Can Mr X be stopped for speeding after catching unmarked
Can Mr X be stopped for speeding after catching unmarked
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Discussion

Jaroon

Original Poster:

1,441 posts

189 months

Friday 25th June 2021
quotequote all
Half pub argument part general interest. Mr X is egregious scum of the earth type with a very fast car. Out on an early morning hoon he's well into 3 figures on near empty dual carriageway/motorway. Spotting a vehicle that fits the potential profile of an unmarked police car driving at the legal speed limit, Mr X flies up towards them, in full control and slows to the legal limit as he pulls alongside. Lo and behold it's a police person in uniform and Mr X duly pulls in behind.
In fairness to conditions he probably wasn't driving dangerously given the vehicles capabilities, road and traffic conditions but must have been speeding to catch the unmarked car who will have noticed the closing speed and am sure would love to see Mr X pulled over, as would we all, but is it likely and on what grounds? He's demonstrated due care and attention and dangerous driving is a pretty hefty charge based on the rear view mirror.
What's the consensus, no action, pulled for chat, other? I went with pulled for chat incase he might incriminate himself but opinions differ. Can anyone, especially our friends from the constabulary offer the likely outcome?

chml

741 posts

138 months

Friday 25th June 2021
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Is the question:

Would the police pull me over (and can I be issued a NIP/summons for any offences) if I am speeding and catch up to an unmarked car?

No, you can't. Speeding offences are only for when a copper is behind you...

Durzel

12,999 posts

197 months

Friday 25th June 2021
quotequote all
Assuming he flew up behind this unmarked car, I would say it would probably be 50/50 as to whether they would get a pull to "check all documents are in order", or nothing would happen.

Can't see how he would get stopped for speeding since the unmarked car wouldn't have had the opportunity to do a follow check or anything that would really amount to much in terms of forming the basis of a prosecution.

(not BiB though so all of the above might be wrong)

Cat

3,134 posts

298 months

Friday 25th June 2021
quotequote all
Durzel said:
Can't see how he would get stopped for speeding since the unmarked car wouldn't have had the opportunity to do a follow check or anything that would really amount to much in terms of forming the basis of a prosecution.

(not BiB though so all of the above might be wrong)
VASCAR can be used to measure the speed of a following vehicle.

Cat

Durzel

12,999 posts

197 months

Friday 25th June 2021
quotequote all
Cat said:
Durzel said:
Can't see how he would get stopped for speeding since the unmarked car wouldn't have had the opportunity to do a follow check or anything that would really amount to much in terms of forming the basis of a prosecution.

(not BiB though so all of the above might be wrong)
VASCAR can be used to measure the speed of a following vehicle.

Cat
True, but in the scenario where Mr X "flies up towards them", is that realistically something that will happen?

LosingGrip

8,848 posts

188 months

Friday 25th June 2021
quotequote all
chml said:
No, you can't. Speeding offences are only for when a copper is behind you...
Wrong. VASCAR can be used in front or behind.


vonhosen

40,597 posts

246 months

Friday 25th June 2021
quotequote all
Jaroon said:
Can Mr X be stopped for speeding after catching unmarked
Yes.

Cat

3,134 posts

298 months

Friday 25th June 2021
quotequote all
Durzel said:
True, but in the scenario where Mr X "flies up towards them", is that realistically something that will happen?
It would depend on how much attention they were paying, road layout, the availability of suitable on and off points for the check etc. - it's absolutely possible and happens pretty frequently.

Cat

Centurion07

10,395 posts

276 months

Friday 25th June 2021
quotequote all
chml said:
Speeding offences are only for when a copper is behind you...
Don't forget if they don't have their hat on then they have no powers either.


rolleyes

Jaroon

Original Poster:

1,441 posts

189 months

Friday 25th June 2021
quotequote all
Interesting, I'll look into VASCAR for my own knowledge but the scenarios and closing speeds involved would be meer seconds to activate a system if it wasn't permanently running. As other vehicles Mr X operates, if thete is no lateral movement, i.e a collision course you can't tell how quickly a vehicle be it a car or aircraft is appoaching you, it's only the lateral movement. So if Mr X is an airline pilot he knows if an aircraft a/c ahead is above the horizon it's going over him, below it's going under and any lateral movement it will not result in a collision so the only time you need to react, pretty quickly, is at your level and no lateral movement, in which case turn right, incase you find yourself in that situation. Thanks gents, I'll tell Mr X to adjust his risk/reward accordingly.

the tribester

2,927 posts

115 months

Friday 25th June 2021
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Pardon?

sevensfun

730 posts

65 months

Friday 25th June 2021
quotequote all
Jaroon said:
Interesting, I'll look into VASCAR for my own knowledge but the scenarios and closing speeds involved would be meer seconds to activate a system if it wasn't permanently running. As other vehicles Mr X operates, if thete is no lateral movement, i.e a collision course you can't tell how quickly a vehicle be it a car or aircraft is appoaching you, it's only the lateral movement. So if Mr X is an airline pilot he knows if an aircraft a/c ahead is above the horizon it's going over him, below it's going under and any lateral movement it will not result in a collision so the only time you need to react, pretty quickly, is at your level and no lateral movement, in which case turn right, incase you find yourself in that situation. Thanks gents, I'll tell Mr X to adjust his risk/reward accordingly.
Wtf?

NMNeil

5,860 posts

79 months

Friday 25th June 2021
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To answer the question, probably not, but why bother?, I'd let him pass, run the plate and log it into the system with a few notes.
There's always next time. biggrin

RSTurboPaul

13,084 posts

287 months

Friday 25th June 2021
quotequote all
A friend may have noticed an unmarked brown Octavia on a motorway at around midnight - by spotting the frame holding up the (unlit) blue lights in the back window just as they may have been coming alongside with a +30mph speed differential.

They may have braked hard and attempted to ease into lane two totally unsuspiciously... but the Octavia may have been already alongside having changed down and floored it.

They may have continued within the 10%+2mph range until the Octavia was no longer visible in the rear view mirror, before turning off, being thankful, and proceeding on the new route at the original intended rate of progress.

rigga

8,805 posts

230 months

Saturday 26th June 2021
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Always thought police could form an opinion of speed, based on their experience, therefore no actual speed recording equipment is needed, so in this case, say they are sitting at an indicated speed, car zooms up behind, they can then rightly assume, its going at a fair rate faster than they are.

anonymous-user

83 months

Saturday 26th June 2021
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sevensfun said:
Wtf?
His mate is an airline pilot so used to high speeds??

SS2.

14,709 posts

267 months

Saturday 26th June 2021
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rigga said:
Always thought police could form an opinion of speed, based on their experience, therefore no actual speed recording equipment is needed, so in this case, say they are sitting at an indicated speed, car zooms up behind, they can then rightly assume, its going at a fair rate faster than they are.
And on a motorway, it only needs one officer.

Electro1980

9,139 posts

168 months

Saturday 26th June 2021
quotequote all
Centurion07 said:
chml said:
Speeding offences are only for when a copper is behind you...
Don't forget if they don't have their hat on then they have no powers either.


rolleyes
So all you need to do is tell them you are pregnant and needed a wee, they have to hand over their hat... boom, no powers! The perfect crime!

ian332isport

227 posts

260 months

Saturday 26th June 2021
quotequote all
LosingGrip said:
Wrong. VASCAR can be used in front or behind.
Would an unmarked car have VASCAR fitted, or is it only in traffic cars?

Cat

3,134 posts

298 months

Saturday 26th June 2021
quotequote all
ian332isport said:
LosingGrip said:
Wrong. VASCAR can be used in front or behind.
Would an unmarked car have VASCAR fitted, or is it only in traffic cars?
Only likely to fitted in a traffic car, but no reason why a traffic car couldn't be unmarked.

Cat