police *caught* speeding

[s a m]

was passed the other day by a panda car, no blues, on way back to the station.

overtook me at about 75, then after a little way sped up to what I would clock at about 85+.

I caught them up at a roundabout with traffic, and ended up following them into town. After seeing them pull into the station, I decided to make a point and to stop and ask the driver if they were breaking the law driving at that speed with no blues. They said they were doing 70, of course I asked if it was an emergency call, they said they were bringing back an arrested person.

My point is... if it had been the other way round, and I had passed an unmarked traffpol, I would have most likely been pulled and booked for the 'offence'... YET however, I (Joe Public) just saw them do the same thing and with no justification, and they don't give a s***.

I know technically the police can speed in order to prevent crime, etc etc, but is this really a good example to other drivers?

[gone]

s a m said:

I know technically the police can speed in order to prevent crime, etc etc, but is this really a good example to other drivers?

Did you bother to ask what the conduct of the prisoner was like?
Was he/she compliant or was someone having to sit on his head in the back to try and control him from kicking out the windows?

I cannot comment other than that as I was not there. There may well be a whole host of reasons why the panda car was exceeding the limit. One of those may have been that he was breaking the law without the authority of the exemption for Policing purposes!

You will just have to accept that the Police can ignore speed limits without using warning equipment. The exemption covers a multitude of reasons. It may seem unfair/unjust/morally wrong, but until you know the exact reasons other than a 30 second chat to enquire why and the law is changed to specify exactly when this is acceptable and when it is not, get on with your life and don't worry about what the Police are doing unless they are doing it to you !!!

[swilly]

gone said:

s a m said: I know technically the police can speed in order to prevent crime, etc etc, but is this really a good example to other drivers? Did you bother to ask what the conduct of the prisoner was like? Was he/she compliant or was someone having to sit on his head in the back to try and control him from kicking out the windows? I cannot comment other than that as I was not there. There may well be a whole host of reasons why the panda car was exceeding the limit. One of those may have been that he was breaking the law without the authority of the exemption for Policing purposes! You will just have to accept that the Police can ignore speed limits without using warning equipment. The exemption covers a multitude of reasons. It may seem unfair/unjust/morally wrong, but until you know the exact reasons other than a 30 second chat to enquire why and the law is changed to specify exactly when this is acceptable and when it is not, get on with your life and don't worry about what the Police are doing unless they are doing it to you !!!

You are quite right gone.

There could have been umpteen legit reasons for the cops to have been speeding.

The point is though, if they are speeding for a legit reason then surely some warning to other traffic and pedestrians is in order. After all we are constantly bombarded with the idea that the speed limits are appropriate () for the roads in question and that drivers speeding beyond those limits are a danger to others.

I do believe cop cars are equipped with such an ability i.e. lights and siren.

[m-five]

swilly said:

You are quite right gone. There could have been umpteen legit reasons for the cops to have been speeding. The point is though, if they are speeding for a legit reason then surely some warning to other traffic and pedestrians is in order. After all we are constantly bombarded with the idea that the speed limits are appropriate () for the roads in question and that drivers speeding beyond those limits are a danger to others. I do believe cop cars are equipped with such an ability i.e. lights and siren.

Great news that I can break the speed limit with impunity if I have unruly/vomiting/fighting children in the back of my car

Just got to find some now!

[GreigM]

Swilly, while I agree with your point that we should know it is for police purpose, lights and siren just cause panic in other road users which can only be a bad thing.

We will have to accept that police can speed legitimately, but on the other hand the officers on this forum also have to accept that like in any workplace you will get those who abuse thier position and use the uniform as an excuse to ignore traffic laws, simply because the can.

[s a m]

Prisoner was some old-ish geezer and had been nicked for drink driving so they said, there was no rush, and they made no attempt at justifying their speed or the legality of it. I have never done this before, but lost count of the number of pandas overtaking me on motorways, often with just 1 driver, and by the looks of things, just on a little hoon from A to B.

I decided to make the point and join the annoying “what a stupid thing to say” public club this time because it was just so blatant, they were in no hurry at all, took it very easy through the town, and were just driving back to base.

Simple case of a human driver, going at a “cruising” speed down the road – but if its safe for them, why is it not safe for us? Is it right that the prisoner should be exposed to such ‘dangers’ – the same ones I would have got 3pts for having it been me doing it?

[swilly]

I can very much accept that these coppers were simply doing what we all wish we could do.

That is drive along the road at a reasonable speed which is clearly appropriate for the road and environment.

What riles is that, as has been said, one rule for the coppers one rule for us in what was probably a situation that did not officially justify the excess speed.

[minimax]

perhaps these coppers were just 'institutionally' PHers!






sorry...

[minimax]

swilly said:

I can very much accept that these coppers were simply doing what we all wish we could do. That is drive along the road at a reasonable speed which is clearly appropriate for the road and environment. What riles is that, as has been said, one rule for the coppers one rule for us in what was probably a situation that did not officially justify the excess speed.

what if the coppers just thought oh it won't do any harm and we'll get there a bit quicker and have some fun in to the bargain? not a million miles away from what most PHers think when they drive somewhere I should think

[gh0st]

Yes but its not our job to uphold the law. Would a convicted drug dealer get on the anti-drugs squad? Would a convicted terrorist get on the anti-terrorist squad? No (well maybe soon if things carry on as they are!)

So why should someone who speeds without good reason be allowed the responsibility of driving a police car at speed for no reason!

Havent you heard that speed kills and by going at the speed limit you save billions of small children every year?

[james_j]

Yet more confirmation that any speed, as long as the circumstances are right, is OK.

If it was so dangerous, the bib wouldn't do it would they?

[gone]

m-five said:

Great news that I can break the speed limit with impunity if I have unruly/vomiting/fighting children in the back of my car Just got to find some now!

You only have the exemption if you are on your way to a custody suite and not on your way to Maccy D's

[gone]

swilly said:

I can very much accept that these coppers were simply doing what we all wish we could do. That is drive along the road at a reasonable speed which is clearly appropriate for the road and environment. What riles is that, as has been said, one rule for the coppers one rule for us in what was probably a situation that did not officially justify the excess speed.

If the driver had been caught by Camera van, Yellow box or Traffic Officer, he would have been in exactly the same position as any one of you. He did it and got away with it. Any of you remember doing the same recently?

[gone]

gh0st said:

Havent you heard that speed kills and by going at the speed limit you save billions of small children every year?

Bit like wearing a condom ghOst?

[towman]

m-five said:

Great news that I can break the speed limit with impunity if I have unruly/vomiting/fighting children in the back of my car Just got to find some now!

You are a fair distance away, but I am more than happy to meet your travel costs. Their suitcases are packed - please be as quick as you can. Ta.

Steve

[WildCat]

gone said:

swilly said: I can very much accept that these coppers were simply doing what we all wish we could do. That is drive along the road at a reasonable speed which is clearly appropriate for the road and environment. What riles is that, as has been said, one rule for the coppers one rule for us in what was probably a situation that did not officially justify the excess speed. If the driver had been caught by Camera van, Yellow box or Traffic Officer, he would have been in exactly the same position as any one of you. He did it and got away with it. Any of you remember doing the same recently?

Ach Liebchen... in that police car .... you are supposed to lead the way by showing "model of good practice"

Unexploded doughnuts ....apart

[jeremyc]

s a m said:

...overtook me at about 75, then after a little way sped up to what I would clock at about 85+.

So do you have a calibrated speedometer so can be sure of your and their speeds?

I think that we should celebrate the fact that another road user was driving at speeds that they considered to be appropriate to the conditions. We need to encourage this state of mind, rather then get upset that others "may" have a greater ability to do this.

[Streetcop]

The model of good practice doesn't take into account many factors...

I'm not sure what example is supposed to be set by police obeying the speed limit.....as the majority of public only manage it for 1/4 mile in front or behind a police vehicle and then go back to whatever speed the driver likes......

[towman]

The view of Ali G....

[ca092003]

Streetcop said:

The model of good practice doesn't take into account many factors... I'm not sure what example is supposed to be set by police obeying the speed limit

Leading by example? Complying with the letter of the law? Funny how somce PC's expect MoP'S to comply with the letter of the law but then ignore it themselves? If there is one thing I cannot abide is hypocrisy.