Motorway Cops... the ones parked up...
Discussion
Hi guys
I was bombing down the M40 yesterday, near on a tonne... I didn't see until the last second a concealed 'Range Rover' style police vehicle, parked up off the carriage ways.
I was sick to my stomach. What is the deal with these guys? Do they monitor the traffic and chase you if appropriate/report to people further down the way to look out for you, or do they have cameras? I am just completely gutted.
I think it's way out of order they were concealed.
What can I expect? Am I done? Is there hope? I'm kinda thinking if I were to get a ban, I'd have been chased or stopped at the time? :(
I was bombing down the M40 yesterday, near on a tonne... I didn't see until the last second a concealed 'Range Rover' style police vehicle, parked up off the carriage ways.
I was sick to my stomach. What is the deal with these guys? Do they monitor the traffic and chase you if appropriate/report to people further down the way to look out for you, or do they have cameras? I am just completely gutted.
I think it's way out of order they were concealed.
What can I expect? Am I done? Is there hope? I'm kinda thinking if I were to get a ban, I'd have been chased or stopped at the time? :(
pmanson said:
Wasn't the Highways Agency?
I've had to hit the brakes quite sharply thinking it was the police but it seems the Highways Agency like to park their Highway Patrol (or whatever they call them) in similar places.
Really don't know... It looked like a copper, and of course I only saw at the very last minute as I flew by. There was a lot of other fast flowing traffic, so I guess I blended in well... but hey ho, that ain't gonna help me out...
Munter said:
I went past one of these last time I went up north as well. Just noticed the nose poking out behind some bushes... The watched me go past with my foot on the brakes and the nose of the car dipped right down.... Nothing came of it....
A mate of mine (honest!) uses his handbrake to slow down in this situation... so no brake lights and nose dip.
(I'm not sure if this is dangerous or not)
cliffe_mafia said:
A mate of mine (honest!) uses his handbrake to slow down in this situation... so no brake lights and nose dip.
(I'm not sure if this is dangerous or not)
I would have thought the point of using the brake is to show said plod that you noticed them and have acknowledged that you’re going to fast?
Surely the dip is only the result of the deceleration (coupled with position of COG) as opposed to which brakes are used?
I would not be happy about using only the drum brakes for scrubbing off higher speeds; they could get quite hot (no ventilation, little thermal mass?)
The situation will become very dangerous if the rear wheels accidentally locked up; pendulum effects will be hugely multiplied.
(I hope that helps you make up your mind
) You can stop quite well with just the handbrake in the MR2 Mid engined means lots of weight over the rear wheels, and it seems virtualy impossible to lock them in the dry. Not that I am condoning such silly behaviour, in the average FWD car it would likely result in sudden and very intimate relations with the armco.
Mid engined means lots of weight over the rear wheels, and it seems virtualy impossible to lock them in the dry. Not that I am condoning such silly behaviour, in the average FWD car it would likely result in sudden and very intimate relations with the armco.towman said:
However, it will not be too any years before they are operating as a US style "Highway Patrol" with all the power that goes with it. Anyone brave enough to bet that I`m wrong?
Nope not here.
First they will get powers extended from motorway only to include trunk roads, basically the network managed by HA.
Then they'll get the additional powers.
Then HA will realise that it costs not much less to run a double crewed Range Rover than the identical vehicle manned by plod.
Then the targets and incentives will roll out.
Now that is a brave bet, not saying by when but ultimately....
lilrallydriver said:
god, I've got everything crossed.... hoping I have the same luck!
I know I was taking the pish at that speed, but you know... I'm not the only one am I?
No, you're not. In any case a tonne is not quite as serious as doing a ton. You get short measure with the continental version.
Anyhow good luck, probably nothing will come of it, especially if you were one of a bunch. Apparently it's better not to stand out from the crowd too much.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
lilrallydriver: If it was around J14 it's bound to have been the Highway's Chap - black and yellow checker with yellow lights. He's always perched in the middle of bridges, on the Police observation platforms (always thought they were Police vehicles only?), and anywhere he can pretend to be a Copper. He was sat in the middle of the bridge at J12 this evening.
M40 is pretty good for Police tolerance, especially in Oxfordshire. Watch around J12/J13 (Just in Warwickshire, maybe different policies?) as they stop a lot of people there. North bound, just after J12 is the worst spot - they hide their car right back on the Obs platform so it's hard to see them with their hair dryer.
>> Edited by adamh on Monday 23 May 22:35
M40 is pretty good for Police tolerance, especially in Oxfordshire. Watch around J12/J13 (Just in Warwickshire, maybe different policies?) as they stop a lot of people there. North bound, just after J12 is the worst spot - they hide their car right back on the Obs platform so it's hard to see them with their hair dryer.
>> Edited by adamh on Monday 23 May 22:35
kevin ritson said:
No, you're not. In any case a tonne is not quite as serious as doing a ton. You get short measure with the continental version.
62mph?
Eh, pardon, sorry, what then?
A ton = 100 mph x 2204/2240 etc. = 98 mph.
Best wishes all,
Dave - messing about again.
Wouldn't take the bet Towman, too distrustful of the state
Could this be described as the first signs
Bus staff win police powers in Cardiff
Are there boundaries to the community safety accreditation scheme?
fif said:
First they will get powers extended from motorway only to include trunk roads, basically the network managed by HA.
Then they'll get the additional powers.
Then HA will realise that it costs not much less to run a double crewed Range Rover than the identical vehicle manned by plod.
Then the targets and incentives will roll out.
Could this be described as the first signs
Bus staff win police powers in Cardiff
western mail said:
Cardiff Bus is thought to be the first bus operator in Britain to be approved by police under the community safety accreditation scheme.
..........includes powers to:
Confiscate alcohol or tobacco;
Ask for an offender's name and address and warn failure to comply is a criminal offence;
Issue fixed-penalty notices for littering or graffiti.
Are there boundaries to the community safety accreditation scheme?
lilrallydriver said:
I think it's way out of order they were concealed.
What can I expect? Am I done? Is there hope? I'm kinda thinking if I were to get a ban, I'd have been chased or stopped at the time?
1. The speed limit isn't concealed
2. You knew what speed you were doing
3. You know what the penalties are as you are a "bit sick"
How can it be "way out of order"?
The only party playing a game in this incident is you, enforcement vehicles in the Safety Camera system should be visible unless given the exceptional permission not to be, Police vehicles CAN and DO take the opportunity to operate in a covert manner. I imagine you will think a little deeper next time you consider putting the hammer down on the M40 and travel a little closer to the 70 mph limit if safe to do so.
Job done, game over!
>> Edited by destroyer on Friday 27th May 11:04
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff