Which Police stop you...?
Discussion
Just a thought, but for those of you that [i]have [/i] been stopped by the Police, was it a Panda/van driver, or a traffic officer?
Did you get treated differently if you've been stopped by different Officers - eg did the Panda driver deal with you differently to the traffic Officer?
Did you get treated differently if you've been stopped by different Officers - eg did the Panda driver deal with you differently to the traffic Officer?
Many, many moons ago...
I - and a group of colleagues - were heading back to Bletchley after a weekend back home (we'd all come from the same tech college & joined the same intake so lived close to each other).
It was wet.
No... it was very, very, very wet..
No... actually, Noah would have had my seat except I was in it.
...and the car was steaming up.
And I was young, in my first car (Triumph Acclaim!)
All was ok - untill the M1 was closed. So we navigated our way through all sorts of back roads & towns. I had a car full of navigators shouting directions.
I went round a bend in the road... and then the Metro already on that roundabout put its blue light on...
Uh-oh... not good.
And I got the bollocking of my life from that bobby. Entirely justified. But he didn't do me.
He could have sent me away with a ticket in which case I would have been full of "Bloody coppers... haven't they got anything better to do..." etc etc
Instead, I got such a dressing down (with fantastic use of body language) that I went away shaking. No conviction but undoubtedly a more carefull driver for it. I learnt that lesson.
If I met that (then) young bobby now I'd shake his hand. He could have had an easy ticket but instead chose to educate a callow youth - it worked. And was a far better contribution to road safety for it - although the stats wouldn't show that of course. He made a difference but will never know it - just think on that you PH BiBs and accept our thanks...
...and the refrain that repeated throughout his bollocking?
"Hae you ANY IDEA how much paperwork I'd have had to do if you'd have hit me?"
A panda guy but good on him, he made a contribution to safety that day - though the paperwork might have been his main concern!!
The only contact I've had with traffic has been providing emergency radio cover to events that they've been involved with where the police radio system couldn't cope (Marathons, cycle races etc) and they've always been nice & approachable guys but on the road my only contact was getting a non-endorsible fine for going into roadworks a bit fast (68mph & foot off, deccelerating) on the M6. Fair enough but no great contribution to road safety there.
Having said that, my Dad taught me (being a high mileage M-way driver in the 70s) "They can be b*stards but I wouldn't do their job. On the M62 in bad weather, picking up pieces of some daft sod and they'll help you out if you get into bother. Wouldn't do that for a big clock."
Couple of times he was over the M62 in the last Police-led convoy before it was closed and rated the BiB highly for their work in those conditions. He knew what he was doing although he had umpteen tales of seeing coaches spinning on the ice trying to be cocky...
But to answer the question, only stopped the once - by Panda. But would love to see trafpol blitzing the uninsureds etc.
I - and a group of colleagues - were heading back to Bletchley after a weekend back home (we'd all come from the same tech college & joined the same intake so lived close to each other).
It was wet.
No... it was very, very, very wet..
No... actually, Noah would have had my seat except I was in it.
...and the car was steaming up.
And I was young, in my first car (Triumph Acclaim!)
All was ok - untill the M1 was closed. So we navigated our way through all sorts of back roads & towns. I had a car full of navigators shouting directions.
I went round a bend in the road... and then the Metro already on that roundabout put its blue light on...
Uh-oh... not good.
And I got the bollocking of my life from that bobby. Entirely justified. But he didn't do me.
He could have sent me away with a ticket in which case I would have been full of "Bloody coppers... haven't they got anything better to do..." etc etc
Instead, I got such a dressing down (with fantastic use of body language) that I went away shaking. No conviction but undoubtedly a more carefull driver for it. I learnt that lesson.
If I met that (then) young bobby now I'd shake his hand. He could have had an easy ticket but instead chose to educate a callow youth - it worked. And was a far better contribution to road safety for it - although the stats wouldn't show that of course. He made a difference but will never know it - just think on that you PH BiBs and accept our thanks...
...and the refrain that repeated throughout his bollocking?
"Hae you ANY IDEA how much paperwork I'd have had to do if you'd have hit me?"
A panda guy but good on him, he made a contribution to safety that day - though the paperwork might have been his main concern!!
The only contact I've had with traffic has been providing emergency radio cover to events that they've been involved with where the police radio system couldn't cope (Marathons, cycle races etc) and they've always been nice & approachable guys but on the road my only contact was getting a non-endorsible fine for going into roadworks a bit fast (68mph & foot off, deccelerating) on the M6. Fair enough but no great contribution to road safety there.
Having said that, my Dad taught me (being a high mileage M-way driver in the 70s) "They can be b*stards but I wouldn't do their job. On the M62 in bad weather, picking up pieces of some daft sod and they'll help you out if you get into bother. Wouldn't do that for a big clock."
Couple of times he was over the M62 in the last Police-led convoy before it was closed and rated the BiB highly for their work in those conditions. He knew what he was doing although he had umpteen tales of seeing coaches spinning on the ice trying to be cocky...
But to answer the question, only stopped the once - by Panda. But would love to see trafpol blitzing the uninsureds etc.
Traffic Cop, stopped me on motorway (no tax, just bought the car) Excellent manner and let me off 
Panda, complete prat (tried to nick me for 65 in a NSL) which was a 70! he argued it was 50.
Leather trousers (motor cycle?) manning a radar site, 33.6 miles per hour. He was swearing at me and totally offensive. I told him to give me the ticket and feck off! (not like me to swear) He gave me the ticket, I complained to the senior BiB, case got dropped sometime later.
Alan
Panda, complete prat (tried to nick me for 65 in a NSL) which was a 70! he argued it was 50.
Leather trousers (motor cycle?) manning a radar site, 33.6 miles per hour. He was swearing at me and totally offensive. I told him to give me the ticket and feck off! (not like me to swear) He gave me the ticket, I complained to the senior BiB, case got dropped sometime later.
Alan
All the traffic cops who've stopped me have had an excellent attitude and manner. 50% success rate at just being let off with a rollocking about my speed. But then if their manner is good, so is mine 
Both of the Panda drivers have been complete to55ers. Neither knew what they were on about and got upset when i told them. Couldn't find anything to pin on me though
Both of the Panda drivers have been complete to55ers. Neither knew what they were on about and got upset when i told them. Couldn't find anything to pin on me though
I've had two brushes with BiB. One was where I was stopped whilst on foot by a rather flushed clinically obese copper who asked me for ID, where i'd been, where i was going, etc etc, he seemed to be deciding whether or not it might be worth CSing me just to be on the safe side. Eventually he told me that a bloke matching my description had just got away from him.... i nearly pointed out that a one legged pensioner could have got away from him but I thought better of it.
The 2nd brush was when i bought a write off, made it road worthy and re-registered it (it only wanted a new wing and a new windscreen). I got a call saying PC Plod wanted to inspect the car and ensure it was road worthy and all the numbers matched the paper work. He was a very nice bloke who did a great job and I got a full background check on my car (and me) for free
The 2nd brush was when i bought a write off, made it road worthy and re-registered it (it only wanted a new wing and a new windscreen). I got a call saying PC Plod wanted to inspect the car and ensure it was road worthy and all the numbers matched the paper work. He was a very nice bloke who did a great job and I got a full background check on my car (and me) for free
First car, around 1987. Just got it, one brake light out, had bulbs on passenger seat to fix when I got home. Traffic car picked me up and said me light was out. I showed him the bulbs and was sent on my way. Officer just doing his job, no problem.
Second time a few months later the car had a much louder exhaust and I picked up a tail (unmarked Sierra 2.0is) about midnight (working in pubs, never drink/driving). I had 'roared' past them and they decided to follow. They followed me for miles, too close for comfort. I sped up on a few bends to give me a gap (didn't know, but guessed it was cops). In the end they put their blue lights on and pulled me in. They tried very hard to fault me and the car (which was a bit of a shed). I got fed up with them in the end and asked to go as my chips were getting cold. They were polite but trying hard to find fault. I was a bit annoyed, but it wasnt a big deal.
Third time in 1990 cops in a local Panda car just fancied a look and a chat - I wasn't speeding or anything. All OK again, sent on my car after a doc check.
Never been stopped in the UK since then. Driving a lot faster sometimes too.
Been stopped in the US and France though. US cops were polite but firm. French cops did the good guy bad guy act (2 bike cops who thought they were a bit cooler than they really were).
Had an Italain Carabinieri drive into the back of my TVR last summer - amusing follow-up with the Police. Discussed statement in a local cafe over a drink with the over-cool-sunglassed Police who kept winding up said Carabinieri. I don't think my insurance company has the money back from the Italian insurers yet either (their fault etc., just slow).
Girlfriend has had 2 run-ins, both with traffic cars. One pair of complete R-soles (Surrey Police) and one nice one (M5/M6 interchage area in a Range Rover) - I think they were very nice - girlfriend got 3 points and '95mph' for 120mph.
Second time a few months later the car had a much louder exhaust and I picked up a tail (unmarked Sierra 2.0is) about midnight (working in pubs, never drink/driving). I had 'roared' past them and they decided to follow. They followed me for miles, too close for comfort. I sped up on a few bends to give me a gap (didn't know, but guessed it was cops). In the end they put their blue lights on and pulled me in. They tried very hard to fault me and the car (which was a bit of a shed). I got fed up with them in the end and asked to go as my chips were getting cold. They were polite but trying hard to find fault. I was a bit annoyed, but it wasnt a big deal.
Third time in 1990 cops in a local Panda car just fancied a look and a chat - I wasn't speeding or anything. All OK again, sent on my car after a doc check.
Never been stopped in the UK since then. Driving a lot faster sometimes too.
Been stopped in the US and France though. US cops were polite but firm. French cops did the good guy bad guy act (2 bike cops who thought they were a bit cooler than they really were).
Had an Italain Carabinieri drive into the back of my TVR last summer - amusing follow-up with the Police. Discussed statement in a local cafe over a drink with the over-cool-sunglassed Police who kept winding up said Carabinieri. I don't think my insurance company has the money back from the Italian insurers yet either (their fault etc., just slow).
Girlfriend has had 2 run-ins, both with traffic cars. One pair of complete R-soles (Surrey Police) and one nice one (M5/M6 interchage area in a Range Rover) - I think they were very nice - girlfriend got 3 points and '95mph' for 120mph.
Last year, Police motorcyclist, A1M in Cambridgeshire. Let off with a warning and a "dont do it again". Rather nice chap and wasnt a problem.
Before that it was years ago and that was a panda but I wasnt driving or involved in the incident! Front passenger gave the bird to passing panda, he hoped they didnt notice but they did! They subsequently saw both driver and me giving said front passenger a serious shouting at and a couple of friendly slaps..... so we were fine, but front passenger was in a bit of hot water to say the least... hasten to add, this was Yeeaaars ago though....
Before that it was years ago and that was a panda but I wasnt driving or involved in the incident! Front passenger gave the bird to passing panda, he hoped they didnt notice but they did! They subsequently saw both driver and me giving said front passenger a serious shouting at and a couple of friendly slaps..... so we were fine, but front passenger was in a bit of hot water to say the least... hasten to add, this was Yeeaaars ago though....
Only once been pulled by trafpol, result was a "please slow down" after a quick check of the car. Been pulled several times by pandas, mostly they have been very agreeable, a firm but fair bollocking usualy followed by a quick chat about whatever chariot I was driving at the time.
Unfortunately a couple of them were complete c*cks, full of the stereotypical sarcasm and full of their own importance. I've always approached the BIB with a healthy dose of respect (or was it fear?) in these situations, but I'm afraid to say that I'm probably my own worst enemy as I will not give respect to people that don't deserve it. And those cretins certainly didn't. Still, looking back the ratio of c*cks to decent human beings has been quite favourable.
I've not been pulled in the last 7-8 years (a combination of definately better observation, hopefully better driving but I suspect also the general lack of coppers on the road).
Unfortunately a couple of them were complete c*cks, full of the stereotypical sarcasm and full of their own importance. I've always approached the BIB with a healthy dose of respect (or was it fear?) in these situations, but I'm afraid to say that I'm probably my own worst enemy as I will not give respect to people that don't deserve it. And those cretins certainly didn't. Still, looking back the ratio of c*cks to decent human beings has been quite favourable.
I've not been pulled in the last 7-8 years (a combination of definately better observation, hopefully better driving but I suspect also the general lack of coppers on the road).
Traffic cops (or RPD - Road Policing Dept) are generally bib with longer service. Therefore you dont get the 'jumped up' attitude that generally accompanies the younger cops.
Also being longer in service the traffic cops still use the trusty attitude test! Although outlawed by Police forces the attitude test works. Your behaviour effects my behaviour etc etc...
Also being longer in service the traffic cops still use the trusty attitude test! Although outlawed by Police forces the attitude test works. Your behaviour effects my behaviour etc etc...
First pulled by a panda on a driving lesson 1988.
Lights went amber when I was almost on top of them. Instructor 'BRAKE!! I carried on, wasn't a dual control car so w****r..sorry, instructor pulled the hand brake on. Dressage throught the lights and came to a stalled stop on the hatched box.
Mr Panda was watching it all from other side of side.
AND..........pulled me over - hardly surprising.
'what happened there lads?'
'This pillock pulled the hand brake on'
Was my last lesson with him. Plod just shook his head.
1993 Got pulled by a motorcycle plod after I'd absolutely HOONED it on Leeds inner ring road in my GTI. Like 85MPH in a 40, 70 in a thirty (jesus!S)
He caught up as I was about to swipe my card to get in the staff car park. Hammered on my passenger window, then proceeded to shout and shout and shout and shout and shout. (with his helmet still on, so wasn't actually that loud) He was called away to an emergency while bollocking me, so I got away with it. VERY LUCKY.
Panda, pulled for speeding 1991. 47 in a 30. Fair enough. One intelligent lad who did the talking, and his monkey who didn't speak and was in charge of opening and closing the back door and scowling through his drivers rear view at you.
Scam vanned 2003. Went to see the video at the safety camera partnerships beautifully renovated listed building in a leafy part of Beverley. Quarry tiled floor, air con, solid ash office furniture. tasteful artwork on the walls - clearly no expense spared.
Plod 1 was a decent chap, very helpful and tried to answer most of the questions I posed to him regarding the various ways in which the scam van had contravened the ACPO guidelines needed to qualify for the 'netting off' sceme. Plod 2 was the actual plod in the van who was generally extremely angry, and proceeded to vent his wrath at me. Enough so to get himself reported to the CC by me, who was also quite polite and helpful by the way, considering he was dealing with a 50 on a 40 dual carriageway criminal.
So, the only unreasonable I've ever encountered was with a SCP. Apart from being stopped for driving on the wrong side of the road once late at night. My reply 'how else can I get up my drive officer?'
Lights went amber when I was almost on top of them. Instructor 'BRAKE!! I carried on, wasn't a dual control car so w****r..sorry, instructor pulled the hand brake on. Dressage throught the lights and came to a stalled stop on the hatched box.
Mr Panda was watching it all from other side of side.
AND..........pulled me over - hardly surprising.
'what happened there lads?'
'This pillock pulled the hand brake on'
Was my last lesson with him. Plod just shook his head.
1993 Got pulled by a motorcycle plod after I'd absolutely HOONED it on Leeds inner ring road in my GTI. Like 85MPH in a 40, 70 in a thirty (jesus!S)
He caught up as I was about to swipe my card to get in the staff car park. Hammered on my passenger window, then proceeded to shout and shout and shout and shout and shout. (with his helmet still on, so wasn't actually that loud) He was called away to an emergency while bollocking me, so I got away with it. VERY LUCKY.
Panda, pulled for speeding 1991. 47 in a 30. Fair enough. One intelligent lad who did the talking, and his monkey who didn't speak and was in charge of opening and closing the back door and scowling through his drivers rear view at you.
Scam vanned 2003. Went to see the video at the safety camera partnerships beautifully renovated listed building in a leafy part of Beverley. Quarry tiled floor, air con, solid ash office furniture. tasteful artwork on the walls - clearly no expense spared.
Plod 1 was a decent chap, very helpful and tried to answer most of the questions I posed to him regarding the various ways in which the scam van had contravened the ACPO guidelines needed to qualify for the 'netting off' sceme. Plod 2 was the actual plod in the van who was generally extremely angry, and proceeded to vent his wrath at me. Enough so to get himself reported to the CC by me, who was also quite polite and helpful by the way, considering he was dealing with a 50 on a 40 dual carriageway criminal.
So, the only unreasonable I've ever encountered was with a SCP. Apart from being stopped for driving on the wrong side of the road once late at night. My reply 'how else can I get up my drive officer?'
When I was 18 I worked nights in a warehouse and used to get stopped a fair bit, always by panda cars. It was fair enough as I was a young lad driving at around 3am - to be fair they used to explain why I was stopped and always apologised when I said I had been stopped numerous times before. There was only one chap who went through the whole routine, he was obviously annoyed that he couldn't give me a producer because I had all my documents so he sat me in the back of his motor and bollocked me for doing 35-40 in a quiet residential road at 3.30am because "kids could have been playing". Although, to be fair he had his dinner on the back seat and the cornish pasty was lovely 
I have been told off for not wearing a seat belt by a trafpol from a car on the other side of the road whilst stopped in traffic and I recently got a £30 fine for using a mobile, again by a trafpol who was very courteous and spared me the nuisance of going to the station to show my documents.
I will always treat the police with the respect they deserve, I have been well treated so am always polite and courteous in return, I think they must be so used to being abused by uninsured chavs etc it probably wrong-foots them
I have been told off for not wearing a seat belt by a trafpol from a car on the other side of the road whilst stopped in traffic and I recently got a £30 fine for using a mobile, again by a trafpol who was very courteous and spared me the nuisance of going to the station to show my documents.
I will always treat the police with the respect they deserve, I have been well treated so am always polite and courteous in return, I think they must be so used to being abused by uninsured chavs etc it probably wrong-foots them
I've been stopped numeorus times for different things (and charged, but not for driving, however thats a different story).
Some of the BiB have been absolute gems. Polite, official, responsible. Some have been absolute mindless morons who are only in policing because there is no care in the community. This reflects the differences in people, 'cos some are gems, some need putting down.
One trafpol stopped me when I was in a mini, with 1 tyre on the limit (I was much younger then). I genuinely explained I hadn't known, it had been for an MOT a few months before. He took the details, explained I might get done, but I didn't. He was polite, but I was in the wrong, and I thought he was great. no gloating, just a job to do.
Another pulled me over in a Marina (this is YEARS ago), apparently a brake light was out. I was forced to sit in the back of the cop car (while my lady stayed in our car). They talked to me like I was a little shit. When I said (truthfully) that I was going to the pictures to see 'Police Academy' they didn't respond at all. B@st@rds. Miserable power mad stupid ignorant b@st@rds. And oh so brave of them together, in their cop car, picking on a young lad (I was then).
Over the years I've found that it is dependent on the individual copper, the circumstances, the location, your appearance and your manner. Oh yeah, and whether or not you are a miner or union official.
But I wouldn't do their job for a million £s.
Some of the BiB have been absolute gems. Polite, official, responsible. Some have been absolute mindless morons who are only in policing because there is no care in the community. This reflects the differences in people, 'cos some are gems, some need putting down.
One trafpol stopped me when I was in a mini, with 1 tyre on the limit (I was much younger then). I genuinely explained I hadn't known, it had been for an MOT a few months before. He took the details, explained I might get done, but I didn't. He was polite, but I was in the wrong, and I thought he was great. no gloating, just a job to do.
Another pulled me over in a Marina (this is YEARS ago), apparently a brake light was out. I was forced to sit in the back of the cop car (while my lady stayed in our car). They talked to me like I was a little shit. When I said (truthfully) that I was going to the pictures to see 'Police Academy' they didn't respond at all. B@st@rds. Miserable power mad stupid ignorant b@st@rds. And oh so brave of them together, in their cop car, picking on a young lad (I was then).
Over the years I've found that it is dependent on the individual copper, the circumstances, the location, your appearance and your manner. Oh yeah, and whether or not you are a miner or union official.
But I wouldn't do their job for a million £s.
My experience with trafpol has always been very good. Where I have inadvertantly slipped up, like forgetting to switch my fog lights off after coming off a foggy country road onto a main road, a have always been courteous and received the same in return, and they have been a credit to the force.
My only bad experience was with a panda car. After waiting in the centre of a crossroads to turn right for an age, I waited so long for a gap that the lights had actually changed. This of course gave me the opportunity to proceed as there was now no cars crossing my path.
In my mirrors a saw a panda car do a u-turn and follow me. To cut a long story short the two officers and the trainee in the back told me that they pulled me over as I had jumped a red light!? Their evidence for this was that I was still in the junction when the lights had changed and it was their time to pull away on the intersecting junction. I was very polite, and explained the situation, that I had in fact passed the lights a good ten seconds before they saw me when they were *very* green and had been waiting in the centre of the carriageway for all that time.
This was met with a stunned silence. It was obvious that this was not a scenario they had considered before doing a u-turn and chasing down a young lad in a nice car.
After a short pause, the officer in charge then proceeded to tell me that I was cautioned and it would be dealt with by a £60 fine and three points! Knowing my rights, I explained my innocence again and politely informed them I would exercise my right to justice. They then did the full 15 minute check on all aspects of my vehicle. In checking me out I gave them my address of my new house that I had bought three weeks ago and was just that week moving into. He asked me if this new address was on my driving licence and V5, which I explained they were not yet, as I have not even moved the said documents from one house to the next. The reply to this was that I would be considered for prosecution for these two additonal offences.
So, after this set-up and demonstration on how to 'pull someone over' for the benefit of the trainee, I was now looking at nine points on my licence.
It was only when I got my statements through that the true nature of what was happening was unfolding. The statements all told of how I jumped a red light by 6 seconds (!?) and one even mentioned how oncoming cars had to emergency brake and take evasive action as I careered through the junction! The true incompetance came when one of them said I gave my name as Justin, one as Jason, and one as Dominic...
The CPS did not bother to chase up the fact that my driving licence and V5 application was a few days late.
The local traffic solicitor said that paying him would be a waste of my money as the chances of rubbishing the claims of three 'expert' and 'honest' witnesses would be very slim.
Regardless of this, I put my faith in the legal system, and spent a good few days preparing my line of questioning for each officer, and took photos of the scene to show that not only are many cars trapped in the centre of the carriageway as I was that day, that also that when one of the officers claimed he could see the red light I supposedly want through, this was impossible.
The magistrate was actually a visiting crown court judge and handled the case very well. He effectively stifled the objections of the CPS solicitor when she realised she was quickly losing an 'easy case' when each of the officers stories fell apart when I questioned them.
Each PC contradicted eachothers story as to what it was possible to see, and it was exposed that indeed *none of them* had seen me enter the junction and *none of them* could see a red light in any case even if there was one.
The CPS solicitor fumed when I confirmed this point with the last witness, and the judge even asked if I wanted to say anything in summing up, but the case was already won, and the CPS solicitor didnt even bother summing up either!
Although I was vindicated I was still a little disappointed when the judge stated that no action would be taken against the officers involved. I know how long it took of my time to prove my innocence and a bet 99% of the population would not have taken it that far, and thus they would have been given a fine and points just for the amusement of the officers. I certainly think that the trainee learnt something from the experience though!
>> Edited by justinp1 on Friday 28th October 13:52
My only bad experience was with a panda car. After waiting in the centre of a crossroads to turn right for an age, I waited so long for a gap that the lights had actually changed. This of course gave me the opportunity to proceed as there was now no cars crossing my path.
In my mirrors a saw a panda car do a u-turn and follow me. To cut a long story short the two officers and the trainee in the back told me that they pulled me over as I had jumped a red light!? Their evidence for this was that I was still in the junction when the lights had changed and it was their time to pull away on the intersecting junction. I was very polite, and explained the situation, that I had in fact passed the lights a good ten seconds before they saw me when they were *very* green and had been waiting in the centre of the carriageway for all that time.
This was met with a stunned silence. It was obvious that this was not a scenario they had considered before doing a u-turn and chasing down a young lad in a nice car.
After a short pause, the officer in charge then proceeded to tell me that I was cautioned and it would be dealt with by a £60 fine and three points! Knowing my rights, I explained my innocence again and politely informed them I would exercise my right to justice. They then did the full 15 minute check on all aspects of my vehicle. In checking me out I gave them my address of my new house that I had bought three weeks ago and was just that week moving into. He asked me if this new address was on my driving licence and V5, which I explained they were not yet, as I have not even moved the said documents from one house to the next. The reply to this was that I would be considered for prosecution for these two additonal offences.
So, after this set-up and demonstration on how to 'pull someone over' for the benefit of the trainee, I was now looking at nine points on my licence.
It was only when I got my statements through that the true nature of what was happening was unfolding. The statements all told of how I jumped a red light by 6 seconds (!?) and one even mentioned how oncoming cars had to emergency brake and take evasive action as I careered through the junction! The true incompetance came when one of them said I gave my name as Justin, one as Jason, and one as Dominic...
The CPS did not bother to chase up the fact that my driving licence and V5 application was a few days late.
The local traffic solicitor said that paying him would be a waste of my money as the chances of rubbishing the claims of three 'expert' and 'honest' witnesses would be very slim.
Regardless of this, I put my faith in the legal system, and spent a good few days preparing my line of questioning for each officer, and took photos of the scene to show that not only are many cars trapped in the centre of the carriageway as I was that day, that also that when one of the officers claimed he could see the red light I supposedly want through, this was impossible.
The magistrate was actually a visiting crown court judge and handled the case very well. He effectively stifled the objections of the CPS solicitor when she realised she was quickly losing an 'easy case' when each of the officers stories fell apart when I questioned them.
Each PC contradicted eachothers story as to what it was possible to see, and it was exposed that indeed *none of them* had seen me enter the junction and *none of them* could see a red light in any case even if there was one.
The CPS solicitor fumed when I confirmed this point with the last witness, and the judge even asked if I wanted to say anything in summing up, but the case was already won, and the CPS solicitor didnt even bother summing up either!
Although I was vindicated I was still a little disappointed when the judge stated that no action would be taken against the officers involved. I know how long it took of my time to prove my innocence and a bet 99% of the population would not have taken it that far, and thus they would have been given a fine and points just for the amusement of the officers. I certainly think that the trainee learnt something from the experience though!
>> Edited by justinp1 on Friday 28th October 13:52
I was stopped for the first time last weekend (I've only been going for 14months). He had been driving towards me and probably noticed the scruffy, filthy 205 with spot lights pointing into the trees and turned round to follow. He then pulled me over once there was space to.
Very polite traffic officer asked me to confirm my name and address and ask me why the car was so far from home - I had just finished a road rally 5hours before and was on my way home after staying at my navigator's in Surry over night before driving back to Gloucestershire after a quick sleep. He sounded interested to hear how we got on, and took an interest in the car. He had a quick walk to the front to check the tax then waved me on.
The only other time I've been in a stopped car was after a friend had completed a full lap of a roundabout sideways just as a panda car crested the brow before the roundabout. The roundabouts were completely clear and the officer was polite and fair with his telling off and let us go only confirming my friend owned the car. Just as he left he said "I used to own one of these [mk2 Escort] when I was younger. From where I was sitting it looked pretty good, just don't let me see you doing it again".
So in all I've only got positive things to say about police
Very polite traffic officer asked me to confirm my name and address and ask me why the car was so far from home - I had just finished a road rally 5hours before and was on my way home after staying at my navigator's in Surry over night before driving back to Gloucestershire after a quick sleep. He sounded interested to hear how we got on, and took an interest in the car. He had a quick walk to the front to check the tax then waved me on.
The only other time I've been in a stopped car was after a friend had completed a full lap of a roundabout sideways just as a panda car crested the brow before the roundabout. The roundabouts were completely clear and the officer was polite and fair with his telling off and let us go only confirming my friend owned the car. Just as he left he said "I used to own one of these [mk2 Escort] when I was younger. From where I was sitting it looked pretty good, just don't let me see you doing it again".
So in all I've only got positive things to say about police
I was stopped a few years ago whilst driving a bright yellow Dimma-bodykitted Pug 205 (no comments please - I was much younger!).
Suddenly a police bike screams up from nowhere with the lights going.
I pull over and the guy goes through the usual 'is this your car?' etc...
'Yes it's mine' etc...
'It's just that this car is listed as being stolen'
'That's very odd - as far as I'm aware this car's never been stolen'
'Maybe so sir - would you mind opening the bonnet?'
I open the bonnet. Policeman casually looks over engine bay, noticing Mi16 lump.
'What's that - is that standard?'
'No - it's had a bigger engine dropped in'
'That's brilliant! Nice car sir'
And with that he hops back onto his bike a screams off into the distance, leaving me sitting rather bemused by the side of the road!
>> Edited by option click on Saturday 29th October 10:08
Suddenly a police bike screams up from nowhere with the lights going.
I pull over and the guy goes through the usual 'is this your car?' etc...
'Yes it's mine' etc...
'It's just that this car is listed as being stolen'
'That's very odd - as far as I'm aware this car's never been stolen'
'Maybe so sir - would you mind opening the bonnet?'
I open the bonnet. Policeman casually looks over engine bay, noticing Mi16 lump.
'What's that - is that standard?'
'No - it's had a bigger engine dropped in'
'That's brilliant! Nice car sir'
And with that he hops back onto his bike a screams off into the distance, leaving me sitting rather bemused by the side of the road!
>> Edited by option click on Saturday 29th October 10:08
I've been stopped & fined for minor excess speeds on NSL roads twice by traffic resulting in Fixed Penalties both times, I was polite and non confrontational on both ocasions and so felt hard done by. Their attitiute to me was also polite and they issued tickets for the offence I'd commited, fair enough.
Around the same time as these offences I was stopped one night for apparently no reason by local boys, in the back of the car I received a considerable dressing down for having overtaken the officer in question whilst he was off duty, this talking to which went on for some time, did change my attitude to driving for the better, and it would be the type of thing I think a lot of young drivers today would benefit from.
Also scared a local pair one night when they pulled out from a junction without looking into my path (I know I shouldn't have been overtaking there but they should have seen me as clearly as i saw them approaching) Their car skidded to a halt as I went though the junction box in the middle at approx 70mph, I saw the blue lights come on so pulled over immediatley and waited for them. £20 non endorsable fine for "Overtaking where prohibited" was the result which I think was fairly genorous.
Around the same time as these offences I was stopped one night for apparently no reason by local boys, in the back of the car I received a considerable dressing down for having overtaken the officer in question whilst he was off duty, this talking to which went on for some time, did change my attitude to driving for the better, and it would be the type of thing I think a lot of young drivers today would benefit from.
Also scared a local pair one night when they pulled out from a junction without looking into my path (I know I shouldn't have been overtaking there but they should have seen me as clearly as i saw them approaching) Their car skidded to a halt as I went though the junction box in the middle at approx 70mph, I saw the blue lights come on so pulled over immediatley and waited for them. £20 non endorsable fine for "Overtaking where prohibited" was the result which I think was fairly genorous.
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