BiB - Repeated stopping of a "drink drive" vehicle

[eltax91]

Hi guys,

Just a quick question on behalf of my brother:

He recently bought a car from a guy who has been banned (several times) for drink driving.
Problem is, everytime he goes out and goes anywhere near a cop car, he gets followed and pulled. They check right through the car, breath test him and let him on his way. Whilst this is an inconvenience at worst, it is starting to annoy him a bit. He's been pulled up 5 times in the 10 days he has had the car! It's a cheap car so he will probably pass it on if it keeps happening.

The last one to pull him up (last night) was apparently quite rude when asked why he had stopped him! And quote:
"I can stop you if i want to and don't have to give you a reason, sir". now this was in the evening in a town centre that is very popular with students on a Thursday night, so the cop was probably very tired and stressed!!

Anyway, i guess i have two questions:

How long is he likely to keep getting collered before the BiB realise he's not the drink-driving owner?
Can the officer pull him up and refuse to tell him why?

[chris_tivver]

I would suggest going to the local station with proof of change of ownership and very politely explaining what has happened and emphasising that you fully support the BiB getting drunk drivers off the roads and hoped that by showing new ownership you could save them some time so they could catch real scrotes

[gafferjim]

chris_tivver said:

I would suggest going to the local station with proof of change of ownership and very politely explaining what has happened and emphasising that you fully support the BiB getting drunk drivers off the roads and hoped that by showing new ownership you could save them some time so they could catch real scrotes

Yes, this is most certainly to best way to do it, ask them to put it on their "local PC database" I believe that each force have their own databse that hold more detailed information about local items of interest, wereas the national one has the main facts.
the main thing is, has he sent in the change of ownership slip from the "log book" if not, then it's his own fault. If on the other-hand he has, then he could write to the DVLA explaining the hassle that he's getting, and if possible, can they hurry up his detail change over on the vehicle, (it will possibly be in a pile of such awaiting processing, and will only get done in it's turn, but you could still ask)

[nobleguy]

My wife got stopped with the kids on the M25 by four trafic cars (good use of resources I reckon) for doing nothing. She mentioned that they were quite frosty when they came up to her and then melted back into nicey nicey when they realised it was her driving and not me. I was suffering a 6-week ban for speeding and they must've checked the vehicle and found the registered keeper (me) was currently banned.

I think their computer systems (or their operators) are not quite as good as they could be - I reckon when the change of ownership finally filters through to them all then stops will cease.

[spokey]

nobleguy said:

My wife got stopped with the kids on the M25 by four trafic cars (good use of resources I reckon) for doing nothing. She mentioned that they were quite frosty when they came up to her and then melted back into nicey nicey when they realised it was her driving and not me. I was suffering a 6-week ban for speeding and they must've checked the vehicle and found the registered keeper (me) was currently banned.

I think their computer systems (or their operators) are not quite as good as they could be - I reckon when the change of ownership finally filters through to them all then stops will cease.

This is exactly the kind of thing that hacks me off about the increasing police reliance on technology. It seems like the cops described above just don't think past the end of their noses when the computer tells them something.

[wassy]

spokey said:

nobleguy said:

My wife got stopped with the kids on the M25 by four trafic cars (good use of resources I reckon) for doing nothing. She mentioned that they were quite frosty when they came up to her and then melted back into nicey nicey when they realised it was her driving and not me. I was suffering a 6-week ban for speeding and they must've checked the vehicle and found the registered keeper (me) was currently banned.

I think their computer systems (or their operators) are not quite as good as they could be - I reckon when the change of ownership finally filters through to them all then stops will cease.

This is exactly the kind of thing that hacks me off about the increasing police reliance on technology. It seems like the cops described above just don't think past the end of their noses when the computer tells them something.

What do you expect the police to do, just ignore the information.
As soon as they realised the driver wasn't disqualified she went on her way no harm done.

[nobleguy]

wassy said:

spokey said:

nobleguy said:

My wife got stopped with the kids on the M25 by four trafic cars (good use of resources I reckon) for doing nothing. She mentioned that they were quite frosty when they came up to her and then melted back into nicey nicey when they realised it was her driving and not me. I was suffering a 6-week ban for speeding and they must've checked the vehicle and found the registered keeper (me) was currently banned.

I think their computer systems (or their operators) are not quite as good as they could be - I reckon when the change of ownership finally filters through to them all then stops will cease.

This is exactly the kind of thing that hacks me off about the increasing police reliance on technology. It seems like the cops described above just don't think past the end of their noses when the computer tells them something.

What do you expect the police to do, just ignore the information.
As soon as they realised the driver wasn't disqualified she went on her way no harm done.

I think it would be pretty easy to ensure updates are filtered through quickly. I think it worries a lot of people when ideas like the gene pool database are being bandied around when they clearly can't administer their existing systems properly. They are also only as good as the operators, who in my own experience with certain govt agencies are often pretty poor.

[herewego]

nobleguy said:

wassy said:

spokey said:

nobleguy said:

My wife got stopped with the kids on the M25 by four trafic cars (good use of resources I reckon) for doing nothing. She mentioned that they were quite frosty when they came up to her and then melted back into nicey nicey when they realised it was her driving and not me. I was suffering a 6-week ban for speeding and they must've checked the vehicle and found the registered keeper (me) was currently banned.

I think their computer systems (or their operators) are not quite as good as they could be - I reckon when the change of ownership finally filters through to them all then stops will cease.

This is exactly the kind of thing that hacks me off about the increasing police reliance on technology. It seems like the cops described above just don't think past the end of their noses when the computer tells them something.

What do you expect the police to do, just ignore the information.
As soon as they realised the driver wasn't disqualified she went on her way no harm done.

I think it would be pretty easy to ensure updates are filtered through quickly. I think it worries a lot of people when ideas like the gene pool database are being bandied around when they clearly can't administer their existing systems properly. They are also only as good as the operators, who in my own experience with certain govt agencies are often pretty poor.

Since they spotted the car and noted that it was registered to a banned driver and stopped it and let her go with a cheery wave when they discovered she wasn't the RK, I think they did very well.

[wassy]

Yes, you are right. The problem is these systems have been presented and sold to people who are often ( senior ) police officers and have no in depth knowledge of how they work.
The amount of money wasted over the years on technology that is totally unsuitable is shocking.
The current Airways radio system for example has proved very troublesome.

[freedman]

gafferjim said:

[quote=chris_tivver]the main thing is, has he sent in the change of ownership slip from the "log book" if not, then it's his own fault.

As a new buyer there is nothing to send to the DVLA, you get aslip for your records, the V5 is returned by the p[revious owner not the purchaser.

So its hardly his fault if this is the case

[chrisgr31]

herewego said:

Since they spotted the car and noted that it was registered to a banned driver and stopped it and let her go with a cheery wave when they discovered she wasn't the RK, I think they did very well.

Personally I disagree. If they had spotted the car and seen it was registered to a banned driver so what? Lots of cars have more than one driver insured to drive them. Not only that but the driver was a woman, and the banned person a man, is it beyond the intelligence of our police these days to overtake and check the sex of the driver before stopping them?

[GKP]

They could always have used the high tec device called glass. I think cars have a lot of it and it enables people to see through solid objects and view whatever or whoever is inside.

Compooters? Pahh!

[cptsideways]

Write to DVLA telling them change of ownership, don't rely on the previous owner to do it for you. Or get the plates changed!!

[Dwight VanDriver]

Could it be that the driver looks at odds with the vehicle he is driving?

Otherwise as Chris says, down to Plodshop and get records sorted.

dvd

[streaky]

chrisgr31 said:

herewego said:

Since they spotted the car and noted that it was registered to a banned driver and stopped it and let her go with a cheery wave when they discovered she wasn't the RK, I think they did very well.

Personally I disagree. If they had spotted the car and seen it was registered to a banned driver so what? Lots of cars have more than one driver insured to drive them. Not only that but the driver was a woman, and the banned person a man, is it beyond the intelligence of our police these days to overtake and check the sex of the driver before stopping them?

Difficult to check the sex without having the driver strip. Perhaps she should have hung her b00bs out of the window. My comment on this concerns the four vehicles used. Of course, they might have been tavelling together at the time, but somehow I think that one vehicle radioed in and had the others join on him - Streaky

[Scrooloose]

I've been the subject of a pull for mistaken identity - not pleasant.

The guy I was mistaken for had kicked the crap out of a copper a few weeks before and gotten away with it......

Needless to say, the atmosphere was distinctly frosty until the victim turned up and negatively identified me.

[eltax91]

Cheers guys,

I had suggested he write a letter to DVLA incase the other driver didn't, so he will do that. I'll suggest he gets off down the local cop shop too and see if that helps.

Anyone any thoughts on the BiB pulling him up and "not needing" a reason to do so??

Good idea about changing the plates! I do still have a private one on retention.....

[vonhosen]

eltax91 said:

Cheers guys,

I had suggested he write a letter to DVLA incase the other driver didn't, so he will do that. I'll suggest he gets off down the local cop shop too and see if that helps.

Anyone any thoughts on the BiB pulling him up and "not needing" a reason to do so??

Good idea about changing the plates! I do still have a private one on retention.....

That don't need to have a reason to, they can stop any vehicle at anytime & require you to produce your licence etc.

[spokey]

wassy said:

spokey said:

nobleguy said:

My wife got stopped with the kids on the M25 by four trafic cars (good use of resources I reckon) for doing nothing. She mentioned that they were quite frosty when they came up to her and then melted back into nicey nicey when they realised it was her driving and not me. I was suffering a 6-week ban for speeding and they must've checked the vehicle and found the registered keeper (me) was currently banned.

I think their computer systems (or their operators) are not quite as good as they could be - I reckon when the change of ownership finally filters through to them all then stops will cease.

This is exactly the kind of thing that hacks me off about the increasing police reliance on technology. It seems like the cops described above just don't think past the end of their noses when the computer tells them something.

What do you expect the police to do, just ignore the information.
As soon as they realised the driver wasn't disqualified she went on her way no harm done.

And what about the original poster?

[wassy]

eltax91 said:

Hi guys,

Just a quick question on behalf of my brother:

He recently bought a car from a guy who has been banned (several times) for drink driving.
Problem is, everytime he goes out and goes anywhere near a cop car, he gets followed and pulled. They check right through the car, breath test him and let him on his way. Whilst this is an inconvenience at worst, it is starting to annoy him a bit. He's been pulled up 5 times in the 10 days he has had the car! It's a cheap car so he will probably pass it on if it keeps happening.

The last one to pull him up (last night) was apparently quite rude when asked why he had stopped him! And quote:
"I can stop you if i want to and don't have to give you a reason, sir". now this was in the evening in a town centre that is very popular with students on a Thursday night, so the cop was probably very tired and stressed!!

Anyway, i guess i have two questions:

How long is he likely to keep getting collered before the BiB realise he's not the drink-driving owner?
Can the officer pull him up and refuse to tell him why?

Go to the local nick and ask to see the Inspector.If he feels strongly about the amount of times he has been stopped he can make a complaint.
He can also ask if it can be mentioned at briefing time that the vehicle has changed hands.