'theres no end to the lengths we'll go to, to stamp out dangerious driving' then the next story was sex crimes up 20% goto love our countrys priorities

>> Edited by raceboy on Tuesday 25th January 11:50

[moreymach]

From what I read she was picking it up after it went on the floor and not eating it. This was done while she was stopped but she then moved away with the offending snack still in her hand and was spotted by the copper. Maybe a bit silly on her part but not the worst thing in the world and who hasnt done the same or worse.

[The GMan]

Hebburn is where I'm originally from! I was surprised it was her car and she didn’t get done for not having a license and insurance, because that’s what most of the people I knew use to get done for!

Actually Hebburn isn’t that bad! Just some of the people that live there, bit overkill for eating an apple though!

[KingRichard]

Err, how does that stack up for the BiB then?

3 years, a spotter plane, a helicopter, a 2 hour trial, and god knows how many man hours to convict a nursery nurse of eating an apple at the wheel and fine her 60 rubs?

Is this something to do with quota's and conviction rates? cos it seems perfectly bizzare to me.

Didn't make the same effort when a brand new car was taken... with force out of my Dads compound in London.

And they nicked my CD's

they came to more than the fine dished out for this... what a crock o' shite. I hate this country

[wolves_wanderer]

rmhodv said:

What I'd like to know is how do you have both hands on the wheel and eat an apple.

Easy, just take your seatbelt off and lean towards the wheel when you want a bite

[JustTheTip]

I think it's fair to use what ever means possible to catch crime at the core of our society.....



Already got my coat on.....

[KingRichard]

wolves_wanderer said:

rmhodv said: What I'd like to know is how do you have both hands on the wheel and eat an apple. Easy, just take your seatbelt off and lean towards the wheel when you want a bite

And thats a solution everyone can enjoy... especially the copper that spots you

[v8thunder]

I wonder how many 'real' crimes were committed while they followed her eating her apple? Hopeless criminalisation, just because she was a motorist

[maxf]

She *could* have been all over the road weaving around, going over white lines etc - which would make the 'pull' more plausable. I doubt it though, but the media does have a habbit of skewing a story.

[bruciebabe]

They still do nothing when people smoke and drive, which is far worse.

[lanciachris]

I recommend not eating whilst driving. Especially if youre holding the tube of smarties with the same hand you are turning the steering wheel with. Smarties everywhere

[wolves_wanderer]

bruciebabe said:

They still do nothing when people smoke and drive, which is far worse.

I would have thought consuming a mild stimulant was an excellent idea whilst driving.

Oh Christ, I've done it now

[KingRichard]

lanciachris said:

I recommend not eating whilst driving. Especially if youre holding the tube of smarties with the same hand you are turning the steering wheel with. Smarties everywhere

Been there mate... still had them down beside the seat when I sold the car

[havoc]

On balance of probabilities, I have to say that under the current regime the prosecution sounds reasonable.

But please note the huge caveat in the middle of that sentence - in any other country in the world I doubt they'd have bothered!!!

[MilnerR]

The reason for all the expense and time was due to the fact that she decided to fight the FPN and so the BiB went on an evidence collecting jolly which seemed to include pretty much every resource they could muster. Ariel photos, the lot! If everyone who recieved a speeding ticket or a FPN decided to have their day in court the system would grind to a halt. The heavy handed approach to motorists is only possible because most law abiding people hold their hands up and pay the fine without question. Often the convictions defy common sense!

[raceboy]

MilnerR said:

The reason for all the expense and time was due to the fact that she decided to fight the FPN and so the BiB went on an evidence collecting jolly which seemed to include pretty much every resource they could muster. Ariel photos, the lot! If everyone who recieved a speeding ticket or a FPN decided to have their day in court the system would grind to a halt. The heavy handed approach to motorists is only possible because most law abiding people hold their hands up and pay the fine without question. Often the convictions defy common sense!

Too right and although she has 'lost' the case and is £60 down, I'd imagine the photos on the front page of most of todays tabloids pay a great deal more
The police have come out of this looking very silly, and I think everyone in a simialr case should do the same and bring the system down, up the revolution

[FourWheelDrift]

raceboy said:

The police have come out of this looking very silly, and I think everyone in a simialr case should do the same and bring the system down, up the revolution

Absolutely the officer in charge who sanctioned this complete waste of tax payers money should be immediately sacked.

Does anyone know who it might be and the local MP of the region?

[hugoagogo]

well that's a story that can't be pipped

[Mr2Mike]

A Northumbria Police spokesman said:

"We were obliged to gather all appropriate evidence to present our case. "Costs do not have a bearing on any decision to prosecute."

What a shame he wasn't under oath when he said that. How could he keep a straight face telling such bare faced lies? A lot of practice I guess.