Police Man on Radio while driving?

[Homer J]

As in the title really.

Driving along the other afternoon, police car coming the other way, had a look at the driver and noticed he was talking on a hand held radio.

It didn't appear to be a "buisness call" as the police man in question appeared to be laughing his a$$ off.

I was just curious why hand held radio's (Walky Talkies if you will) are ok to be used while driving, and mobile phones aren't.

Anyone know?

[vonhosen]

Homer J said:

As in the title really.

Driving along the other afternoon, police car coming the other way, had a look at the driver and noticed he was talking on a hand held radio.

It didn't appear to be a "buisness call" as the police man in question appeared to be laughing his a$$ off.

I was just curious why hand held radio's (Walky Talkies if you will) are ok to be used while driving, and mobile phones aren't.

Anyone know?

Depends what sort of radio as to whether it would be an offence under the legislation. A mini cab drivers radio isn't an offence either. Most Police vehicles have hands free though.

[wasted years]

As Von said - some Police radios have a built in mobile phone ability and as such these are illegal to use whislt driving as they are deemed mobiles under the legislation.

[Hooli]

never understood why radios are exempt myself. was nearly rammed by a cop car where plod was too busy on the radio to turn the wheel at a roundabout. i was behind the giveway line & stationary, he only just grabbed the wheel in time to avoid me. his passenger looked chuffed with it too, in my eyes if two plods are in the car then the passenger should do the radio - its common sense for safety.

[wasted years]

Hooli said:

never understood why radios are exempt myself. was nearly rammed by a cop car where plod was too busy on the radio to turn the wheel at a roundabout. i was behind the giveway line & stationary, he only just grabbed the wheel in time to avoid me. his passenger looked chuffed with it too, in my eyes if two plods are in the car then the passenger should do the radio - its common sense for safety.

Yes you can still get done for driving without due care and attention in a situation like that. With some double crewed cars each officer might be on a different channel hence the situation you describe.

[roosevelt]

Are two hands enough, coffee,,,,, donut,,,,, radio,,,, arrgggh!

[Hooli]

roosevelt said:

Are two hands enough, coffee,,,,, donut,,,,, radio,,,, arrgggh!

havent you heard plod now gets autos for this reason

[Vaux]

wasted years said:

As Von said - some Police radios have a built in mobile phone ability and as such these are illegal to use whislt driving as they are deemed mobiles under the legislation.

Mobile phone law is very frequency specific - I don't think it covers Tetra (Airwave) frequencies, so, even though it might be used as a mobile phone, is it actually illegal?

[Bing o]

Homer J said:

It didn't appear to be a "buisness call" as the police man in question appeared to be laughing his a$$ off.

Do you ever crack jokes with work colleagues/laugh at things that happen on the job (so to speak)?

[Steven Toy]

As a taxi driver I use a hand-held radio. Messages are short and are punctuated by releasing the microphone key to hear the reply.

It's not the same as having a phone glued to your ear with one hand out of driving action for the duration of the conversation.

[streaky]

Vaux said:

wasted years said:

As Von said - some Police radios have a built in mobile phone ability and as such these are illegal to use whislt driving as they are deemed mobiles under the legislation.

Mobile phone law is very frequency specific - I don't think it covers Tetra (Airwave) frequencies, so, even though it might be used as a mobile phone, is it actually illegal?

Only mention of frequencies in the The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2003 refers to "two-way radio" that operate on any frequency other than 880 MHz to 915 MHz, 925 MHz to 960 MHz, 1710 MHz to 1785 MHz, 1805 MHz to 1880 MHz, 1900 MHz to 1980 MHz or 2110 MHz to 2170 MHz. That leaves a lot of the spectrum. UK cell-phone frquencies are: 412MHz (Tetra - so "two-way radio" by definition), 940MHz (GSM900) and 1719MHz (GSM1800) - Streaky

[vonhosen]

Airwave should NOT be used in a car by the driver unless hands free. (It can legally qualify for emergency hand held use just like phones.)
Older sets legally may be used hand held, but it should be avoided where possible.

[Vaux]

Homer J said:

It didn't appear to be a "buisness call" as the police man in question appeared to be laughing his a$$ off.

Rather than a "mobile phone call", I think this would more likely be a "point to point" radio call. A private radio call between two users.
Not really much difference except semantics.

[pdV6]

AIUI, "push to talk" type radios such as those used by cabbies and emergency services are specifically excluded from the mobile phone laws.
As the difference in use is marginal, the only reason I can see that they are exempt is because otherwise it would make such peoples' jobs impossible to perform.

Edited by pdV6 on Wednesday 19th September 10:37

[esselte]

Steven Toy said:

.

It's not the same as having a phone glued to your ear with one hand out of driving action for the duration of the conversation.

How do you hold the mic then?

[Bing o]

esselte said:

Steven Toy said:

.

It's not the same as having a phone glued to your ear with one hand out of driving action for the duration of the conversation.

How do you hold the mic then?

Can I roll out the "Clever Dick" joke?

[Isoproturon1]

All well and good using a vehicle set, providing:

a) It isn't on another channel and needs to be kept on there;
b) It isn't 'locked';
c) It actually works - we've got vehicles where the radio works but nothing comes through the speakers.

Not sure whether it's the same everywhere, but maintenance of radios/cars/other equipment isn't always to the standard it should be.

[TripleS]

Bing o said:

Homer J said:

It didn't appear to be a "buisness call" as the police man in question appeared to be laughing his a$$ off.

Do you ever crack jokes with work colleagues/laugh at things that happen on the job (so to speak)?

This is not going to be another sex topic, is it?

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[norasport]

The offence is about not being in control of your vehicle, because you are using your radio, combing your hair, doing your eyelashes etc

[Peter Ward]

norasport said:

The offence is about not being in control of your vehicle, because you are using your radio, combing your hair, doing your eyelashes etc

...and there was nothing wrong with leaving it like that for mobile phones as well. It was just the knee-jerk reaction of the government wanting to be seen to be doing something that led to a law specifically for mobile phones. As always it's much easier to prove a codified "using the phone" than a principle-based "being in control". But it's only a couple of years since using a phone was legal, and now it's 3pts and a fine. Soon it will be jail and crushing.