Motorist fined for beeping horn.............
Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/do
Motorist fined for beeping horn
A motorist who beeped and gave officers the thumbs-up sign as he drove past a police checkpoint has been fined £30.
Police turned up at Nick Lenthall's work to fine him for "unnecessary use of audible warning equipment".
The 47-year-old council highways worker said he had not been speeding when he drove past the officers in West Moors, Dorset, on Tuesday.
He told the BBC News website that he now faces a disciplinary meeting with his council bosses over the incident.
Mr Lenthall said he was very annoyed over the way the police had handled the situation and is now concerned Dorset County Council, his employer, may penalise him further.
Police said they had issued a fine for a "minor traffic offence" but would not comment further.
A police spokesman said: "Dorset Police can confirm that a fixed penalty notice was issued for a minor traffic offence to the driver of a Dorset Works lorry by officers engaged in road safety checks in Pinehurst Road, West Moors.
"The checks were being made following many complaints from the local community who were concerned about speeding vehicles along this road, which is currently part of a diversionary route."
Brian MacDowall, spokesman for the Association of British Drivers (ABD), said it was an example of "a police state acting in an arrogant and contemptuous manner".
He added: "One wonders if the police haven't got anything better to do that they can't take a humorous gesture as an example of humour and that they are just applying petty laws regardless of circumstances. It just beggars belief.
"It's a waste of taxpayers money and police time and all they have achieved is to make that person more antagonistic towards the police."
Motorist fined for beeping horn
A motorist who beeped and gave officers the thumbs-up sign as he drove past a police checkpoint has been fined £30.
Police turned up at Nick Lenthall's work to fine him for "unnecessary use of audible warning equipment".
The 47-year-old council highways worker said he had not been speeding when he drove past the officers in West Moors, Dorset, on Tuesday.
He told the BBC News website that he now faces a disciplinary meeting with his council bosses over the incident.
Mr Lenthall said he was very annoyed over the way the police had handled the situation and is now concerned Dorset County Council, his employer, may penalise him further.
Police said they had issued a fine for a "minor traffic offence" but would not comment further.
A police spokesman said: "Dorset Police can confirm that a fixed penalty notice was issued for a minor traffic offence to the driver of a Dorset Works lorry by officers engaged in road safety checks in Pinehurst Road, West Moors.
"The checks were being made following many complaints from the local community who were concerned about speeding vehicles along this road, which is currently part of a diversionary route."
Brian MacDowall, spokesman for the Association of British Drivers (ABD), said it was an example of "a police state acting in an arrogant and contemptuous manner".
He added: "One wonders if the police haven't got anything better to do that they can't take a humorous gesture as an example of humour and that they are just applying petty laws regardless of circumstances. It just beggars belief.
"It's a waste of taxpayers money and police time and all they have achieved is to make that person more antagonistic towards the police."
superlightr said:
to be honest - good.
beebing to say hello or goodbye to someone is a pain to others. One of my pet hates you dont need to beeb and wave when you leave friends.
1) He didn't "beeb"
2) He wasn't leaving friends.
This is exactly the kind of petty minded action that distances the BIB further from the general public.
Davel said:
Total waste of police time and only worsens the public's image of today's police
force sadly.
True ... but on the other hand - every
ing taxi driver who's too idle to get out of his cab and knock on someone's door! Especially on a Friday night if I've got to be out early on the Saturday morning. Months ago I was in the Lacemarket when a cab pulled up on a pedestrianised area to pick up from a flat. 1.30am - and his hand went straight onto the horn, even though there was a uniformed PC and WPC two feet from his door. I loved the way the PC tapped on the guy's window with his pen - notebook already out.
I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't remember the last time I used my horn.
J1mmyD said:
I don't know about the rest of you, but I can't remember the last time I used my horn.
Well, last weekend I was approaching a mother of a humpback bridge...cue 7 short tones. And on the way back. Last 'proper' use.
And of course there was yesterday with that numpty on the M-way who felt the outside lane was his own private property.
catso said:
I learned to drive in Italy and was taught, (Driving Instructor was ex-Traffic Cop), to use the horn when approaching a blind crests, tight bends etc on narrow roads to warn approaching vehicles of your presence.
That's what we need in Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire - more mountian passes!
bbc said:
A police spokesman said: "Dorset Police can confirm that a fixed penalty notice was issued for a minor traffic offence to the driver of a Dorset Works lorry by officers engaged in road safety checks in Pinehurst Road, West Moors.
I'm thinking this was more a blast from a dirty great air horn on a truck rather than just a "beep". There's always more than meets the eye with these stories.
catso said:
I learned to drive in Italy and was taught, (Driving Instructor was ex-Traffic Cop), to use the horn when approaching a blind crests, tight bends etc on narrow roads to warn approaching vehicles of your presence.
Judging from my experiences in Milan I can only presume that blind crests rise up from the ground when stuck in traffic!
voyds9 said:
It's nice to know such power exists.
I do however wonder if the police will be so diligent in their duties if i report being tooted at. I suspect I would probably be laughed out of the station.
Of course, there are numerous examples of HM's finest taking umbrage at a minor offence and acting, yet when an MoP reports same (or worse), they are told 'take a number/hike/chill pill' (OK, I'm paraphrasing there!
)
Per all the tabloids - Mail, Express und so on... he saw the talivan und tooted und gave a thumb up sign - und seven officers tittered in back of van as the one in charge gave him a ticket. There were sergeant, two in tutor role und four trainees... und the bloke in question reckons that giving him his fine allowed several drivers to "blat by at speed"
Ach... I don't know but it almost come across as Police did not approve of someone who approve of scamera... 
Only in England...
Ach... I don't know
but it almost come across as Police did not approve of someone who approve of scamera... Only in England...
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