Police enquiry at home
Discussion
So an update, got a phone call today and arranged to go see them as opposed to them coming to see me again, officer apologised for the late call but apparently was told to by their boss, and apparently the reason they didn’t get back to me is because they were dealing with a prisoner. The reason they wanted to speak me that was “nothing to worry about” was to charge me with careless driving! Apparently back in May I overtook another car at speed and caused them to brake hard. This seemingly falls under careless driving and is exempt from the 14 day rule, I’ve made a couple of calls for legal advice and apparently this is correct! I can fight it if I wish but costs are roughly £2000 +vat! Or accept a fixed penalty of £100. I have no recollection of the event but they have two witness statements albeit from people in the same car and apparently this is sufficient.
I’ll look at my options, it’s 3 points and I’ve a clean license.
Bearing in mind this allegedly took place in May then I still think the midnight call was uncalled for. I still think this is an unreasonable time to be questioning someone! If it’s something that supposedly happened 6-7 weeks ago it’s hardly urgent.
Bearing in mind this allegedly took place in May then I still think the midnight call was uncalled for. I still think this is an unreasonable time to be questioning someone! If it’s something that supposedly happened 6-7 weeks ago it’s hardly urgent.
lb3nson said:
They must have more evidence than just 2 people in the same car said so, I suspect a dash cam.
Otherwise anyone could call up and report someone they don’t like for careless driving.
I asked exactly that! So just the two in the car is all they need and no dashcam! So yeah you and your mate could effectively do this to anyone really. I was always under the impression that witnesses had to be independent and not in the same car, as they are hardly impartial. But according to cops that’s all they need to proceed then if you want to contest it feel free.Otherwise anyone could call up and report someone they don’t like for careless driving.
V8covin said:
Without dashcam footage I don't see how they could find you guilty in court, it's their word against yours
Looking at my options but a call to a motoring lawyer reckoned I could definitely fight it at a cost of a few thousand and then obviously potentially a higher punishment or suck it up! Will think it over I have 28 days to pay or not.
Nibbles_bits said:
You would say this, you're the one being investigated.
Shoe on other foot - Would you be happy if the Police told you they haven't made progress because it was too late to call on the suspected offender?
Well yeah, why could it not wait till you were back on days or back shift? If it’s been 7 weeks then a few days won’t make any difference will it?Shoe on other foot - Would you be happy if the Police told you they haven't made progress because it was too late to call on the suspected offender?
You obviously won’t agree and that’s your call however you will agree the vast majority felt it was an unreasonable time to be calling over a non urgent matter. I said I would update when I knew what was happening and now we know. I think most will still agree there was no requirement for the midnight call! You will never see that the public obviously find this unreasonable so I’m not going to try and change your mind.
Nibbles_bits said:
You're right, you won't.
If there are no emergency calls and nothing urgent to progress, what do you expect the Police to do, just sit about like Fire??
As others have said. If you're adamant you aren't responsible for what you're being accused of - contest it.
Maybe they could patrol around acting as a deterrent to the people that are out stealing cars, breaking into houses or raping/murdering girls! You know the stuff you don’t have time for that happens during the midnights hours.If there are no emergency calls and nothing urgent to progress, what do you expect the Police to do, just sit about like Fire??
As others have said. If you're adamant you aren't responsible for what you're being accused of - contest it.
Durzel said:
Where is this "flimsy evidence" assumption coming from?
Has it been confirmed that there is no dashcam footage? I'd assume there is if they're even trying to progress the case at all. They're not going to show their cards until the OP pleads not guilty.
If the OP can't remember the event it could either be that he routinely drives "enthusiastically" or that it's a mountain out of a molehill. Given the Scots seem to charge for dangerous driving at a lower threshold than England, it could be either.
If it were me I'd have a good think about whether I would want a court to see this video (i.e. consider the manner of my driving generally, how often I get negative reactions, etc) before deciding to go NG.
They confirmed there was no footage and asked if I had any! But yeah need to way up the pros and cons.Has it been confirmed that there is no dashcam footage? I'd assume there is if they're even trying to progress the case at all. They're not going to show their cards until the OP pleads not guilty.
If the OP can't remember the event it could either be that he routinely drives "enthusiastically" or that it's a mountain out of a molehill. Given the Scots seem to charge for dangerous driving at a lower threshold than England, it could be either.
If it were me I'd have a good think about whether I would want a court to see this video (i.e. consider the manner of my driving generally, how often I get negative reactions, etc) before deciding to go NG.
[quote=Nibbles_bits]
The kind of stuff that can't be measured by performance.
Not sure people would be happy paying their council tax and not seeing any results.
Do these things only happen during the midnight hours?
By that logic, the Police should ignore crimes during the day, because they should be dealing with non-urgent enquiries.
Obviously I’m not Taggert or Rebus or the English equivalent
But I would presume the majority of serious crime takes place at night does it not? Women walking home example, I’m not saying no one gets murdered during the day but I’m sure there are some stats out there that show when is the most dangerous time for a woman to walk home!
The kind of stuff that can't be measured by performance.
Not sure people would be happy paying their council tax and not seeing any results.
Do these things only happen during the midnight hours?
By that logic, the Police should ignore crimes during the day, because they should be dealing with non-urgent enquiries.
Edited by Nibbles_bits on Wednesday 29th June 14:07
[/quoteObviously I’m not Taggert or Rebus or the English equivalent
But I would presume the majority of serious crime takes place at night does it not? Women walking home example, I’m not saying no one gets murdered during the day but I’m sure there are some stats out there that show when is the most dangerous time for a woman to walk home!
the mac]ibbles_bits said:
The kind of stuff that can't be measured by performance.
Not sure people would be happy paying their council tax and not seeing any results.
Do these things only happen during the midnight hours?
By that logic, the Police should ignore crimes during the day, because they should be dealing with non-urgent enquiries.
Obviously I’m not Taggert or Rebus or the English equivalent
But I would presume the majority of serious crime takes place at night does it not? Women walking home example, I’m not saying no one gets murdered during the day but I’m sure there are some stats out there that show when is the most dangerous time for a woman to walk home!
Not sure people would be happy paying their council tax and not seeing any results.
Do these things only happen during the midnight hours?
By that logic, the Police should ignore crimes during the day, because they should be dealing with non-urgent enquiries.
Edited by Nibbles_bits on Wednesday 29th June 14:07
[/quoteObviously I’m not Taggert or Rebus or the English equivalent
But I would presume the majority of serious crime takes place at night does it not? Women walking home example, I’m not saying no one gets murdered during the day but I’m sure there are some stats out there that show when is the most dangerous time for a woman to walk home!
Greendubber said:
Most women are murdered by someone they know, generally not at night walking home alone.
Have there been any random murders in you're area because unless the body counts rising it sounds like the cops there are doing an alright job of stopping murders taking place. You never know, your late night police visit may have thwarted a would be ne'er-do-well doing anything that night when you were at work.....imagine.
Haha perhaps, to be fair I’m not sure how many murders the Police actually prevent, usually more often than not after an event they will have a police presence in said area to reassure the public!Have there been any random murders in you're area because unless the body counts rising it sounds like the cops there are doing an alright job of stopping murders taking place. You never know, your late night police visit may have thwarted a would be ne'er-do-well doing anything that night when you were at work.....imagine.
Anyway we are going a bit off topic
I don’t believe there are any blanks that I have left out, they had my name because I’m the registered keeper of the car, I haven’t admitted anything although it is my car and I’m the only driver. I denied knowing anything about the incident and still don’t know anything about what allegedly took place. It is on a road I sometimes use and I do often overtake slow moving traffic it’s a 60 limit and there are often cars travelling at 40 etc.
They issued the fixed penalty noted that I said I know nothing about it and feel free to take it to court.
This thread was created as I wanted opinions whether the midnight call was necessary, I then updated it with what the police wanted. Other than a select few nearly everyone seems to agree there was no need for the midnight call.
They issued the fixed penalty noted that I said I know nothing about it and feel free to take it to court.
This thread was created as I wanted opinions whether the midnight call was necessary, I then updated it with what the police wanted. Other than a select few nearly everyone seems to agree there was no need for the midnight call.
Cat said:
By looking objectively at what the witness says happened and assessing that against what would be expected of a competent and careful driver.
Cat
Hi Cat and thanks for your input, according to a motoring lawyer I spoke to he said that If an accident occurred then the 14 day nip rule does not apply. Now to clarify there was no accident and the other party are not claiming there was. However according to the lawyer I spoke to the fact they are claiming I made them brake is enough for it to be classed as an accident with the theory that had they not braked they would have crashed! It all sounds like mince to me and I will double check.Cat
Cat said:
Your solicitor is correct and I can save you the effort of double checking
This is the relevant judgement
Cat
Certainly news to me! This is the relevant judgement
Cat
Thanks for finding that for me.
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