British Transport Police jurisdiction

[slippydiff]

On the M54 tonight, I noticed what I thought was a police car join at J2 N/Bound (amidst five other cars, all in front of me) the lead car was ahead of the "police" car for 2-3 minutes before "Plod" overtook, pulled in front and started to illuminate signs in the rear screen. These were flashed two or three times (I was too far away to read them) before he accelerated away and then slowed down.
This left the outside lane empty and the inside lane moving at exactly 70mph.
I gently accelerated up to 74-5 mph and set the cruise to "waft slowly by"
As I get close I see it's got Plod on the back but it doesn't have the correct stripes
He then pulls out to overtake a truck and subsequently pulls back into the inside lane whilst slowing to 70mph. I slowly cruise past and can then clearly see its not a traffic car but a British Transport Police vehicle, I pull back into the inside lane.
Over the next couple of miles I ease the cruising speed up to 78-80mph, he follows, and then repeats his earlier "trick" by overtaking and illuminating his POLICE and SLOW signs three times and slows me to 70mph.
I get off the M/way at J3 (two minutes further up) without passing him or any further incidents.
Is it within a British Transport Police officers jurisdiction to enforce traffic laws.
Put another way, was this a decent copper saying don't take the p*ss or some jumped up tw*t trying to put the "frighteners" on ?

[monkeyhanger]

I believe (waits for corrections ) that their powers only extend beyond railway property when investigating offences / incidents that occurred on railway property, or in an emergency situation where waiting for a "Normal" plod would not be practical....

That said, they have radios & mobiles so they could call in the cavalry if you went past at 140

[purpleheadedcerb]

Just ignore them. Or wave your travelcard at them in a 'what's your problem?' kind of a way.

[slippydiff]

When I said "without further incidents" that wasn't strictly true....................... As I peeled off up the slip road I may have referred to him as a "fornicating womens reproductive genitalia"

Edited by slippydiff on Friday 13th April 23:24

[Dwight VanDriver]

Section 31 Railway and Transport Safety Act 2003

Jurisdiction of BTP:

(1) A constable of the Police Force shall have all the powers and privileges of a constable-

(a) on track,
(b) on network,
(c) in a station,
(d) in a light maintenance depot,
(e) on other land used for purposes of or in relation to a railway,
(f) on other land in which a person who provides railway services has a freehold or leasehold interest, and
(g) throughout Great Britain for a purpose connected to a railway or to anything occurring on or in relation to a railway.

So no action if speeding?. Bear in mind that under RTRA 84 evidence of TWO witnesses /or one and speedo is required who have formed an opinion excessive speed involved so if two in the car they could do you for speeding. Note above the section does not catergorically say POLICE WITNESSES. So action could be taken but by paper trail as it appears they have no power away from Station to stop you. Also as citizens they can witness offences and submit statement of evidence to all whistles, bells and flute bobby.

dvd

[Mr Whippy]

Dwight VanDriver said:

Bear in mind that under RTRA 84 evidence of TWO witnesses /or one and speedo is required who have formed an opinion excessive speed involved so if two in the car they could do you for speeding.

I like that, suddenly going 70mph is totally safe to the point it is encouraged by the BTP pace-setting the following traffic, but 75mph would be a bit too excessive and they'd be able to do you for it

Dave

[nonegreen]

slippydiff said:

On the M54 tonight, I noticed what I thought was a police car join at J2 N/Bound (amidst five other cars, all in front of me) the lead car was ahead of the "police" car for 2-3 minutes before "Plod" overtook, pulled in front and started to illuminate signs in the rear screen. These were flashed two or three times (I was too far away to read them) before he accelerated away and then slowed down. This left the outside lane empty and the inside lane moving at exactly 70mph. I gently accelerated up to 74-5 mph and set the cruise to "waft slowly by" As I get close I see it's got Plod on the back but it doesn't have the correct stripes He then pulls out to overtake a truck and subsequently pulls back into the inside lane whilst slowing to 70mph. I slowly cruise past and can then clearly see its not a traffic car but a British Transport Police vehicle, I pull back into the inside lane. Over the next couple of miles I ease the cruising speed up to 78-80mph, he follows, and then repeats his earlier "trick" by overtaking and illuminating his POLICE and SLOW signs three times and slows me to 70mph. I get off the M/way at J3 (two minutes further up) without passing him or any further incidents. Is it within a British Transport Police officers jurisdiction to enforce traffic laws. Put another way, was this a decent copper saying don't take the p*ss or some jumped up tw*t trying to put the "frighteners" on ?

The latter I am afraid. British transport police have the smallest penises of any tribe in Britain.

[slippydiff]

The only thing smaller being the size of their brains !

[blueyes]

I got pulled by a pair of BTP inbreds: I'd passed them at 75-80 on a deserted DC.

"I was doing 70 and you passed me so you must have been speeding."
"Possible, but you are BTP"
"But if I'd been "traffic" I'd be writing you a ticket now"
"If you'd been a REAL policeman I wouldn't have ovetaken you would I? Now as I'm driving a car and not a train the only ticket you can give me is a saver return. Goodnight"

tts

[slippydiff]

Blueyes, pure class They really are Ws aren't they ?

[purpleheadedcerb]

I've met a few and they are alright. It's when they start over-stepping the bounds of their powers that they do themselves a dis-service. Probably only a miniroty that give it a go in the hope that people don't realise that they are on an ego trip.