Police and legal authority
Discussion
My question is what powers do the police have to stop members of the public using a private access road.
Got stopped by police and told I am not allowed to use an access road that is private. It has barrier that has been broken for years and the sign says acess for any staff working at the services, police, fire ambulance and contractors. Now I wasn't using it for a legitimate highways agency purpose so I was truthful I was using it access a near by property.
Police man. Said you can't use it as the emergency vehicles travel at speed and it's dangerous. He then made go all the full back and out onto the motorway which is a bit of a joke.
When I checked with a local traffics Sargent he said you comitt no offence so what authority do the police have to do this.
Got stopped by police and told I am not allowed to use an access road that is private. It has barrier that has been broken for years and the sign says acess for any staff working at the services, police, fire ambulance and contractors. Now I wasn't using it for a legitimate highways agency purpose so I was truthful I was using it access a near by property.
Police man. Said you can't use it as the emergency vehicles travel at speed and it's dangerous. He then made go all the full back and out onto the motorway which is a bit of a joke.
When I checked with a local traffics Sargent he said you comitt no offence so what authority do the police have to do this.
omegac said:
Scratchwood Services by any chance?
Taunton Deane in Somerset It's listed since I commit no offence and other members of the public are allowed access I can see no reason the police can stop you and make go back up it. After they state it's dangerous!
Edited by jbsportstech on Monday 14th July 20:15
I had to go to asses a damaged car belonging to a police officer working from the local traffic base /workshop , it's usually accessed off a major A road dual carriageway via a slip road that has signs saying access for authorised vehicles only, the cop said to not to worry as its not enforceable.
It's used all the time by the locals as a short cut .
It's used all the time by the locals as a short cut .
ruff'n'smov said:
Always use them at my local m/way services cuts 10 minutes off my journey. I find it's always advisable to let plod have access before you.
I have passed them many times this office had parked an unmarked bike over the end and seemed to just be stopping people and interrogating and if he chose send then back. He just turned a car away as I arrived and he signalled me to stop. To be honest they are under staffed so not sure why they think this is a good use of resources. My legal understanding is they have no authority I was not asked to produce any id although I showed him my ha I'd card. Phoned and spoke to a rpu sgt who could give me no legal power or reason to be doing such a thing.
I have twice passed parked plod there and they have not stopped me or taken issue.
Edited by jbsportstech on Monday 14th July 20:46
Edited by jbsportstech on Monday 14th July 20:49
Edited by jbsportstech on Monday 14th July 20:52
Sheepshanks said:
Let's face it if plod decide to have a word with you about it they're never in a million years going to back down.
They have to legal reason to why do they decide who gets to use the operators road they are just an authorised user.The owner and operator are the ones who should be using a barrier system. His argument was I passed a no entry sign. However he said the high speeds that the police drive down there made it dangerous for me to use it but not the costa coffee girl. He then sent me back just to be awkward.
If I had driven off onto public highway what would he had done?
Edited by jbsportstech on Monday 14th July 21:03
Strange for police to say that. Corley access was closed due to pressure from motel chain .But on one occasion,I followed an HGV which had EU plates on the trailer and UK plates on the power unit up to Corley ,came off and passed on my worries to the unit at Corley.( It was weaving that badly ,that I'd have been risking my safety getting past it to come off at JCN 3). Trafpol had no problems with getting off on to back roads.
[quote=Who me ?]Strange for police to say that. Corley access was closed due to pressure from motel chain .But on one occasion,I followed an HGV which had EU plates on the trailer and UK plates on the power unit up to Corley ,came off and passed on my worries to the unit at Corley.( It was weaving that badly ,that I'd have been risking my safety getting past it to come off at JCN 3). Trafpol had no problems with getting off on to back roads.
[/quote]
Like,I said been using it for over a decade my dad used to drive me down it as a kid. First time plod had ever an issue. The operator has given up with there barrier years ago. Used to no the code as it was the same for years. Normally rock up in highways agency jacket and they open it on the north bound but I was south bound. I think the copper has over stepped the mark I might complain.
[/quote]
Like,I said been using it for over a decade my dad used to drive me down it as a kid. First time plod had ever an issue. The operator has given up with there barrier years ago. Used to no the code as it was the same for years. Normally rock up in highways agency jacket and they open it on the north bound but I was south bound. I think the copper has over stepped the mark I might complain.
Maybe the new police code of conduct will have a section in about clearly explaining the powers being used, or even that the officer should know them?
However, I'm sure you were just unluckily enough to get stopped by the only copper who does overstep their authority, as of course this is never done by the majority of police officers.
\sarcasm
However, I'm sure you were just unluckily enough to get stopped by the only copper who does overstep their authority, as of course this is never done by the majority of police officers.
\sarcasm
Ian Geary said:
Maybe the new police code of conduct will have a section in about clearly explaining the powers being used, or even that the officer should know them?
However, I'm sure you were just unluckily enough to get stopped by the only copper who does overstep their authority, as of course this is never done by the majority of police officers.
\sarcasm
I complied i considered driving on but didn't want to make a situation still I was less 2 miles away from my destination ended up going another 11 miles and going through town at rush hour.However, I'm sure you were just unluckily enough to get stopped by the only copper who does overstep their authority, as of course this is never done by the majority of police officers.
\sarcasm
Makes me cross you call rpu to look at a shed of a car and two weeks later they can't do it but they have time to spend pissing about with locals using a cut through.
The excuse is it's no entry and I said do you want to test me knowledge on traffic signal regs baring in mind I am ha. He then says well it's dangerous due to high speed emergency service vehicles using it and then sends me back up it. It's a joke!
Who me said:
What might be worth looking at is if these are private roads
They are with a permitted means of access for certain people.Who me said:
what powers police have on them .
None except their regular powers.jbsportstech said:
Makes me cross you call rpu to look at a shed of a car and two weeks later they can't do it but they have time to spend pissing about with locals using a cut through.
The excuse is it's no entry and I said do you want to test me knowledge on traffic signal regs baring in mind I am ha.
Then you should know although the "NO Entry" signs are not worth a light and the junctions are not designed to carry large volumes of traffic and don't meet the DMRB standards to be motorway access locations in any shape or form.The excuse is it's no entry and I said do you want to test me knowledge on traffic signal regs baring in mind I am ha.
jbsportstech said:
I was not asked to produce any id although I showed him my ha I'd card.
Why do you think that would matter ???He has no authority to stop vehicles using it.
His argument on the no entry feel down so then he tried the dangerous high speed vehicles which also falls down as other members of the public use it. Its not a bus route you commit no offence.
At a time when numbers are low and the police are stretched he sholuld be helping not being a jobsworth and creating ill will with the public. He would not tell me what unit he was assigned to or what officer had asked him to perform this duty, think he was doing it for his own amusement.
The owner operator are suppose to prevent public use due to it doesnt meet DMRB and also you leave a motorway without regulation signage etc.
They need to reinstate the barrier but I have a motorway pass I just didn't have it on me. If I have that he would of had to let me proceed as they are authorised by the secretary of state.
His argument on the no entry feel down so then he tried the dangerous high speed vehicles which also falls down as other members of the public use it. Its not a bus route you commit no offence.
At a time when numbers are low and the police are stretched he sholuld be helping not being a jobsworth and creating ill will with the public. He would not tell me what unit he was assigned to or what officer had asked him to perform this duty, think he was doing it for his own amusement.
The owner operator are suppose to prevent public use due to it doesnt meet DMRB and also you leave a motorway without regulation signage etc.
They need to reinstate the barrier but I have a motorway pass I just didn't have it on me. If I have that he would of had to let me proceed as they are authorised by the secretary of state.
Edited by jbsportstech on Tuesday 15th July 08:39
The issue is if I had failed to comply with his direction to turn around and travel back up the road he has just told me is too dangerous to drive down and that I am driving passed a no entry sign, what grounds would he of had to action?
Photos
Photos
Edited by jbsportstech on Tuesday 15th July 09:04
Forums | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff