Unmarked Police Cars - Verbal NIP only?

[k50 del]

In a rare moment of empty fast lane on the M6, I flexed my right foot and managed to overtake an unmarked Volvo (he was in front of the car in front of me)
I realised it was unmarked as soon as I got alongside him, backed off the throttle and pulled in after passing him.
My peak speed was probably 91
As I passed him, he pulled out into the fast lane behind me, and sped up a little.
Luckily, the space that I pulled into had no room for him to pull back in in front of me, and as I'd slowed down to <70 by this stage, he was left in the fast lane, pulling away from me, with other cars right up his chuff.
At this point, roadworks started, and the limit went down to 40.
I immediately braked, and pulled into the nearside lane, so that I entered the 40 limit at 40.
Mr Policeman anchored up in the fast lane, thought better of trying to slow down that much, and carried on a little way, at which point an x type came flying up the middle lane (which was empty at this point) and overtook me, undertaking the unmarked Volvo in the process. He realised in was the police, braked heavily and pulled into the slow lane.
As the roadworks are lengthy, the unmarked car ended up miles ahead, and I pulled off at the next junction, and made my way via A roads.

My question is, in order to be done by an unmarked car, do they have to pull you over there and then and give a verbal NIP, or will the first thing I know be a brown envelope?

[XMG5]

The law requires an NIP to be given to the driver either verbally at the time OR written (in the post). Usually the verbal one preceeds the written one, belts and bracers?

So you wouldn't HAVE to have a verbal NIP in the circumstance you've described in order to be prosecuted. The written one would arrive on the doormat over the coming days, IF you are in the frame for any offences they wish to prosecute you for.

Did it look like they were taking enough interest in you to try and pull you over? Or is it a case of the jitters because you knew you were doing something wrong in their presence?

>> Edited by XMG5 on Friday 7th April 11:26

[turbobloke]

Sounds cushty to me, it's be a real downer if this led to anything.

Your powers of observation and subsequent actions will have made them take another view I reckon, they'll likely have had other faster fish to fry.

[john57]

There will be enough people who don't see them ..... or just don't look at all .... than for them to worry about someone who did and took the hint !

[surfymark]

Don't want to spread doom and gloom, but my little brother has just had something similar to this.

He was doing about a ton on a dual carriageway A road when he noticed blue flashing lights behind him. He pulled straight into the inside lane and started to slow down. But the unmarked police car carried on straight past him didn't even slow down. He reckons he was still doing about 90 when the PC went past.

Took them 6 weeks to send him the NIP and he had to go to court because he had not received a verbal NIP. They recorded his speed as 86. The court case was adjourned three times because the police record was a load of rubbish. First he claimed to have pulled my bro over, then he changed it to my bro overtaking him at 86 before finally coming clean. The court threw it out because of changing evidence (my bro is a very lucky person).

However in your situation I would have expected them to have followed and pulled you over at a safe place as there was no reason not to. Presumably my bro's copper was in a hurry on the way to something else.

HTH
Mark

[turbobloke]

surfymark said:

Don't want to spread doom and gloom, but my little brother has just had something similar to this. He was doing about a ton on a dual carriageway A road when he noticed blue flashing lights behind him. He pulled straight into the inside lane and started to slow down. But the unmarked police car carried on straight past him didn't even slow down. He reckons he was still doing about 90 when the PC went past. Took them 6 weeks to send him the NIP and he had to go to court because he had not received a verbal NIP. They recorded his speed as 86. The court case was adjourned three times because the police record was a load of rubbish. First he claimed to have pulled my bro over, then he changed it to my bro overtaking him at 86 before finally coming clean. The court threw it out because of changing evidence (my bro is a very lucky person). However in your situation I would have expected them to have followed and pulled you over at a safe place as there was no reason not to. Presumably my bro's copper was in a hurry on the way to something else.

Shome mishtake shirley. The system worked but (yet another) example of BiB ineptitude and false witness goes wandering off to repeat their stupidity. Why wasn't that disgrace to the police uniform done for perjury or conspiring to pervert the course of justice? Answers on a postcard to the Magistrates and Police Cosy Society c/o Tufty Club Pratnership in Neverneverland.

Bejaaaaaaaaaaaysus.

[TripleS]

turbobloke said:

Sounds cushty to me, it's be a real downer if this led to anything. Your powers of observation and subsequent actions will have made them take another view I reckon, they'll likely have had other faster fish to fry.

Yes, let's hope that is the case. I must say it sounded a bit hectic there for a minute or two. Would you say it was a less than polished performance from Mr Plod? It sounded a bit as if Mr X-Type was also somewhat imprudent.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[Hollywood Wheels]

surfymark said:

He was doing about a ton on a dual carriageway A road when he noticed blue flashing lights behind him. He pulled straight into the inside lane and started to slow down. But the unmarked police car carried on straight past him didn't even slow down. He reckons he was still doing about 90 when the PC went past. Took them 6 weeks to send him the NIP and he had to go to court because he had not received a verbal NIP. They recorded his speed as 86. The court case was adjourned three times because the police record was a load of rubbish. First he claimed to have pulled my bro over, then he changed it to my bro overtaking him at 86 before finally coming clean. The court threw it out because of changing evidence (my bro is a very lucky person).

Find this story VERY hard to believe indeed, sorry. To the original poster - you will be fine mate, they won't have been bothered by your safe actions. Pulling unsafe drivers these days is like shooting fish in a barrel.

[turbobloke]

Hollywood Wheels said:

Pulling unsafe drivers these days is like shooting fish in a barrel

Depressing and then reassuring. More depressing though.

[Hollywood Wheels]

turbobloke said:

Hollywood Wheels said: Pulling unsafe drivers these days is like shooting fish in a barrel Depressing and then reassuring. More depressing though.

Notice i say 'unsafe', and not 'speeding'.....

[turbobloke]

Hollywood Wheels said:

turbobloke said: Hollywood Wheels said: Pulling unsafe drivers these days is like shooting fish in a barrel Depressing and then reassuring. More depressing though. Notice i say 'unsafe', and not 'speeding'.....

Yes, duly noted, and still reassuring, but depressing also that there aren't more of you guys to both educate and enforce. Unsafe road user behaviour is where it should be at. Man.

[k50 del]

Thanks all for the positive feedback, I hoped that the fact that I took the hint would count for something.
They were definately taking large amounts of interest in me, and I'm certain they were going to pull me in (not just a guilty conscience, their road manners indicated that this was a likely course of action.)

I currently consider myself very lucky, and (weirdly) it's modified the way I drive on motorways as well, all this will change if I get that fabled envelope through the door though.

I'll let you know !!

[justinp1]

k50 del said:

Thanks all for the positive feedback, I hoped that the fact that I took the hint would count for something. They were definately taking large amounts of interest in me, and I'm certain they were going to pull me in (not just a guilty conscience, their road manners indicated that this was a likely course of action.) I currently consider myself very lucky, and (weirdly) it's modified the way I drive on motorways as well, all this will change if I get that fabled envelope through the door though. I'll let you know !!

They might have been checking your vehicle over, owner and insurance details. After all that would have been more 'worth it'.

I remember a few years back I overtook a police range rover on the motorway. There was the obligatory bunching behind him with no-one daring to exceed 69mph. I *crawled* past him at 71 on my speedo and a few seconds later got the flashing lights!!!

I couldnt believe it, but had a rye smile when the officer asked if the vehicle was taxed. He noticed that it wasnt on my windscreen. It had slipped down between the windscreen and dashboard! He made me spend a good five minutes fishing it out though from where it was stuck before letting me on my way with a warning about 'failure to display' my disk.

Was impressed by his observation though!