Got pulled by BiB this evening
Discussion
I know, I know, I know I am a prat. Please, no lectures.
Big wake up call this evening. Long day, Cambs, Brum, Smoke.... busy busy busy... on way home, no food, too much caffeine. Too much of the day playing downhill slalom through the lanes on M1,M6, M25 and A14.
Left work,weaved through the traffic, got to the dual carriageway... twist throttle and launch. Clear the brain of work stuff. Concentrate on urban hooligan mode.
Plain grey Mercedes 320 on inside lane signalling right.Good signals, him in right place, me in right place, both observant. I flash, back off to acknowledge, he moves right, he lifts hand to thank, I follow. Both slow for 2 speed cameras on dangerous junction.
Leave restricted zone 800m, He moves left. Clear road, dry, drop 2 cogs, twist throttle, BAAAAR. 80,90, 3 figures...Check mirror left, signal left, FECH. BLUE FLASHING LIGHT.
Completely unmarked bland Merc Police car. Shite.
Now pulling over. CONTRITION. O bugger, no licence after this, thinking about renting an apartment near work. Shoot, how many numbers were on the dial. I know it was bad. Front wheel was very light. Front was shimmying like a Brazilian dancer. Was the wheel up= goto jail. Fech Fech Fech.
OK, thinks me. Smartly pull over. Stop safe position. Helmet off etc etc. Look serious, look contrite but normal. Yeah right.
Late twenties/ early thirties BiB1 comes over, leaving BiB2 in car and ..
1. Asks "am I OK?".
Now that really worries me. No sarcasm, no stupid copper, no aggression, very polite and articulate.
2. I say something like" Its a fair cop" or something like that. " I was out of order"
3. To which he says "I am NOT going to give you a ticket even though your speed significantly exceeded 3 figures, which means that you would lose your licence if you were prosecuted".
4. Me now really worried. Trust me, I am not of merchantable quality. I just hummed and hawed and looked at my feet. What is the catch?
5. He says " you need some advice... I was following idiot in the Astra ahead of me. You let me out in front of you, but I couldnt ignore 3 figures when you shot past after the speed restriction. I am an ex-biker and I see so many muppet drivers out there. One of them will get you".
6. I look into his car. it has got all the Cape canaveral gadgets in it. Cameras, speedo stuff, instant check yer licence bits. It is Kosher.
So, he notes my licence in his black book. I cannot say "thanks" because that would undermine his advice, and would suggest that he has let me off. So I nod, yes, to this man who has just saved me squillions of hassle from a magistrate, expensive barrister and all that bollox,... I nod. We each get underway. Very British.
Wierd. Makes one think. I didnt get away with it. I didnt do anything that I wouldnt normally do ie speed, yet I now know that in the area near to my work there are concealed police cars. Not many, but perhaps just enough that if there were a next time, DNPG.
Perhaps my corteous flash and making space on the road for another driver were enough. Who knows?
Robert
Big wake up call this evening. Long day, Cambs, Brum, Smoke.... busy busy busy... on way home, no food, too much caffeine. Too much of the day playing downhill slalom through the lanes on M1,M6, M25 and A14.
Left work,weaved through the traffic, got to the dual carriageway... twist throttle and launch. Clear the brain of work stuff. Concentrate on urban hooligan mode.
Plain grey Mercedes 320 on inside lane signalling right.Good signals, him in right place, me in right place, both observant. I flash, back off to acknowledge, he moves right, he lifts hand to thank, I follow. Both slow for 2 speed cameras on dangerous junction.
Leave restricted zone 800m, He moves left. Clear road, dry, drop 2 cogs, twist throttle, BAAAAR. 80,90, 3 figures...Check mirror left, signal left, FECH. BLUE FLASHING LIGHT.
Completely unmarked bland Merc Police car. Shite.
Now pulling over. CONTRITION. O bugger, no licence after this, thinking about renting an apartment near work. Shoot, how many numbers were on the dial. I know it was bad. Front wheel was very light. Front was shimmying like a Brazilian dancer. Was the wheel up= goto jail. Fech Fech Fech.
OK, thinks me. Smartly pull over. Stop safe position. Helmet off etc etc. Look serious, look contrite but normal. Yeah right.
Late twenties/ early thirties BiB1 comes over, leaving BiB2 in car and ..
1. Asks "am I OK?".
Now that really worries me. No sarcasm, no stupid copper, no aggression, very polite and articulate.
2. I say something like" Its a fair cop" or something like that. " I was out of order"
3. To which he says "I am NOT going to give you a ticket even though your speed significantly exceeded 3 figures, which means that you would lose your licence if you were prosecuted".
4. Me now really worried. Trust me, I am not of merchantable quality. I just hummed and hawed and looked at my feet. What is the catch?
5. He says " you need some advice... I was following idiot in the Astra ahead of me. You let me out in front of you, but I couldnt ignore 3 figures when you shot past after the speed restriction. I am an ex-biker and I see so many muppet drivers out there. One of them will get you".
6. I look into his car. it has got all the Cape canaveral gadgets in it. Cameras, speedo stuff, instant check yer licence bits. It is Kosher.
So, he notes my licence in his black book. I cannot say "thanks" because that would undermine his advice, and would suggest that he has let me off. So I nod, yes, to this man who has just saved me squillions of hassle from a magistrate, expensive barrister and all that bollox,... I nod. We each get underway. Very British.
Wierd. Makes one think. I didnt get away with it. I didnt do anything that I wouldnt normally do ie speed, yet I now know that in the area near to my work there are concealed police cars. Not many, but perhaps just enough that if there were a next time, DNPG.
Perhaps my corteous flash and making space on the road for another driver were enough. Who knows?
Robert
well, makes a pleasent change to meet a homo-sapien in uniform, who actually thinks indipendantly of brunstrom-esque masses.
I would personally think myself very fortunate to have been spoken to by someone like that, as it could so easilly have been, aforementioned dimwit majority,
take it easy sport
I would personally think myself very fortunate to have been spoken to by someone like that, as it could so easilly have been, aforementioned dimwit majority,
take it easy sport
Glad to see there are some decent BIB about still.As you say, you're now aware there are unmarked cars around the area.
Thing is you don't exactly where they'll be at any given moment unlike scameras that are usually visible a way off.
So. Scamera equals slowing down then speeding up etc, etc.
Real policeman equals probable slowing down in general.
Anyone in guv'mint listening?
Thing is you don't exactly where they'll be at any given moment unlike scameras that are usually visible a way off.
So. Scamera equals slowing down then speeding up etc, etc.
Real policeman equals probable slowing down in general.
Anyone in guv'mint listening?
This kind of thing is a lot more common that we may believe. I've let people off doing 3 figures before, and also those who were doing say 52 or so in a 40, if they slowed down to 40 as soon as I come into view in their rear view mirror. It tells me the driver is switched on to what is around. If I follow the same driver for 2 miles at 50+ in a 40, in a marked car an FPN is entirely fair as it evidences that the car was in gear but the drivers brain wasn't.
Streetcop's post reply finger must be itching.... 
Its nice to see some common sense being employed. Current guidelines seem to discourage the use of common sense due to the administrative difficulties it may cause.
The silliness that has been in all our public services is now pervading our police force.....
Its nice to see some common sense being employed. Current guidelines seem to discourage the use of common sense due to the administrative difficulties it may cause.
The silliness that has been in all our public services is now pervading our police force.....
Flintstone said:
As you say, you're now aware there are unmarked cars around the area.
Thing is you don't exactly where they'll be at any given moment unlike scameras that are usually visible a way off.
So. Scamera equals slowing down then speeding up etc, etc.
Real policeman equals probable slowing down in general.
Anyone in guv'mint listening?
Probably no govt, but I AM. He was top notch. Have added up all the knock on costs. Fares, 43 miles each way to work, no public transport........
xxplod said:An old mate of mine in that situation used to wait until the offender said, "I didn't see you officer." Then his pen would hover over his notebook and he would say, "So, I'll add 'Driving without due care and attention' shall I?" That was the point at which they'd admit to the speed he'd clocked - Streaky
If I follow the same driver for 2 miles at 50+ in a 40, in a marked car an FPN is entirely fair as it evidences that the car was in gear but the drivers brain wasn't.
xxplod said:
If I follow the same driver for 2 miles at 50+ in a 40, in a marked car an FPN is entirely fair as it evidences that the car was in gear but the drivers brain wasn't.
To be honest thats fair enough. The arguement most people here appear to advance is that its much better to be alert, even if above the speed limit, than not alert and under it. To not be alert and over the speed limit is the worst of all options!
Talking of mercs Sussex police have a nice one, but it is done up in dayglo yellow, so missing it is a challenge!
I had a similar experience a couple of years ago - totally empty road (I mean totally, not a car for 10 mins or so), was cruising at about 80, dicided to have a little blast for about 1 mile, hit 110, brought it back down to 70 and stayed there.
A couple of miles later I see some lights in my rear view mirror - think to myself "he is absolutely caining it" - and the lights came right up behind me, thought it funny that he didn't pass in the outside lane - he matched my speed for about 20 secs then put on the blues.
Pulled off to the side - they were on a bridge over the motorway, in the darkness and clocked me at over 100. But they let me off and simply advised me to "look after my license". The plod was very honest and said that he couldn't bring himself to take my license away when all I did was have a 10 second blast on a clear and empty road and wasn't a danger to anyone. He advised that usually in cases like mine they follow until the subject catches up with other cars and sees how they behave in the traffic - this will then decide what kind of punishment is given out. As I was already down to 70 before any other traffic then I got away with a clip round the ear....the best bit of policing I have ever encountered.
Made me think though, about the impact no license would have - on my job, on my home/family, now keep to limits in 30/40/50 zones, in NSL and motorways I do go a bit above, but never into license losing terriory any more. Instead I do track days - the best bit of fun you can have with yer clothes on.
There are still some good uns out there who aren't (yet) corrupted by tony's targets and the "blood money" overtime on the scam vans.
A couple of miles later I see some lights in my rear view mirror - think to myself "he is absolutely caining it" - and the lights came right up behind me, thought it funny that he didn't pass in the outside lane - he matched my speed for about 20 secs then put on the blues.
Pulled off to the side - they were on a bridge over the motorway, in the darkness and clocked me at over 100. But they let me off and simply advised me to "look after my license". The plod was very honest and said that he couldn't bring himself to take my license away when all I did was have a 10 second blast on a clear and empty road and wasn't a danger to anyone. He advised that usually in cases like mine they follow until the subject catches up with other cars and sees how they behave in the traffic - this will then decide what kind of punishment is given out. As I was already down to 70 before any other traffic then I got away with a clip round the ear....the best bit of policing I have ever encountered.
Made me think though, about the impact no license would have - on my job, on my home/family, now keep to limits in 30/40/50 zones, in NSL and motorways I do go a bit above, but never into license losing terriory any more. Instead I do track days - the best bit of fun you can have with yer clothes on.
There are still some good uns out there who aren't (yet) corrupted by tony's targets and the "blood money" overtime on the scam vans.
Pies said:
Home Office stats on traffic offences were out on Weddnesday.
Written warnings for speeding
1997 - 35,000
2003 - 6,000
Draw your own conclusions.
There are a darn sight less coppers patroling the roads now
And presumably they don't get their 10 points for writing a warning, only issuing a ticket.
Still, it's great to hear of a BiB who takes everything into account rather than simply focusing on what was clearly an infringement.
Let's hope it's not because there's an election coming up. It would be utterly tragic to find out that the police have been told to lighten up on Mr Average for a couple of weeks.
BliarOut said:
Top You were riding courteously without agression. Your speed was appropriate, if a little, ahem brisk
that man
Did that slow you down more than for all the scameras on the A14 after that?
Certainly have. Another two hundred miles yesterday and a long weekend 500miler with the Frau, away in 1 hours time.
Plenty to think about since top
raised some serious questions in me. I am certainly typically Mr Average, as Peter has referred to above.
On reflection, the Policing delivered was not down my throat, not telling me how stupid I was, not inflicting some moralistic or socio politico nonsense.
It was, however, commonsense. A view. If I continue in the manner evidenced, I will get a serious ticket at some time, or get bonged by a numpty driver.
Hence, my choice.
Perhaps the PF are teaching pyschology to their better officers.
So, off to a long slowmode weekend on the touring bike. Have a good one all of you, and to the trafpol on here, I do genuinely hope that the bank holiday weekend doesnt give any nasty RTAs for you.
We can only hope.
Rob
Flintstone said:
Have added up all the knock on costs. Fares, 43 miles each way to work, no public transport........
Go on then, share it with us. How much would it have cost you?
Well chap, I would have to buy a flat away from home for one thing. An investment I know, but I dont want to. Perhaps 12K pa with an offset rental income.
Not see the wife in the week,priceless. She ia topnotch chef, even if mad.
Having to wash, clean, scrub and keep house, insurance, additional useless public transport costs.
Etc Etc Etc... means £18K pa extra minimum
plus all the hassle. 70mph is good. 70mph is good... altogether now.:smile:
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