Aaaarrrrgggghhhhhh!
Discussion
quote:
Mon Ami Mate - I once had a severely patronising copper pull me over when I first bought the 350 I was 21 and he told me the reason he turned around, followed me for 2 miles then pulled me over was because I looked "too young" to be driving a car like this. He was SO patronizing - He asked me to produce my docs after looking at each and every tyre, my tax, the boot - He goes "Whats in the boot" I responded "my roof" and asked me to pop it open - YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.... I made a complaint to the Traffic Inspector of his police station - Don't know if anything came of it but hopefully his boss gave him a bit of sh*t as he agreed that he was unreasonable and had no reason to have pulled me over.
Had the same with my first Vixen. Tried to test the handbrake by pulling the car back by the window. Stopped when I pointed out the frame was bending. 20 odd with a sports car, must be a car thief.
Same sort of thing happened to me many years ago. I was working for a Lotus dealer and collected a car from a customer for service. Was pulled by plod for no reason other than it was a brand new Esprit Turbo and I was only 21. I could not remember the number plate 
, in the end plod called the garage 
to confirm I was delivering it. They then let me go 
without even a producer.
, in the end plod called the garage to confirm I was delivering it. They then let me go without even a producer.I understand the frustration but 21-year-olds driving expensive cars are a rarity for obvious reasons and, no matter how annoying, I'd rather the police were looking out for such divergences from normal patterns of behaviour so that, if my car gets nicked, they're more likely to spot it.
-Manek-
-Manek-
When I first moved to America I was out one sunny lunchtime with a colleague looking for an Amex office. I was driving a rental car, which unbeknown to me had lost its rear reg plate (front one is non compulsory). I got pulled over by a copper and told about this. After speaking to him for a while he asked for my license and registration. Neither of which I had on me (Whoops!).
He then called for backup.
A Seargant arrived and asked for my home address, which was a company apartment and although I knew how to get there, I didnt know the address! Nor phone number and I couldnt actually prove who I was.
Another 2 squad cars later, now 4 all round me lights ablazing, the seargant makes the choice that rather than arrest me and contact interpol to get my driving license number I should be bound over into the custody of the young lady that I was with so she could drive me back to the office. This of course meant myself and the passenger swapping seats, at gun point from all four cops at each corner of the car mind you.
I got a ticket for not carrying my driving license which I had to pay at County Hall. The fine involved for all of that hassle and waste of police time - $12.50. I mentioned at the time if it was worth it, to which each one of the court clerks responded a resounding NO!
I've had some hassles over here, a different story, but on the whole I think the police over here are no where near as bad as their cousins across the pond!
Matt.
He then called for backup.
A Seargant arrived and asked for my home address, which was a company apartment and although I knew how to get there, I didnt know the address! Nor phone number and I couldnt actually prove who I was.
Another 2 squad cars later, now 4 all round me lights ablazing, the seargant makes the choice that rather than arrest me and contact interpol to get my driving license number I should be bound over into the custody of the young lady that I was with so she could drive me back to the office. This of course meant myself and the passenger swapping seats, at gun point from all four cops at each corner of the car mind you.
I got a ticket for not carrying my driving license which I had to pay at County Hall. The fine involved for all of that hassle and waste of police time - $12.50. I mentioned at the time if it was worth it, to which each one of the court clerks responded a resounding NO!
I've had some hassles over here, a different story, but on the whole I think the police over here are no where near as bad as their cousins across the pond!
Matt.
I've had a few occasions to converse with PC Plod over here and, on the whole, they've not been too snotty. They once offered to follow me back to a friends house to sort out the rear lights on my MGB which, unknown to me, had decided they didn't want to work any more.
I also had cause to meet a Maine State Trooper a couple of years back. Now, for those of you who haven't driven in Maine, they have some wonderful wide roads with nice sweeping corners which any normal person, i.e. non American
, would have no problem driving along at 75mph. Even in a s**tbox Chevrolet Cavalier (which is about 10 times nastier than its British namesake).
So, there I was proceeding along at a goodly pace when I saw a police car come round the corner up ahead. I slowed down a bit but clearly not enough for his liking as he did a big U-turn and set off in hot (well, tepid) pursuit with lights ablaze (quite cool actually !!). I pulled over promptly and was asked for my licence and registration, so I handed over a dog-eared British driving licence and every bit of hire car paperwork I could lay my hands on !! His face dropped and he had an expression of "oh shit, can I really be bothered with all the paperwork ??"
Anyway, he came back about 5 minutes later with a written warning (a nice trophy for the holiday) and a request that I drive a little slower.
The worst bit about the whole encounter was having my wife sat next to me bending my ear for the rest of the week !!
I also had cause to meet a Maine State Trooper a couple of years back. Now, for those of you who haven't driven in Maine, they have some wonderful wide roads with nice sweeping corners which any normal person, i.e. non American
, would have no problem driving along at 75mph. Even in a s**tbox Chevrolet Cavalier (which is about 10 times nastier than its British namesake). So, there I was proceeding along at a goodly pace when I saw a police car come round the corner up ahead. I slowed down a bit but clearly not enough for his liking as he did a big U-turn and set off in hot (well, tepid) pursuit with lights ablaze (quite cool actually !!). I pulled over promptly and was asked for my licence and registration, so I handed over a dog-eared British driving licence and every bit of hire car paperwork I could lay my hands on !! His face dropped and he had an expression of "oh shit, can I really be bothered with all the paperwork ??"
Anyway, he came back about 5 minutes later with a written warning (a nice trophy for the holiday) and a request that I drive a little slower.
The worst bit about the whole encounter was having my wife sat next to me bending my ear for the rest of the week !!
I had an almost identical experience, also in Maine. Cop car coming the other way, big U-turn in lots of dust with lights blazing. I was in a Pontiac Grand-Am blancmange. I had left my licence back at the hotel, a bit naughty over there 
. I assumed it was because I was a stupid foreigner that he let me off because he also coudn't be bothered with the paperwork. He told me to slow down because if I hit a moose then I'd know about it! 
. I assumed it was because I was a stupid foreigner that he let me off because he also coudn't be bothered with the paperwork. He told me to slow down because if I hit a moose then I'd know about it! 
Had a good experience in New Zealand last year with a friendly copper.
Had been out drinking all evening with a friend who had driven into town but obviously being worse for wear, we had to walk (about 2 miles) home. We were walking along a deserted road at about 1am when a police car containing two officers pulled up. They asked us where we were going, we told them and my friend also told them about the car he'd had to leave in town. Not only did we get a lift home in a police car, but they first went back and collected his car and drove it home for him.
Thats what I call a public service.
Had been out drinking all evening with a friend who had driven into town but obviously being worse for wear, we had to walk (about 2 miles) home. We were walking along a deserted road at about 1am when a police car containing two officers pulled up. They asked us where we were going, we told them and my friend also told them about the car he'd had to leave in town. Not only did we get a lift home in a police car, but they first went back and collected his car and drove it home for him.
Thats what I call a public service.
quote:
Had a good experience in New Zealand last year with a friendly copper.
Had been out drinking all evening with a friend who had driven into town but obviously being worse for wear, we had to walk (about 2 miles) home. We were walking along a deserted road at about 1am when a police car containing two officers pulled up. They asked us where we were going, we told them and my friend also told them about the car he'd had to leave in town. Not only did we get a lift home in a police car, but they first went back and collected his car and drove it home for him.
Thats what I call a public service.
If only we could have that same service here. Can you imagine it?!!!
Whilst on the subject of good coppers; Went drinking in the Police club in Bumuda once (whilst serving on the Grey Funnel Line) not only did they drink you under the table (at their expence)
, they then arranged a blue flashing light cab journey back to the ship stoping for a take-away 
(free again) on route.
Now if every police force could arrange service like that then I don't think there'd be a problem.
Edited by HarryW on Friday 4th January 22:48
, they then arranged a blue flashing light cab journey back to the ship stoping for a take-away (free again) on route. Now if every police force could arrange service like that then I don't think there'd be a problem.
Edited by HarryW on Friday 4th January 22:48
Just to square the metaphorical circle, I presented my documents yesterday and raised the issue with the desk Sergeant.
He asked me to take into consideration that it was early on a very cold morning, and that he felt it was understandable that a Policeman would feel it suspicious that a big shiny 1100cc motorcycle was out at that time, let alone trying to make itself obviously inconspicuous when a Police car came into view.
I had to concede that he has a point - if the bike had been pinched I'd much rather it was found by a suspicious Policeman, acting on his initiative, rather than by German Police in a parts bin.
However, I still pressed the issue of the producer. His explanation was that I'd probably got up the officer's nose by being irritable and unco-operative, and that the Police are fully within their rights to request such a thing. He did promise to take it up with the officer in question.
He asked me to take into consideration that it was early on a very cold morning, and that he felt it was understandable that a Policeman would feel it suspicious that a big shiny 1100cc motorcycle was out at that time, let alone trying to make itself obviously inconspicuous when a Police car came into view.
I had to concede that he has a point - if the bike had been pinched I'd much rather it was found by a suspicious Policeman, acting on his initiative, rather than by German Police in a parts bin.
However, I still pressed the issue of the producer. His explanation was that I'd probably got up the officer's nose by being irritable and unco-operative, and that the Police are fully within their rights to request such a thing. He did promise to take it up with the officer in question.
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