Motorway Cops - BBC1 now

[castex]

PH squabbling aside, this series really rings true with my own (not inextensive) experience of trafpol.
They're gents doing a fantastic job with sensitivity and ever-diminishing resources.

[Dibble]

All I saw was basically confusion from the lady. The insistence she was a "top level" driver just reinforces that. No doubt, she shouldn't be driving... But really, what good would come from prosecuting her? There's every chance she wouldn't understand a prosecution, so it's worthless. She shouldn't be driving and I think the removal of her car would sort that. Prosecution? Helps no one. She wouldn't understand it, and her licence has already been revoked.

[Beati Dogu]

I think they got it right.

The runty little neckbeard though. You just know he's a law enforcement frequent flyer.

[Legacywr]

I think that a lot of my beef is with the police in general, I don't have a lot of time for them, if an offence has a mandatory penalty, then that's exactly what it should be!

I would welcome a return to 'good old fashioned policing' but, when it comes to you and I, we are easy targets, with no disgression!

[Elroy Blue]

What 'easier target' is there than a confused old lady caught red handed. Your ignorance about the day to day actions that Officers have with the public is telling.

[Megaflow]

Beati Dogu said:

I think they got it right.

The runty little neckbeard though. You just know he's a law enforcement frequent flyer.

The look on his face as he 'apologised' just before he was put back in his cell towards the end said it all, he said one thing, but his eyes and body language said something very different.

[surveyor]

Legacywr said:

I think that a lot of my beef is with the police in general, I don't have a lot of time for them, if an offence has a mandatory penalty, then that's exactly what it should be!

I would welcome a return to 'good old fashioned policing' but, when it comes to you and I, we are easy targets, with no disgression!

But you no doubt lament of the tradditional traffic police who would have a word in favour of the camera which is just as wish (well not quite - as in your world there would be no 'margin'.

Personally I'm quite happy to leave something's to the judgement of a professional on the scene.

[Thunderace]

DoubleSix said:

Legacywr said:

DoubleSix said:

Legacywr said:

Traffic laws apply to her regardless, and, she knew she wasn't allowed to drive!!

No one said they don't and I'm sure due process will remove her from the road.

But if you can't appreciate confusion is a symptom of her illness and the hairdryer treatment is not what is needed in this case then it's as well you don't deal with the general public.

Thankfully the officers involved understood what they were dealing with.

I'm sorry, but I don't think they stated her reason for having her license revoked, if they did, I missed it!?

But, she knew she shouldn't be driving? She told the officers that, "I wrote to the DVLA and told them I am driving at a top level!"

She hadn't made a mistake because of mental illness, she knowingly drove ilegaly FFS!

Well this is an interesting insight into what it must be like to have to exercise patience with the mentally ill if nothing else!

(deep breath)

The DVLA had revoked her licence most likely as a result of reports filed to them from her GP - in short she was unfit to drive DUE TO HER ILLNESS - the paperwork the officer leafed through alluded to as much.

Your statement that she "knew' she shouldn't be driving is an example of your ignorance about Alzheimers, but no matter you are not alone in that. You see, the way it works is that sufferers can have moments of lucidity and moments of complete confusion. This poor women was obviously early stage so her assertion that she was able to drive demonstrated nothing really. That's why its a difficult illness for relatives because one day your dear old Mum might seem like her normal self and talk to you as normal and then revert to a state of confusion the next.

HTH

Been through this recently with the monster in law. She has Alzheimer's and had her licence revoked. Car was left at her house and she continued to use it for trips to the local shop and Sunday lunch at the local pub. Didn't matter how many times she was told no licence/no insurance/can't drive, she'd agree then 5 minutes later she'd forget that the conversation ever happened.

We had to remove the car in order for it to stop. Now we get multiple phone calls every day to tell us her car's been stolen

[eldar]

Legacywr said:

I'm sorry, but she clearly knew her license had been revoked, but she had 'arrogantly' decided she was going to continue to drive! An offence in anybody's book, shirley?

There have been quite a few old people with memory issues on the programe over the years, and, I have always seen, and felt the sympathy for the situation, but, not this one!

If you don't like other peoples opinions... boy are you in the wrong place!

Oh

HTH

She knew her license had been revoked, but didn't clearly understand what that meant. So, yes, she had committed an offence. However, prosecuting her, in addition to removing her car would achieve little in addition.

She was plainly confused, and suffering some sort of of dementia. The objective of preventing her driving by removing her driving license had not been met, but the immediate removal of her car and a clear explanation of why did remove her from the road. Mission accomplished.

Prosecuting her in addition would probably fail, given her mental condition, wasting time, money and effort.

I think the police acted sensibly and proportionally.

[Legacywr]

As I said earlier, my gripe is with the police, and the law regarding no insurance.

If you or I get pulled for no insurance, the law says there is no discretion to that law.

There should be cases, where commonsense, could be applied, but isn't!

I agree that, it wouldn't be 'in the public interest' to prosecute the case, and, I have never stated that is what I would have liked to see! I have only ever said, she should have been reported, and I stand by that still!

[Iva Barchetta]

The lady who turned over her white Golf was clearly a bad driver,1.5 metres over double white lines.

All she gets is an awareness course.....

And a liar.

[Mr GrimNasty]

Iva Barchetta said:

The lady who turned over her white Golf was clearly a bad driver,1.5 metres over double white lines.

All she gets is an awareness course.....

And a liar.

I couldn't work out why her wheels had left marks on the wrong side of the road - none of the other traffic had left marks so it wasn't dew or frost, and it wasn't heavy braking or scuffing, which only means dirt from already having run off the road - which means she was on the wrong side as a result of already losing control - not at all inconsistent with emergency avoidance of another vehicle.

Personally, I think the copper made up his mind what had happened, and then brow-beat a very intimidated and submissive person into agreeing with him.

[Beati Dogu]

She didn't agree with him and she was lying through her teeth. Still, at least no one was hurt and only her own car was wrecked.

[DoubleSix]

Mr GrimNasty said:

I couldn't work out why her wheels had left marks on the wrong side of the road - none of the other traffic had left marks so it wasn't dew or frost, and it wasn't heavy braking or scuffing, which only means dirt from already having run off the road - which means she was on the wrong side as a result of already losing control - not at all inconsistent with emergency avoidance of another vehicle.

Personally, I think the copper made up his mind what had happened, and then brow-beat a very intimidated and submissive person into agreeing with him.

I know what you mean about the 'evidence'. All a bit subjective. The car could easily be fish tailing down the road having already lost control.

Got to wonder what chance a youth in barry'd up Vauxhall would stand, or even a PHer in something rapid.

[bitchstewie]

There was an Alzheimer's Research envelope conveniently underneath the DVLA envelope and letter, I distinctly remember spotting it.

I agree that at first I found myself thinking "WTF?" but as you watched on it became pretty clear the old girl had a problem and clearly wasn't able (vs. willing) to accept it.

It's awkward as short of seizing the vehicle I don't know you stop her getting in and driving the next day.

[DoubleSix]

bhstewie said:

There was an Alzheimer's Research envelope conveniently underneath the DVLA envelope and letter, I distinctly remember spotting it.

Yes. I pointed that out for the benefit of those who felt she was in fact a particularly cunning master criminal.

[Mojooo]

TBH it was clear there was something wrong with her from the very first few minutes - those of us that have dealt with people with mental health problems can spot the signs.

I suspect most coppers would find it easier dealing with scummy criminals than those sorts of awkward situations.

[anonymous-user]

Thunderace said:

Been through this recently with the monster in law. She has Alzheimer's and had her licence revoked. Car was left at her house and she continued to use it for trips to the local shop and Sunday lunch at the local pub. Didn't matter how many times she was told no licence/no insurance/can't drive, she'd agree then 5 minutes later she'd forget that the conversation ever happened.

We had to remove the car in order for it to stop. Now we get multiple phone calls every day to tell us her car's been stolen

Why didn't you just remove or hide the keys, sounds like a blatant case of being an accessory?

[speedking31]

Mr GrimNasty said:

I couldn't work out why her wheels had left marks on the wrong side of the road - none of the other traffic had left marks so it wasn't dew or frost, and it wasn't heavy braking or scuffing, ...

Personally, I think the copper made up his mind what had happened, and then brow-beat a very intimidated and submissive person into agreeing with him.

Agree. A van went past while he was investigating and drove on the wrong side of the road leading to the blind bend. Why wasn't that van driver arrested? She should have stuck with her story and not accepted that those marks were anything to do with her. He could 'prove' they were, yeah right.

[jmorgan]

Not being there I assume some TV's give all the info that others miss? I don't know, but she was adamant that an Audi crossed the line forcing her to crash initially, that bit got me Spidy senses going.

Love to see the phone record looked at.