Good Policing or Pointless Tug?
Discussion
Whilst on my way to starting my working day, I ended up behind a slow moving car on a road which stretches for several miles. At first I thought he might be looking for an address, but after a mini roundabout, the road was lined with just trees and bushes, yet his slow 20-25 mph continued. He must be on his phone, I thought to myself. I remained patient, bided my position and waited until the road straightened out so I could overtake him. There were no other vehicles in either direction. I'd estimate my overtake speed to be about 28 when I passed him. He, meanwhile, continued his plodder speed (which was still about 20).
There was about a mile of this road remaining before a T-junction. The car was still some way behind me, ie, didn't stop or turn off anywhere. After waiting at the traffic lights (he obviously caught up) I turned left and continued. About 200 yards after the turn, I heard a siren. It was that car: blue lights on and headlamps flashing. I slowed down to about 10mph but there was nowhere safe to stop, so I kept as left as I could (to show I was pulling over) and waited until I could turn into a residential street off the main road which was about 200/300 yards later.
A lone, uniformed police officer jumped out and approached me. "What was all that about?" he asked. "Are you in a hurry?" I told him I overtook him safely, I was not in a hurry and that I was within the speed limit. He wanted to know my reason for overtaking. I tried not to be cocky, or sarcastic and asked him what the issue was. He then started walking around my van. A few more questions ensued about whose van it was and if I had a licence etc. After I answered, he asked to see my licence. I handed it to him and he walked away 'to run a few checks'. He returned to ask me what the make and model of the van was. I confirmed, at which point he handed my licence back to me and wished me a good day.
He could have radioed the VRN in whilst behind me. It would have come back clear. So why stop me? It wasn't like I was giving the van a gob-full and driving over-enthusiastically; I overtook safely - legally - and well clear of him as he plodded along. There was no driving advice and he didn't issue any kind of warnings.
I know it was a non event and nothing to think about, but at first I wanted to give him credit for good policing, but then, what for? There was no chase; there were no herbal aromas coming from inside the van, and the van itself is legal and in tip top condition. As far as I am aware, I don't look like I fit a stereotype profile of any sort. He didn't want to know what was in the back. So why tug me?
There was about a mile of this road remaining before a T-junction. The car was still some way behind me, ie, didn't stop or turn off anywhere. After waiting at the traffic lights (he obviously caught up) I turned left and continued. About 200 yards after the turn, I heard a siren. It was that car: blue lights on and headlamps flashing. I slowed down to about 10mph but there was nowhere safe to stop, so I kept as left as I could (to show I was pulling over) and waited until I could turn into a residential street off the main road which was about 200/300 yards later.
A lone, uniformed police officer jumped out and approached me. "What was all that about?" he asked. "Are you in a hurry?" I told him I overtook him safely, I was not in a hurry and that I was within the speed limit. He wanted to know my reason for overtaking. I tried not to be cocky, or sarcastic and asked him what the issue was. He then started walking around my van. A few more questions ensued about whose van it was and if I had a licence etc. After I answered, he asked to see my licence. I handed it to him and he walked away 'to run a few checks'. He returned to ask me what the make and model of the van was. I confirmed, at which point he handed my licence back to me and wished me a good day.
He could have radioed the VRN in whilst behind me. It would have come back clear. So why stop me? It wasn't like I was giving the van a gob-full and driving over-enthusiastically; I overtook safely - legally - and well clear of him as he plodded along. There was no driving advice and he didn't issue any kind of warnings.
I know it was a non event and nothing to think about, but at first I wanted to give him credit for good policing, but then, what for? There was no chase; there were no herbal aromas coming from inside the van, and the van itself is legal and in tip top condition. As far as I am aware, I don't look like I fit a stereotype profile of any sort. He didn't want to know what was in the back. So why tug me?
Glassman said:
Whilst on my way to starting my working day, I ended up behind a slow moving car on a road which stretches for several miles. At first I thought he might be looking for an address, but after a mini roundabout, the road was lined with just trees and bushes, yet his slow 20-25 mph continued. He must be on his phone, I thought to myself. I remained patient, bided my position and waited until the road straightened out so I could overtake him. There were no other vehicles in either direction. I'd estimate my overtake speed to be about 28 when I passed him. He, meanwhile, continued his plodder speed (which was still about 20).
There was about a mile of this road remaining before a T-junction. The car was still some way behind me, ie, didn't stop or turn off anywhere. After waiting at the traffic lights (he obviously caught up) I turned left and continued. About 200 yards after the turn, I heard a siren. It was that car: blue lights on and headlamps flashing. I slowed down to about 10mph but there was nowhere safe to stop, so I kept as left as I could (to show I was pulling over) and waited until I could turn into a residential street off the main road which was about 200/300 yards later.
A lone, uniformed police officer jumped out and approached me. "What was all that about?" he asked. "Are you in a hurry?" I told him I overtook him safely, I was not in a hurry and that I was within the speed limit. He wanted to know my reason for overtaking. I tried not to be cocky, or sarcastic and asked him what the issue was. He then started walking around my van. A few more questions ensued about whose van it was and if I had a licence etc. After I answered, he asked to see my licence. I handed it to him and he walked away 'to run a few checks'. He returned to ask me what the make and model of the van was. I confirmed, at which point he handed my licence back to me and wished me a good day.
He could have radioed the VRN in whilst behind me. It would have come back clear. So why stop me? It wasn't like I was giving the van a gob-full and driving over-enthusiastically; I overtook safely - legally - and well clear of him as he plodded along. There was no driving advice and he didn't issue any kind of warnings.
I know it was a non event and nothing to think about, but at first I wanted to give him credit for good policing, but then, what for? There was no chase; there were no herbal aromas coming from inside the van, and the van itself is legal and in tip top condition. As far as I am aware, I don't look like I fit a stereotype profile of any sort. He didn't want to know what was in the back. So why tug me?
Was it an actual policeman or a walt in a blue uniform There was about a mile of this road remaining before a T-junction. The car was still some way behind me, ie, didn't stop or turn off anywhere. After waiting at the traffic lights (he obviously caught up) I turned left and continued. About 200 yards after the turn, I heard a siren. It was that car: blue lights on and headlamps flashing. I slowed down to about 10mph but there was nowhere safe to stop, so I kept as left as I could (to show I was pulling over) and waited until I could turn into a residential street off the main road which was about 200/300 yards later.
A lone, uniformed police officer jumped out and approached me. "What was all that about?" he asked. "Are you in a hurry?" I told him I overtook him safely, I was not in a hurry and that I was within the speed limit. He wanted to know my reason for overtaking. I tried not to be cocky, or sarcastic and asked him what the issue was. He then started walking around my van. A few more questions ensued about whose van it was and if I had a licence etc. After I answered, he asked to see my licence. I handed it to him and he walked away 'to run a few checks'. He returned to ask me what the make and model of the van was. I confirmed, at which point he handed my licence back to me and wished me a good day.
He could have radioed the VRN in whilst behind me. It would have come back clear. So why stop me? It wasn't like I was giving the van a gob-full and driving over-enthusiastically; I overtook safely - legally - and well clear of him as he plodded along. There was no driving advice and he didn't issue any kind of warnings.
I know it was a non event and nothing to think about, but at first I wanted to give him credit for good policing, but then, what for? There was no chase; there were no herbal aromas coming from inside the van, and the van itself is legal and in tip top condition. As far as I am aware, I don't look like I fit a stereotype profile of any sort. He didn't want to know what was in the back. So why tug me?
By the sound of, it’s something and nothing…
Response could have been out, eyes open and looking for something. A missing Van. You’ve struck a cord by your overtake - are you making off for example?
It’ll be a concern - and whilst your OT was perfectly safe and reasonable - it’ll create a bit of tension and intrigue.
Checking the VRM, for example, is not as easy as you think. If Comms are running a massive fall out somewhere else then you’ll have to wait your turn. The PC who sadly stopped you is not priority. The Airwave sometimes is crammed on a local channel.
It’s all sorted and you were on your way…
Response could have been out, eyes open and looking for something. A missing Van. You’ve struck a cord by your overtake - are you making off for example?
It’ll be a concern - and whilst your OT was perfectly safe and reasonable - it’ll create a bit of tension and intrigue.
Checking the VRM, for example, is not as easy as you think. If Comms are running a massive fall out somewhere else then you’ll have to wait your turn. The PC who sadly stopped you is not priority. The Airwave sometimes is crammed on a local channel.
It’s all sorted and you were on your way…
It’s happened to me, thin skinned copper. In my case he claimed he was tailing someone else (excuse for his weird driving) and I’d messed this up driving dangerously.
In my case while he went back to his car to ‘speak to his inspector’ I called an inspector mate in a neighbouring force who told me nothing would come of it, that he was probably trying to get a rise out of me and wouldn’t follow it up when he realised I didn’t live in his forces region, as long as I didn’t kick off on the spot.
And sure enough, I heard nothing more, not quite a Roscoe P. Coltrane issue of escaping the County, but there was no way he was going out of his jurisdiction for point scoring.
This was around 1999 though, no one with dash cams or camera phones.
In my case while he went back to his car to ‘speak to his inspector’ I called an inspector mate in a neighbouring force who told me nothing would come of it, that he was probably trying to get a rise out of me and wouldn’t follow it up when he realised I didn’t live in his forces region, as long as I didn’t kick off on the spot.
And sure enough, I heard nothing more, not quite a Roscoe P. Coltrane issue of escaping the County, but there was no way he was going out of his jurisdiction for point scoring.
This was around 1999 though, no one with dash cams or camera phones.
Glassman said:
He could have radioed the VRN in whilst behind me. It would have come back clear. So why stop me?
They can stop any car to do checks. Whilst he could have checked the VRN before pulling you, that doesn't tell him who the driver is, he has to stop you to find that out. So whilst the vehicle could have come back clear, you could have been an uninsured driver with no licence for all he knew.RSTurboPaul said:
Was it an actual policeman or a walt in a blue uniform
Is there a difference these days with some of them? To OP that's not good policing is it, it's a waste of police time, what does he expect people do to if he's going to drive around at 60% of the posted limit.
Why did you overtake me? To get past you...
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