Mildly Frustrated

[JUPE777]

Last week I had to leave work early for a dentist appointment. I was in the daily workhorse Forester xt, the plan was to drive the 20mins home as it was on the way and jump in the fun car for the last 25min journey. The route from work to home is an enjoyable B road, mainly nsl with the odd 30mph village. This is a road I have driven many times every week for over 20 years and I really do know every twist, turn and bump. After pulling out of a T junction near work I could hear some police sirens, so keeping an eye on the rear view I continue down the road and just as I go round a sweeping left hander I see an unmarked Volvo with the blues n twos on appear from the T junction. I then need to take a left turn up a long upward hill (nsl ), about 2/3rds up the hill said Volvo turns up behind me. I'm obviously going to need to give way, 30 mtrs or so ahead is a large layby so I accelerate to allow me time to pull over rather than have to stop in the road. I pull in perfectly timed to allow police car to pass which it does. I then carry on my journey. At the top of the hill is a village at which point the blues n twos go out. A bit odd I thought but no drama.

It's only a small village and you are soon into twisty nsl B road again. I drive through the village keeping to the 30mph before picking up the pace for the couple of twisty miles to the next village. At this point the Volvo is some distance up ahead (no blues n twos). I continue to drive at the nsl, what I consider very efficiently which takes in two 90 degree left turns and a steep down hill run as well as a few twists and turns. By the time I approach the next village I'm within 4/5 car lengths of the Volvo which then slows to 30 at the start of the village, I do likewise. A little way into the village the blue lights come on and I see the hand of the front passenger signal to me to pull over which I do behind the Volvo. Male officer gets out and approaches my near side, "afternoon officer", "I've pulled you over because of the speed you have been driving at", "but I have not exceeded the speed limit officer", "really are you sure sir". It's at this point I realise I should just bite my lip and apologise as arguing the point will at best make me miss my appointment and waist both our time. While the officer was talking to me an old vectra with what sounded like no back box shot out of a side road and wheels spinning took off up the road, the officer remarked he was a bigger idiot than me. That did niggle :-(.

As the title says I am mildly frustrated but it's no real biggy but frustrated enough to share my experience. I have a lot of respect for the men and women doing the job but just like many officers I enjoy driving, I consider myself a safe and competent driver and basically made good progress on a road I know very well without driving like a hooligan or anywhere near the limits. It turns out the officer was training a colleague so I'm quite sure he has a similar passion for driving.

If I have a point to make I guess it would be that I don't feel I should have been pulled over? No grudge to the officer I just feel he got it wrong in this instance.

Regards

[Tonto]

Friend of mine had a similar experience many years ago. He was driving one of his favorite twisties.
He ended up gaining on an unmarked saloon which was 4 up. By his own admission, my friend was making progress, but not driving recklessly. As he caught up to the car in front, a Police Stop sign appeared and he was pulled over.
The driver (instructor) gave him a severe bking for driving far to fast. It was suspected that his ego may have taken a hit, being caught by a MOP!

[herewego]

On a twisty rural road the NSL is not really your guide. If the road has no footpath then you have to consider the possibility of pedestrians around every corner as well as cyclists, particularly when the roads are damp and there are fallen leaves. None of us like being stopped by the cops but they are not always wrong and it seems he was only giving some advice.

[walm]

In before Eclassy's story.

[xxChrisxx]

It's fairly safe to assume that copper wasn't crawling along at a snails pace. Going relatively slowly maybe, but not taking the piss.

JUPE777 said:

At this point the Volvo is some distance up ahead... By the time I approach the next village I'm within 4/5 car lengths of the Volvo

Legally you probably did nothing wrong, morally you probably did nothing wrong. However significantly gaining on a copper over a stretch of 'twisty bits' is going to draw attention to yourself. Drawing attention to yourself gets you pulled over.

Falstaff said:

The better part of valour is discretion

Edited by xxChrisxx on Tuesday 18th November 10:15

[MGZTV8]

walm said:

In before Eclassy's story.

Well done sir, but it wont stop him

[BertBert]

So what happened?
Did you get a talking to or a ticket?

[emmaT2014]

As many people on here regularly opine "speed in excess of the limit is not necessarily relevant, it is the speed for the conditions that is important and that means it could be above or below the limit". Etc.

The officer may have thought that even though you were below the limit your speed was not appropriate for the conditions, road etc. the officer is entitled to his opinion as are you but at the time it was his that counted.

There you go an officer warning a motorist and no penalties issued, isn't that this forums idea of utopia?

[Some Gump]

Tonto said:

It was suspected that his ego may have taken a hit, being caught by a MOP!

???

[JUPE777]

xxChrisxx said:

Legally you probably did nothing wrong, morally you probably did nothing wrong. However significantly gaining on a copper over a stretch of 'twisty bits' is going to draw attention to yourself. Drawing attention to yourself gets you pulled over.

Fair comment and in reality I probably knew I ran this risk, I just let my enjoyment of the drive take over. So I am an idiot after all.

[JUPE777]

BertBert said:

So what happened?
Did you get a talking to or a ticket?

Just a talking to.

[mph999]

Few years back, real bad day at work so deciding to enjoy the drive home - nice A roads for a good chunk of it.
Kept within the limit, but made full use of road positioning, including the other side when safe - I had spotted the marked car behind me but didn't ease off.

Eventually turned off, looked in my mirror as the marked car went past and had caught up, to see thumbs up from the officer in the passenger seat out the window with a big grin on his face ...

[Rovinghawk]

JUPE777 said:

"I've pulled you over because of the speed you have been driving at"

Next time ask what speed that was, exactly.

[xxChrisxx]

Rovinghawk said:

Next time ask what speed that was, exactly.

Are you serious, because that piece of advice is complete madness.

JUPE777 said:

BertBert said:

So what happened?
Did you get a talking to or a ticket?

Just a talking to.

It clear they had no speed, so nothing was ever going to come from it.
So, by playing the game OP got:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdIAEpSyYTw

Back chatting would have = a thorough roadside inspection of your vehicle to increase your safety waste your time.

[Cat]

Rovinghawk said:

JUPE777 said:

"I've pulled you over because of the speed you have been driving at"

Next time ask what speed that was, exactly.

If you opt to do this bear in mind that if the officer decides to report you for speeding they only need to convince the court beyond reasonable doubt that you were travelling in excess of the limit - not prove "exactly" what your speed was. Depending on the circumstances it may be relatively easy for them to convince a court you were in excess of the limit without being able to prove an exact speed.

Cat

[Rovinghawk]

So you're saying that despite the OP actually being below the speed limit, an upset constable might choose to perjure himself to gain a conviction? I never thought you'd admit that sort of thing might happen.

[Cat]

Apologies for dragging this up but I missed RH's comment...

Rovinghawk said:

So you're saying that despite the OP actually being below the speed limit, an upset constable might choose to perjure himself to gain a conviction? I never thought you'd admit that sort of thing might happen.

It's not like you to try and twist what was actually written to try and make a cheap point. I simply pointed out that an exact speed isn't needed for someone to be found guilty of speeding so asking the officer to tell you your exact speed is as relevant as asking them to tell what you had for breakfast.

If the officer has an honest belief that the driver was in excess of the limit and he gives that evidence under oath in court he is not committing perjury even if that belief is incorrect.

Cat