Police can’t follow up on foreign no. plates?

[Hackney]

Last week I encountered three cars racing on the M25. Weaving through traffic at high speed etc. Called 999 from the car and gave car descriptions and no. plates for all three cars.

This week someone from Kent police called and asked if I’d be willing to make a statement; if I had dashcam footage etc.

He then said they’d only be able to prosecute the GB registered car (the other cars were E European).

Well that sucks, I think we’re my exact words.

He did say that in an accident they could be traced by my insurance company but not by the police for offences like this even with evidence.

So, if you want to drive like a loon out foreign plates on your car. Presumably if the police see the offence and pull the driver over circumstances are different?

Apologies if everyone knew this and I’m the only one who didn’t.

[Graveworm]

Hackney said:

Last week I encountered three cars racing on the M25. Weaving through traffic at high speed etc. Called 999 from the car and gave car descriptions and no. plates for all three cars.

This week someone from Kent police called and asked if I’d be willing to make a statement; if I had dashcam footage etc.

He then said they’d only be able to prosecute the GB registered car (the other cars were E European).

Well that sucks, I think we’re my exact words.

He did say that in an accident they could be traced by my insurance company but not by the police for offences like this even with evidence.

So, if you want to drive like a loon out foreign plates on your car. Presumably if the police see the offence and pull the driver over circumstances are different?

Apologies if everyone knew this and I’m the only one who didn’t.

They can obtain the registered keepers details but the S172 equivalent across borders doesn't exist in a usable format for RTA matters.

[pheasant]

So our motoring laws are racist then ?? oh I'm sorry did I just say that

[Alucidnation]

How did you write down all three reg numbers?

[bwk]

My car was hit by a lorry on Belgian plates last week who failed to stop. Damage isn't enough to go through insurance company really but I did call 101 from the first layby. Seems odd to me that the police won't/can't pursue this kind of behaviour.

I sent a letter before action to the transport company but realistically I think I'm probably stuck with the cost of a new rear bumper from my own pocket.

[chow pan toon]

Alucidnation said:

How did you write down all three reg numbers?

What an odd question. He said in the first post that he called the police and gave them the numbers from his car

[Alucidnation]

Hackney said:

Last week I encountered three cars racing on the M25. Weaving through traffic at high speed etc.

[chow pan toon]

Hackney said:

Called 999 from the car and gave car descriptions and no. plates for all three cars.

[Wooda80]

chow pan toon said:

Alucidnation said:

How did you write down all three reg numbers?

What an odd question. He said in the first post that he called the police and gave them the numbers from his car

He followed the cars at high speed, weaving through traffic to keep up, until he got through to 999 and explained what he was reporting. Trickiest bit was overtaking cars 2 and 3 so that he could get a clear look at the plate of the lead car.
What's confusing about that?

[4rephill]

chow pan toon said:

Alucidnation said:

How did you write down all three reg numbers?

What an odd question. He said in the first post that he called the police and gave them the numbers from his car

What I wonder is..... the OP said:

Hackney said:

Last week I encountered three cars racing on the M25. Weaving through traffic at high speed etc. Called 999 from the car and gave car descriptions and no. plates for all three cars.

This week someone from Kent police called and asked if I’d be willing to make a statement; if I had dashcam footage etc.

He then said they’d only be able to prosecute the GB registered car (the other cars were E European).....

......So if they were racing each other, driving at high speed, and weaving in and out of traffic, how did the OP manage to ring 999 and not only give descriptions of the cars, but also the registration numbers of all three cars (two of which were foreign registration numbers), unless they also drove at high speed to keep up with the three cars?

(Noting a single cars registration number that speeds past you isn't too hard to do, but three cars weaving in and out of traffic at high speed?)

I wonder if Kent Police had reports from another driver, of 4 cars racing around the M25 that day?

[Countdown]

4rephill said:

I wonder if Kent Police had reports from another driver, of 4 cars racing around the M25 that day?

Possibly only the 1st car was speeding and the following 3 were all trying to get the reg. plates of the car(s) in front to report them for speeding........

OP - AIUI quite a few of the local scrotery drive around on Polish plates because they don't need to deal with minor hassles such as VED, Insurance, speeding fines......

[FiF]

It's also why one can see right hand drive Transit dropsides beloved of a certain type of cheeky scamp running around on foreign plates from a country where folks normally drive left hookers. Shady as ....


Edited to deal with hated Android auto (in)correct input. I'm sure a million chimpanzees could do better.

Edited by FiF on Friday 12th October 21:45

[Hackney]

Wow!

Well, for the avoidance of doubt here's the more detailed scenario.

First thing I saw was a silver BMW 5 series in the rear view mirror weaving between traffic and lanes. As the car passed me (I was doing circa 70mph in traffic) on the left it was hard on the brakes. I saw the number plate, it was quite distinctive (One letter, one number, three letters) and therefore easier to remember.

It's caught on my dashcam from when it passed me to, braking vearing left then, in the distance, vearing right again.

If that had been it I would probably have left it. But a few seconds later a black Passat saloon with 4 blokes in it went past at similar speed and similar driving style. This was closely followed by a matt black Audi A6 at similar speed and similar driving style. His progress was halted as he got blocked in (not by me, and I don't think intentionally) and he fell back behind me.

I phoned the police and was able to remember the BMW's plate and give descriptions of the other two cars.
As we approached the Dartford tunnel I was still on the phone to the police giving my details etc when I caught the Passat and was able to read out the plate as I drove. I was simoultaneously caught by the A6, moved over and slowed so he passed, pulled in behind him and read out the number plate to the police.

The whole time my speed was between 60 and 80 depending on the traffic flow and nothing else. The only time I changed speed other than to go with the flow was when the A6 caught me up and I wanted him to pass.

Traffic throughout was moderate to heavy.

Maybe they weren't racing each other but to see three cars so close together driving in such a similar style lead me to believe they were racing or in some sort of convoy etc. Maybe it was just coincidence.

After he first passed me I didn't see the BMW again but I did go through the tunnel near to the Passat and the A6 and one of them (at least) changed lanes over the solid lines in the approach to the tunnel. They both left the M25 at the first junction north of the crossing (A13?) but I was no longer on the phone to the police at that point.

[Jazzy Jag]

The annoying thing is that I suspect that if Le Gendarme asked for a British drivers details for an offence in Europe, the DVLA would throw you under the bus with self righteous glee.

I seem to recall previous threads where a foreign NIP equivalent has been received following a driving holiday.

[anonymous-user]

chow pan toon said:

Alucidnation said:

How did you write down all three reg numbers?

What an odd question. He said in the first post that he called the police and gave them the numbers from his car

It's not an odd question, it's exactly what you expect on PH - it's the typical sad no-life looking for any way to get a dig in at the OP, crops up on every single thread, the only question is how many posts down the first one appears, usually it's still in single-figures.

[Graveworm]

Jazzy Jag said:

The annoying thing is that I suspect that if Le Gendarme asked for a British drivers details for an offence in Europe, the DVLA would throw you under the bus with self righteous glee.

I seem to recall previous threads where a foreign NIP equivalent has been received following a driving holiday.

They would provide the registered keeper details which is all the DVLA can give. The UK police can get that from their EU equivalents relatively easily.

Countries where the Keeper is liable for the original offence - by default - obviously don't need more than this. A S172 notice to keeper cannot be served in a foreign jurisdiction. If you need the driver, for a foreign registered vehicle, then it's the full letter of request process which happens for more serious matters but even then, it depends on what the countries laws say. The UK struggle to help more than most countries with this.

I imagine there may be some outrage if, at the request of the French Police, a UK cop turned up at your door saying you have to tell us who was driving your car on DDTP and on their behalf we have suspended the drivers licence. Oh and that low loader is to seize the car.

The Green card scheme works pretty well for accidents as its about the car insurance.

[Alucidnation]

JimSuperSix said:

chow pan toon said:

Alucidnation said:

How did you write down all three reg numbers?

What an odd question. He said in the first post that he called the police and gave them the numbers from his car

It's not an odd question, it's exactly what you expect on PH - it's the typical sad no-life looking for any way to get a dig in at the OP, crops up on every single thread, the only question is how many posts down the first one appears, usually it's still in single-figures.

You ok hun? x

[anonymous-user]

Alucidnation said:

JimSuperSix said:

chow pan toon said:

Alucidnation said:

How did you write down all three reg numbers?

What an odd question. He said in the first post that he called the police and gave them the numbers from his car

It's not an odd question, it's exactly what you expect on PH - it's the typical sad no-life looking for any way to get a dig in at the OP, crops up on every single thread, the only question is how many posts down the first one appears, usually it's still in single-figures.

You ok hun? x

And it's proven, well done.

[Alucidnation]

JimSuperSix said:

Alucidnation said:

JimSuperSix said:

chow pan toon said:

Alucidnation said:

How did you write down all three reg numbers?

What an odd question. He said in the first post that he called the police and gave them the numbers from his car

It's not an odd question, it's exactly what you expect on PH - it's the typical sad no-life looking for any way to get a dig in at the OP, crops up on every single thread, the only question is how many posts down the first one appears, usually it's still in single-figures.

You ok hun? x

And it's proven, well done.

Thanks.

x

[QBee]

Actually a useful thread, thanks OP.
It confirms what i had suspected, but hoped wasn't true.