Quick Mersey tunnel question

[minimac]

The mersey tunnel is privately policed (something the 1.30 each way helps with >_< ), what I'm wondering is do they have the power to issue speed tickets etc. And can they catch people outside the 'Mersey Tunnel Regulations Start/End Here" signs.

Whilst I'm here, does anyone who passes through there know why there is a panda car with lights flashing and whenever i go past, they turn the lights off. I am going a bit quicker than I should. Has happened twice since the Glasgow comedy show.

Thank you.

[mmm-five]

They are privately paid for by the Tunnel - just like the police outside football grounds or concerts and British Transport Police - but are still proper coppers and can still arrest you.

[minimac]

Ah, so its not like an invisible wall where the tunnel regs end

Any ideas why they are sitting there with lights on? Then turn them off when I go past? Signal to someone?

[mmm-five]

Are you non-white

[minimac]

Nope

[welsh blackbird]

Slightly O/T, but why is the Birkenhead tunnel full of bends? I would have thought that it would be preferable to build it straight and therefore shorter rather than have it winding all over the place. Any ideas?

[Dwight VanDriver]

Tom

Of intrest to you

http://www.merseytunnels.co.uk/nossl/html/byelaws....

I haven't time to go through the various Police Acts to establish that Tunnel Police hold the honorable office of Constable as well so that they can ticket you on the approach.

I would have thought that like Dover Harbour Board there will be a Statutory Instrument declaring the tunnel 'a road' for purposes of RT Acts but again my search are not hitting home....... one of those days..

dvd

[gonzales]

welsh blackbird said:

Slightly O/T, but why is the Birkenhead tunnel full of bends? I would have thought that it would be preferable to build it straight and therefore shorter rather than have it winding all over the place. Any ideas?

It has so many bends because it was built without the use of tunnelling machines, just men with pick axes and dynamite.

In response to the OP, the tunnel police can and will pull people over for dangerous driving in the tunnels.

[minimac]

Many thanks guys . Any ideas on the coppers lights?

Also, a friend mentioned its illegal to have two lanes of traffic going in different directions in an underground tunnel. He aint a lawyer though :P. How does the mersey tunnel get around this as they always have some sort of contraflow in place.

[Vaux]

Dwight VanDriver said:

http://www.merseytunnels.co.uk/nossl/html/byelaws....

Here's a good bit:
"cause his vehicle, whether moving or stationary, to remain a clear
spacing from any vehicle ahead of not less than 23 metres measured
along the centre of the carriageway on which the vehicle is, except
that, if the vehicle is stopped in obedience to a traffic sign, it shall
maintain a clear spacing from any vehicle ahead of not less than 2.75
metres measured as aforesaid,"

So you could be done for tailgating!

Oh - and they've got an LTI 20-20 too.

[Dwight VanDriver]

>>>>>How does the mersey tunnel get around this as they always have some sort of contraflow in place.<<<<<

It's in the Byelaw.....

dvd

[minimac]

Ah, legalspeak. They should try writing it in Arabic, would be easier to get your head around.