one law for the young, one for the old.
Discussion
I just cant believe how many times I have seen the "Young vs Old" attitude with the Police. My son who is 20 and drives one of those silly cars (you know the type with big wheels and a sound system worth more than the car) but it is FULLY LEGAL and his pride and joy. As a result he get pulled over lots of times, for NO reason. I was getting a list from him the other day (pay back at last!) and saw first hand how the police in Guildford treat the young drivers. The Policeman stopped us and when my son asked why, was told "dont worry I will find something!" When he noticed me - the old fart in the back, its seems my son was now all ok, and was told to carry on!. He got fined recently for sounding his horn in a petrol station. £30 fine. So of course none of us older drivers have ever done that! But if you are older and drive a nice expensive car as I do, you can have your number plate with all the letters mixed, sound your horn, and no chance of getting caught. BUT if you under 20 your stuffed. No wonder the police get no respect from the young. If they are beating up old ladies, fair enough, but sounding your horn in a petrol staition - £30 fine without any warning.... come on!! Police, you are making up your own rules. Any Guildford Police want to comment??????
Oh come on. Its not discrimination against the young. Its about whether or not the vehicle, or the lad, is *noticeable*. If you drive a "stealth" car like my ultra-boring Vectra estate and you aren't wearing distinictive clothes chances are you won't be stopped.
Baseball cap, £6K paint job and a booming stereo you'll get noticed.
As a youngster I never got stopped in my Sierra. When I drove my classic Red 911 I got stopped ALL the time...I didn't look any different.
Baseball cap, £6K paint job and a booming stereo you'll get noticed.
As a youngster I never got stopped in my Sierra. When I drove my classic Red 911 I got stopped ALL the time...I didn't look any different.
In my late teens I drove a lot of hot hatch type cars, from being 17 to 21 I got pulled twice.
First time was for going through a red light. My fault, got a slap on the hands.
Second time was mistaken identity, a red car was seen driving fast, but it had overtaken me only moments before. No problem all sorted.
In those 4 years I prob did about 100k miles. I would like to think I did not get into trouble because I always drove sensibly and within the law.
My other halves little brother has been driving for a year or so. He gets pulled now and then and always moans that the BiB pick on him, however when I check up what he has been upto, hand brake turns on car parks and 50mph in 30 limits with your fog lights on and no seatbelt attracts the attention of the law
. Of course when his parents are around he drives perfectly. When his mates are in the car another story.
Why did they stop you that time you were in the car? Was there really no reason?
If there is some sort of vendetta against him then a letter to the CInsp will prob stop it, but I very much doubt there is a group of officers going round looking for him every night, they dont have time!
I only ever pull cars for a reason, I dont think in the last 6 years of being on the job I have stopped a car just to see the drivers licence etc. They have always done something, speeding, no seatbelt, red lights, fog lights etc etc etc.
Hope this info helps you.
First time was for going through a red light. My fault, got a slap on the hands.
Second time was mistaken identity, a red car was seen driving fast, but it had overtaken me only moments before. No problem all sorted.
In those 4 years I prob did about 100k miles. I would like to think I did not get into trouble because I always drove sensibly and within the law.
My other halves little brother has been driving for a year or so. He gets pulled now and then and always moans that the BiB pick on him, however when I check up what he has been upto, hand brake turns on car parks and 50mph in 30 limits with your fog lights on and no seatbelt attracts the attention of the law
. Of course when his parents are around he drives perfectly. When his mates are in the car another story. Why did they stop you that time you were in the car? Was there really no reason?
If there is some sort of vendetta against him then a letter to the CInsp will prob stop it, but I very much doubt there is a group of officers going round looking for him every night, they dont have time!
I only ever pull cars for a reason, I dont think in the last 6 years of being on the job I have stopped a car just to see the drivers licence etc. They have always done something, speeding, no seatbelt, red lights, fog lights etc etc etc.
Hope this info helps you.
Just one of those things I'm afraid. At 17 in a boring, bog standard Fiesta, I got stopped several times. Reason was often "5 people, easy to nick car, just checking" sort of thing. Stay polite and no problem.
Now at 25 in a E36 Cabriolet, I often get followed by the BiB and, once they've presumably done a PNC, they are on their way without a pull (car looks clean etc so little chance that they'll get me on a defective xyz).
A little annoying I know, but not a great deal in the scheme of things
Now at 25 in a E36 Cabriolet, I often get followed by the BiB and, once they've presumably done a PNC, they are on their way without a pull (car looks clean etc so little chance that they'll get me on a defective xyz).
A little annoying I know, but not a great deal in the scheme of things
shithotfast said:
The Policeman stopped us and when my son asked why, was told "dont worry I will find something!" When he noticed me - the old fart in the back, its seems my son was now all ok, and was told to carry on!.
Surely you should be stopped for a reason not stopped with the reason coming later, if they can find one!
As for the horn, you dont explain the whole situation but I think it's perfectly reasonable that it can be accidentaly pushed or that there is some other justificable reason for using it eg somebody about to bump your car etc
Don said:
Oh come on. Its not discrimination against the young. Its about whether or not the vehicle, or the lad, is *noticeable*. If you drive a "stealth" car like my ultra-boring Vectra estate and you aren't wearing distinictive clothes chances are you won't be stopped.
Baseball cap, £6K paint job and a booming stereo you'll get noticed.
As a youngster I never got stopped in my Sierra. When I drove my classic Red 911 I got stopped ALL the time...I didn't look any different.
During the summer of 1964 Eileen and I were off out one Saturday evening in our Austin Healey Sprite (the frogeye) and Eileen, who had just passsed her test, was driving the car for the first time. No sooner had we turned on to Seamer Road in Scarborough, when a police car (in those days it was a black Mark 2 Ford Zephyr) whizzed past and stopped us.
As the police driver got out and came back to have a word with us, we were feeling a bit apprehensive as to what we might be in trouble for. He just said to Eileen "You're not the usual driver of this car", so we explained that she was now qualified and that we were all legitimate. By this time he had recognised me in the passenger seat, so he seemed to be satisfied that there was no problem.
Initially it took us by surprise, but we thought it was rather nice that he knew various cars and drivers by sight and had spotted something worth checking, perhaps wondering if the car had been stolen. In a way we felt that we were being looked after, and our property protected.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
I realise that the young will always be a bit stupid! (I was young once) but in this case it was more the attitude of the Policeman that worried me..... the opening words of "What the f$%k do you think your playing at, are you taking the P%£s or what?" QUOTE un QUOTE....
Just didnt seem the best attitude... A simple "dont be a prat" would have done.
Still, must be me. I guess I still live in the old world!
Just didnt seem the best attitude... A simple "dont be a prat" would have done.
Still, must be me. I guess I still live in the old world!
mungo said:
but sounding your horn in a petrol staition - £30 fine without any warning.... come on!! Police, you are making up your own rules. Any Guildford Police want to comment??????
What time of the day was this? Was the petrol station on a restricted road?
11pm Friday, middle of Guildford on a Petrol forecourt.
I think the law states no horn at all after 11:30pm, and not when stopped on a ROAD at any time.
Reading between the lines. has your son "altered" the lettering on his number plates at all?
I had a modified car when I was young and I think I was stopped about three times. Once 'cause I looked about 12 (I did ) another time for nearly running a red light and the third time for coming into a 30 mph limit a bit quick and getting a talking to but nothing else. I hate to say it but if you are stopped it is usually for something that is not quite right.....
HTH
Steve.
I had a modified car when I was young and I think I was stopped about three times. Once 'cause I looked about 12 (I did
) another time for nearly running a red light and the third time for coming into a 30 mph limit a bit quick and getting a talking to but nothing else. I hate to say it but if you are stopped it is usually for something that is not quite right..... HTH
Steve.
this isn't quite the same as the 'im sick of getting pulled over for no reason' threads. This is a case where someone first-hand witnessed a copper intimidating a youngster- or that's the impression. Obviously he may have typed an 'edited' version, but it does sound that in this instance he saw an 'easy mark'.....which would annoy me too.....
Don said:
Oh come on. Its not discrimination against the young. Its about whether or not the vehicle, or the lad, is *noticeable*. If you drive a "stealth" car like my ultra-boring Vectra estate and you aren't wearing distinictive clothes chances are you won't be stopped.
Baseball cap, £6K paint job and a booming stereo you'll get noticed.
As a youngster I never got stopped in my Sierra. When I drove my classic Red 911 I got stopped ALL the time...I didn't look any different.
Well put mate..
Street
shithotfast said:
I realise that the young will always be a bit stupid! (I was young once) but in this case it was more the attitude of the Policeman that worried me..... the opening words of "What the f$%k do you think your playing at, are you taking the P%£s or what?" QUOTE un QUOTE....
Just didnt seem the best attitude... A simple "dont be a prat" would have done.
Still, must be me. I guess I still live in the old world!
I think you're right to be a little concerned, but so long as your lad is all in order he has nothing to worry about.
In addition, if the worry of being stopped means that he always drives safely and doesn't 'show off' to his mates....he will have benefitted.
Give him my regards..
Street
PS: it wasn't me...i'm far north..
sorry Street - cant agree here. We had a very similar discussion a few months back, and everyone agred that you shouldnt bitch if you get pulled driving something loud/very fast/chavved-up/whatever...cos you're asking for it to a large extent.
If you read Pauls first post carefully this is a subtly, but importantly, different situation. The issue isn't over the car itself attracting attention its the 'I'll find something' and attitude changing when finding someone older in the car (you have to assume his post was written accurately)....this is not exactly policing likely to enhance the police image is it?
If you read Pauls first post carefully this is a subtly, but importantly, different situation. The issue isn't over the car itself attracting attention its the 'I'll find something' and attitude changing when finding someone older in the car (you have to assume his post was written accurately)....this is not exactly policing likely to enhance the police image is it?
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