How many times have you been stopped by the Police, why and
Discussion
what was the experience like.
I've seen lots of grumbling about the Police, and a recent post saying how nice a stop was, so I was wondering in real life what's it been like, I'll start.
In 34 years of driving I've been stopped once, this after I picked my sons up from a pub (they were 15 and 12 and hadn't been drinking) , I was followed (i didn't realise by the police until the lights came on). I wound my window down, the officer stuck his nose into the car, and said along the lines of "i've stopped you because i saw you leaving the pub and wondered if you'd been drinking, you obviously haven't, goodnight!"
It was a short encounter and all I said was goodnight back.
I did wonder afterwords if he could pull me for driving out of a pub carpark, but heyho!
I've seen lots of grumbling about the Police, and a recent post saying how nice a stop was, so I was wondering in real life what's it been like, I'll start.
In 34 years of driving I've been stopped once, this after I picked my sons up from a pub (they were 15 and 12 and hadn't been drinking) , I was followed (i didn't realise by the police until the lights came on). I wound my window down, the officer stuck his nose into the car, and said along the lines of "i've stopped you because i saw you leaving the pub and wondered if you'd been drinking, you obviously haven't, goodnight!"
It was a short encounter and all I said was goodnight back.
I did wonder afterwords if he could pull me for driving out of a pub carpark, but heyho!
Been driving 9 years and pulled 3 times.
Twice for the exact same reason as the OP and I couldn't fault them.
The third was for speeding not long after passing my test, I was doing 88 in a 70 and was a traffic officer with the whole thing on video, he gave me a stern word and threatened me with points etc. I was very apologetic and he let me off. Fair cop and it was nice to see him use his discretion as it did make me slow down after that.
Overall Ive never had a bad experience with the police, both motor and non motor related.
Twice for the exact same reason as the OP and I couldn't fault them.
The third was for speeding not long after passing my test, I was doing 88 in a 70 and was a traffic officer with the whole thing on video, he gave me a stern word and threatened me with points etc. I was very apologetic and he let me off. Fair cop and it was nice to see him use his discretion as it did make me slow down after that.
Overall Ive never had a bad experience with the police, both motor and non motor related.
5 times in about 30 years.
Twice for speeding, both 20+ years ago, one in a 30 soon after test and once 100+ on motorway by unmarked car.
Once driving around red light district in liverpool with drunk mates.
Then more recently twice for illegal front plate, which I chose not to remove.
In all cases had friendly chat with police and either given fine or let on way.
Twice for speeding, both 20+ years ago, one in a 30 soon after test and once 100+ on motorway by unmarked car.
Once driving around red light district in liverpool with drunk mates.
Then more recently twice for illegal front plate, which I chose not to remove.
In all cases had friendly chat with police and either given fine or let on way.
more times than i can count
i ran into a few unmarked cars last year and had a some chats, but to be honest i do take on board their recommendations
worst year was when i had my last scooby sti type UK PPP, prices of the early cars had dropped a lot over the years and so where at the time main stream fodder for the local boy racers and they had obviously been pissing the local plod off, i got stopped 5 times in about 9 months "to check paperwork" even thou im grey haired and balding lol
so i sold it
i ran into a few unmarked cars last year and had a some chats, but to be honest i do take on board their recommendations
worst year was when i had my last scooby sti type UK PPP, prices of the early cars had dropped a lot over the years and so where at the time main stream fodder for the local boy racers and they had obviously been pissing the local plod off, i got stopped 5 times in about 9 months "to check paperwork" even thou im grey haired and balding lol
so i sold it
On average once every ten years. Twice for speeding (both very polite encounters, each occasion resulted in a fine and points), once at a random vehicle check (they discovered a faulty rear numberplate light but were happy that I'd fix it the next morning) and once in the early hours when crewing a stickered up support car on the Three Peaks Challenge (wished us luck).
Stopped about 20 years ago at 2am when I was taking my pregnant wife to hospital. It was a short conversation;
"good evening Sir. Can I ask you where you're going?"
"yes officer. My wife's not feeling well and I'm taking her to Hospital"
"thank you sir. Have a safe journey"
I have to say every copper I've met has been very respectful.
"good evening Sir. Can I ask you where you're going?"
"yes officer. My wife's not feeling well and I'm taking her to Hospital"
"thank you sir. Have a safe journey"
I have to say every copper I've met has been very respectful.
Apart from a few occasions where they were doing street-side car checks, 3 in 13 years. First time was when I first drove in the snow about a month after passing my test and ended up sliding past the police car on a country road after getting a corner wrong; wasn't going fast (heavy snow) but he had a good go at me - I was lucky not to hit anything as I slid along, including him.
Second time I drove home past the local annual village show (at night when all the underlings are there getting wasted) and the police followed me all the way home (we live in the middle of nowhere up a 1 mile dirt track 4 miles from the village). As I got out my car by the house they did a hasty 3 pointer and took off. Final time I was driving my folks back from a family do and was pulled me over for 35 in a 30 dual carriageway; let off tho after the breath and attitude test.
Second time I drove home past the local annual village show (at night when all the underlings are there getting wasted) and the police followed me all the way home (we live in the middle of nowhere up a 1 mile dirt track 4 miles from the village). As I got out my car by the house they did a hasty 3 pointer and took off. Final time I was driving my folks back from a family do and was pulled me over for 35 in a 30 dual carriageway; let off tho after the breath and attitude test.
Twice in almost 21 years of driving. First time was during the Christmas drink/drive campaign. Apparently it was a random stop, although I'm sure a young person in a little red Mk1 Golf driving at night set the alrm bells off. Passed of course, no drinking when I'm in the car.
Second time was after a late shirt at my then part-time Tesco job. I pulled off a garage forecourt (where I parked for work) at around midnight. Police picked me up almost immediately and pulled me a few moments later - just looked suspicious at that time of night - soon let on my way when I explained my story.
Second time was after a late shirt at my then part-time Tesco job. I pulled off a garage forecourt (where I parked for work) at around midnight. Police picked me up almost immediately and pulled me a few moments later - just looked suspicious at that time of night - soon let on my way when I explained my story.
None recently, but virtually every week when I was young. I didn't look old enough to drive.
Most were polite, but one was an utter
. He lied about "having been following you for some time and you were driving all over the road."
He had actually pulled out behind me from a side-road and stopped me immediately. He then tried to get me to admit to drink-driving and went ballistic when I refused.
Having breath-tested me and getting a negative result, he turned my car upside-down to find a fault.
He then gave me a producer and told me to take my documents to a specific station. When I said that I would take them to my local station, he said "I f...... told you ...... station.
A real piece of work. Fortunately, in the minority.
Most were polite, but one was an utter
. He lied about "having been following you for some time and you were driving all over the road."He had actually pulled out behind me from a side-road and stopped me immediately. He then tried to get me to admit to drink-driving and went ballistic when I refused.
Having breath-tested me and getting a negative result, he turned my car upside-down to find a fault.
He then gave me a producer and told me to take my documents to a specific station. When I said that I would take them to my local station, he said "I f...... told you ...... station.
A real piece of work. Fortunately, in the minority.
Once soon after I had passed my test, 20 odd years ago; I was in my dads Morris Minor and had just left the girlfriends (now the wife), they pulled me over as there had been a spate of car thefts and car related trouble recently in the area.
It was a car and a van who stopped me, when the Policeman approached he noticed in the windscreen a black rat sticker; tha Black Rats are the Surrey Traffic Police, my dad was one at the time; now retired.
The Policeman and I had a quick chat, he knew my dad and let me get on my way.
More recently; a few weeks ago, I was running late for work and was in a bit of a hurry and I stupidly undertook a very slow car on the Burpham to A3 sliproad, I knew there was a police bike behind however this guy was doing 40 on a sliproad in lane 2 which takes you to a 70 limit 3 lane A road.
I then pulled into lane 2 to pass a slower line of traffic in lane one and sat at an indicated 75, the Police bike pulled alongside, showed his mild displeasure by shaking his head and giving me a slow down hand signal then he shot off and that was that.
It was a car and a van who stopped me, when the Policeman approached he noticed in the windscreen a black rat sticker; tha Black Rats are the Surrey Traffic Police, my dad was one at the time; now retired.
The Policeman and I had a quick chat, he knew my dad and let me get on my way.
More recently; a few weeks ago, I was running late for work and was in a bit of a hurry and I stupidly undertook a very slow car on the Burpham to A3 sliproad, I knew there was a police bike behind however this guy was doing 40 on a sliproad in lane 2 which takes you to a 70 limit 3 lane A road.
I then pulled into lane 2 to pass a slower line of traffic in lane one and sat at an indicated 75, the Police bike pulled alongside, showed his mild displeasure by shaking his head and giving me a slow down hand signal then he shot off and that was that.
When I was young and a dedicated biker (motor) I used to get stopped all the time, weekly at least. I was usually doing 'something' wrong - speeding being my favourite. I usually got off with a talking to, but there was this one time...
Me and a mate on 250s with 'L' plates riding along quite calmly when a cop car roared past us and did what appeared to be a handbrake turn in the road in front of my mate so the police car ended up front in to the kerb. The copper got out and was doing his nut ranting and raving about racing on the public highway, prodding my mate in the chest and generally being an obnoxious tt. Tried to do us both for the above offence (racing on a public highway) and we weren't - honest. We were both really shaken up and fortunately, members of the public had seen this outrageous driving by the police officer and with their help and an official complaint, all charges were dropped.
Unfortunately, our cards were then marked as they say and we would both get a tug anytime a cop car saw us! Another complaint finally got a bit of respite...
Then I made the mistake of going out with a Police sargeants daughter. When it ended, oh dear... every day nearly!
That was a loooong time ago though and in the lovely town of Shorpe so things hopefully have changed?
Me and a mate on 250s with 'L' plates riding along quite calmly when a cop car roared past us and did what appeared to be a handbrake turn in the road in front of my mate so the police car ended up front in to the kerb. The copper got out and was doing his nut ranting and raving about racing on the public highway, prodding my mate in the chest and generally being an obnoxious t
t. Tried to do us both for the above offence (racing on a public highway) and we weren't - honest. We were both really shaken up and fortunately, members of the public had seen this outrageous driving by the police officer and with their help and an official complaint, all charges were dropped.Unfortunately, our cards were then marked as they say and we would both get a tug anytime a cop car saw us! Another complaint finally got a bit of respite...
Then I made the mistake of going out with a Police sargeants daughter. When it ended, oh dear... every day nearly!
That was a loooong time ago though and in the lovely town of S
horpe so things hopefully have changed?First time about forty years ago when a marked Panda car accused me of overtaking him at 50mph in 40mph limit (that would have been really clever stunt eh ?) Obviously looking for something else to pull on two(youngish) lads during a quiet shift.
Last time about 3 years ago at a random late night weekend check for "local villains" Officer was very apologetic for the stop and sent us on our way in no time. I expected some grief as I had only had the car for a couple of days so most of the paperwork/insurance stuff Would I thought still been going through the system.
Last time about 3 years ago at a random late night weekend check for "local villains" Officer was very apologetic for the stop and sent us on our way in no time. I expected some grief as I had only had the car for a couple of days so most of the paperwork/insurance stuff Would I thought still been going through the system.
Oh, many times when I was younger. Let me name a couple:
1. For allegedly taking a roundabout at 80mph and allegedly acceleration to a shade over 110mph... The outcome was a stern talking to.
2. For being a burglar. I kid you not, I had a school bag in the bag and they said I must be out nicking stuff.... The outcome was I was very stroppy and they left me alone.
3. For obeying the speed limit (I've been pulled a few times at night for this).
4. For having a rear light out and it turned out 2 nearly bald tyres. The outcome was a "get that fixed".
5. Most recently for having a light out when in fact I didn't. The outcome was a breathe into this and goodnight sir.
1. For allegedly taking a roundabout at 80mph and allegedly acceleration to a shade over 110mph... The outcome was a stern talking to.
2. For being a burglar. I kid you not, I had a school bag in the bag and they said I must be out nicking stuff.... The outcome was I was very stroppy and they left me alone.
3. For obeying the speed limit (I've been pulled a few times at night for this).
4. For having a rear light out and it turned out 2 nearly bald tyres. The outcome was a "get that fixed".
5. Most recently for having a light out when in fact I didn't. The outcome was a breathe into this and goodnight sir.
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