Question for Sussex Trafpol (and others)....
Discussion
....A question of questions, or lack thereof.
On Saturday morning, my inbuilt unmarked plod radar - a left-over from my biking days - finally failed after 10 years faultless service, and I got stopped by the unmarked 335i on the A23 n/b at Warninglid. Average of 93mpg (D/C NSL) on a largely clear road early morning. Became aware it was Police, was tailed for a further 1/4 mile, blues on, I react/begin to pull in within 1 second of blues on.
Now I've been driving professionally since I was 18, having driven HGV 1 & 2 with Hazchem, and for the last ten years as a sales rep - so I'm no stranger to dealing with Traffic Police, having dealt with just about every constabulary south of Brum at some point. It's been some years since I've been stopped in my home county though.
As a result, I'm well versed enough in their methods to recognise when it's a fair cop (i.e. when to shut up) and when it's not (i.e. when to play tricky buggers).
Yesterday was a fair cop - tanking along over a mile or so, varying from 70mph (adjusted to traffic conditions) to 100+ (clear stretch). Be cheery, polite, accept the lecture, take the ticket, clear off before he changes his mind.
Here's the thing though, and the question for you traffic lot;
In my experience, the lead question is 'do you know why I've stopped you'. This is usually followed by a whole host of other stuff (occupation, driving experience, why were you speeding, do you know the road) whilst copper gives the car the once over. I always understood this to be the 'attitude test' to determine the severity of book throwing. I've always managed to sail through this, usually a combination of politeness, cheeriness, occupation, and driver training (see below) resulting in a 'this time I'm going to caution you'...
This time I didn't get any of this - simply 'come see our video of you' - the caution for the offence, did I want to contest, very mild lecture about traffic safety, why was I speeding...
No attention was paid to me, dressed in best 'kicking-about-with-a-dyno-all-day' outfit, no questions about occupation, road knowledge, training, purpose of journey... not a thing - simply here's your ticket, goodbye...
Curiously, the PNC was down when they went for the reg check - I expected this to prompt a quick squint at the tax disc at the very least... nope.
Literally with them for 3, maybe 4 minutes...
Has it all gone to the dogs then?
On Saturday morning, my inbuilt unmarked plod radar - a left-over from my biking days - finally failed after 10 years faultless service, and I got stopped by the unmarked 335i on the A23 n/b at Warninglid. Average of 93mpg (D/C NSL) on a largely clear road early morning. Became aware it was Police, was tailed for a further 1/4 mile, blues on, I react/begin to pull in within 1 second of blues on.
Now I've been driving professionally since I was 18, having driven HGV 1 & 2 with Hazchem, and for the last ten years as a sales rep - so I'm no stranger to dealing with Traffic Police, having dealt with just about every constabulary south of Brum at some point. It's been some years since I've been stopped in my home county though.
As a result, I'm well versed enough in their methods to recognise when it's a fair cop (i.e. when to shut up) and when it's not (i.e. when to play tricky buggers).
Yesterday was a fair cop - tanking along over a mile or so, varying from 70mph (adjusted to traffic conditions) to 100+ (clear stretch). Be cheery, polite, accept the lecture, take the ticket, clear off before he changes his mind.
Here's the thing though, and the question for you traffic lot;
In my experience, the lead question is 'do you know why I've stopped you'. This is usually followed by a whole host of other stuff (occupation, driving experience, why were you speeding, do you know the road) whilst copper gives the car the once over. I always understood this to be the 'attitude test' to determine the severity of book throwing. I've always managed to sail through this, usually a combination of politeness, cheeriness, occupation, and driver training (see below) resulting in a 'this time I'm going to caution you'...
This time I didn't get any of this - simply 'come see our video of you' - the caution for the offence, did I want to contest, very mild lecture about traffic safety, why was I speeding...
No attention was paid to me, dressed in best 'kicking-about-with-a-dyno-all-day' outfit, no questions about occupation, road knowledge, training, purpose of journey... not a thing - simply here's your ticket, goodbye...
Curiously, the PNC was down when they went for the reg check - I expected this to prompt a quick squint at the tax disc at the very least... nope.
Literally with them for 3, maybe 4 minutes...
- Is this a new thing for Sussex?
- Did I simply get them at the end of their shift?
- Or does the state of my tyres/car/RFL/etc not matter any more?
- Or was the assumption that if you can afford to blat about in something like my car, then you're probably able to afford to tax/insure it etc?
Has it all gone to the dogs then?
Edited by Dunk76 on Sunday 9th September 21:36
I would imagine the traffic officers sized you up before and obviously came to the conclusion that you were kosher. Maybe they wanted to keep it brief and professional, dispensing with the small talk in order to let you go on your way and them to go back to what they were doing.
I always ask the police "you OK? How has your day been?" often met with a variety of looks and glares, but they all respond soon enough and works out to be a good ice breaker, I think.
I always ask the police "you OK? How has your day been?" often met with a variety of looks and glares, but they all respond soon enough and works out to be a good ice breaker, I think.
In retrospect, I think it may have helped when asked;
"why were you speeding? Any particular mission?" (WTF!?!)
I just shrugged in my best non-committed manner.
If I had been completely honest, I would have said;
"well, I'm on my way to Vixpy's place to spend the day standing around watching various Alpinas, including mine, being put through their paces... and I'm late. So I'd appreciate it if you got a move on with that ticket my good man, as I'm really going to have to give the berries now"
"why were you speeding? Any particular mission?" (WTF!?!)
I just shrugged in my best non-committed manner.
If I had been completely honest, I would have said;
"well, I'm on my way to Vixpy's place to spend the day standing around watching various Alpinas, including mine, being put through their paces... and I'm late. So I'd appreciate it if you got a move on with that ticket my good man, as I'm really going to have to give the berries now"
Edited by Dunk76 on Sunday 9th September 21:50
When I first went on traffic, an old sweat told me that you can either bollock 'em or book 'em (but never both).
If I bollock 'em, they get both barrels, but they go away without a fine or points.
If I book 'em, I keep it brief and professional and I avoid getting drawn into too much conversation.
You woz booked.
If I bollock 'em, they get both barrels, but they go away without a fine or points.
If I book 'em, I keep it brief and professional and I avoid getting drawn into too much conversation.
You woz booked.
Edited by R_U_LOCAL on Sunday 9th September 21:56
paulsm said:
Bing o said:
Well, I can't believe that he didn't see you for the outstanding driver you were and give you an award.
You were doing over a ton - be f'cking grateful that you aren't looking at a ban.
I second thatYou were doing over a ton - be f'cking grateful that you aren't looking at a ban.
If either of you read and understood my post properly you'd perhaps see I'm not griping about anything - just curious as to the total lack of questioning that usually accompanies being stopped.
A question answered by R U LOCAL.
Edited by Dunk76 on Monday 10th September 10:21
Dunk76 said:
Not even on what amounts to an A (M) road - three lanes, barriers, no hard shoulder?
There have been some horrendous accidents on that stetch of road in recent years.Mind you saying that it is a fast road, and a lot of traffic appears to be exceeding the speed limit by some margin, and the accidents are usually seem to involve inexperienced drivers in high performance cars.
Persoanlly I am a supporter of the approach by Sussex Police to speeding, as traditionally they have had a very light touch. Hpwever I understand they are coming under pressure as there is still a high accident rate in Sussex. Presumably in the eyes of those at the top this is because Sussex don;t have cameras everywhere. Rather than caused by poor road surfaces, deer etc.
Dunk76 said:
paulsm said:
Bing o said:
Well, I can't believe that he didn't see you for the outstanding driver you were and give you an award.
be f'cking grateful that you aren't looking at a ban.
I second thatbe f'cking grateful that you aren't looking at a ban.
If either of you read and understood my post properly you'd perhaps see I'm not griping about anything
It seems to me that maybe you think you are better than most(which you might well be) and so should by cut some slack, we didn't really need to know how good you think you are and neither did plod.
Yung Man said:
I think they understood you very well, you seem to have by your own admission alot of experience of being pulled, does that not tell you something?.(you stick out like a sore thumb)
It seems to me that maybe you think you are better than most(which you might well be) and so should by cut some slack, we didn't really need to know how good you think you are and neither did plod.
FFS!It seems to me that maybe you think you are better than most(which you might well be) and so should by cut some slack, we didn't really need to know how good you think you are and neither did plod.
No! As I said - it was a fair cop. Not complaining about being stopped, ticketed, or anything else.
I was simply perplexed by the fact that I simply got a ticket and absolutely nothing else. Neither am I claiming to be a great/good driver - simply that I've had trafpol ask about it before and state that it shows when you're being followed.
In my experience - which isn't as extensive as I think it came across - at the very least they'd look at your tax disc, or ask about occupation/road knowledge etc.
BTW - I've been stopped three times in ten years in cars. My experience is motorbike based during my teens when I would get stopped at least twice a week - normally just for a chat.
Santa Claws said:
I always ask the police "you OK? How has your day been?" often met with a variety of looks and glares, but they all respond soon enough and works out to be a good ice breaker, I think.
I have usually gone with (after getting out of car to meet the officer) "Good evening sir. Can I be of assitance?"Is this too cheesy or do the police respect a bit of courtesy?
Peter
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