Cambridgeshires Finest
Discussion
I hope you enjoy my story of what happened to me last night.
I was at the FB5k Nov meeting in London Ace Cafe last night and left there about 10. Cruising up the A1 at about 80, I saw someone get pulled just behind me.
Oh well I thought, at least it wasn't me....
I exited the A1, cruised up the Baldock bypass (a dream) and then took it pretty steady up Ermine Street to Cambourne.
I drove very slowly through Cambourne (mainly down to my car being so loud, I don't want an ASBO). Anyway, I get out of the village and on the 2 mile straight and opened up the taps. Its dead straight, I cant see another car, its dry (if a little cold) and other than suicidal rabbits, everyone is asleep.
I then see a pair of lights some distance behind trying to keep up with me (and not doing a very good job). Then... you guessed it, the pair of white lights was joined with 6 flashing blue ones. Glancing at my speedo, it was at 90 (and I am in a 60). Oh fcuk. So, I ease off and then take a sharp right hand corner, slow down and pull on to the side of the road.
Mr Plod was not a happy chappy. I was quickly read the riot act and cautioned for dangerous driving.
Oh dear... this is not going well.
Then... I was then read another riot act about my number plate (black and silver ones). Mr plod said he would remove the plates, inform the dvla of my heinous crime and my car would be issued with a q-plate, after it had been re-mot'd. Of course I couldn't drive it away so I would have to arrange recovery. At this point I am thinking if it could get any worse?
Yes it could....
It was at this point squad car number 2 pulled up and spoke to Mr Plod. Mr Plod explained to his colleague that they thought my car had been stolen, he couldn't keep up with me and he called for backup!
Oh dear oh dear.
Once squad car # 2 had left, I was then asked to turn the cars wheels so he could check the depth of the front tyre. Now, I had checked then a few weeks ago and they were just below the ware indicators. I knew I needed a new one, but not by how much. Mr Plod got out his measuring stick and took many many readings of the tyre.
Thankfully all were between 2.0mm and 1.6mm.
Few...
Mr Plod remarked at how close they were to the limit, I stated that I checked them every week and he retorted with 'its a good job given you drive so fast!'
It is at this point I baked the biggest and fullest pie I had baked in all my life. Guess what the filling was made of...? 100% pure humble pie.
Eating furiously, I launched in to a frankly pathetic speech in to how what I had done was clearly wrong, I had made a mistake, I should have been driving more slowly... and so I went on.
I think he got bored with my pie and they got out a digital camera and started taking pictures of the number plates. I asked Mr Plod if he did intend to cease the plates as I would need to arrange a lift home ect. It was at this point he told me he will be issuing me with a £30 fine for the plates and that I should put the old ones back. I gladly accepted the punishment. A-ha, he was a human being after all.
I was then invited in to the back seats of the Range Rover. He then stated again that he was going to go ahead with a dangerous driving charge given the 'extreme speeds' I was doing. Mr & Mrs Plod then had a bit of a conference, phoned a friend and found the maximum a fixed penalty notice could be issued for was 85. I was then asked if I had learnt from this experience, whether I would change my driving habits, and whether I would stick to the speed limits. All of my answers were a resounding yes, with more pie eaten together with a double helping of cream.
To my astonishment, he then told me he he has discretion in the course of action he could take and would issue me with a fixed penalty notice. I was gob smacked. Mr Plod explained the ticket would be written out for 85 but he would record in his notebook I was doing 90. If I wanted to contest the fixed penalty notice he would be happy to see me in court. I was then cautioned again (for some reason). I explained I would be delighted with the fixed penalty notice and assured him I do not want my day in court, thanks very much.
Sheepishly and very slowly I then made my way home, £90 lighter and 3 points heavier.
I think I got quite a good deal if you ask me.
I was at the FB5k Nov meeting in London Ace Cafe last night and left there about 10. Cruising up the A1 at about 80, I saw someone get pulled just behind me.
Oh well I thought, at least it wasn't me....
I exited the A1, cruised up the Baldock bypass (a dream) and then took it pretty steady up Ermine Street to Cambourne.
I drove very slowly through Cambourne (mainly down to my car being so loud, I don't want an ASBO). Anyway, I get out of the village and on the 2 mile straight and opened up the taps. Its dead straight, I cant see another car, its dry (if a little cold) and other than suicidal rabbits, everyone is asleep.
I then see a pair of lights some distance behind trying to keep up with me (and not doing a very good job). Then... you guessed it, the pair of white lights was joined with 6 flashing blue ones. Glancing at my speedo, it was at 90 (and I am in a 60). Oh fcuk. So, I ease off and then take a sharp right hand corner, slow down and pull on to the side of the road.
Mr Plod was not a happy chappy. I was quickly read the riot act and cautioned for dangerous driving.
Oh dear... this is not going well.
Then... I was then read another riot act about my number plate (black and silver ones). Mr plod said he would remove the plates, inform the dvla of my heinous crime and my car would be issued with a q-plate, after it had been re-mot'd. Of course I couldn't drive it away so I would have to arrange recovery. At this point I am thinking if it could get any worse?
Yes it could....
It was at this point squad car number 2 pulled up and spoke to Mr Plod. Mr Plod explained to his colleague that they thought my car had been stolen, he couldn't keep up with me and he called for backup!
Oh dear oh dear.Once squad car # 2 had left, I was then asked to turn the cars wheels so he could check the depth of the front tyre. Now, I had checked then a few weeks ago and they were just below the ware indicators. I knew I needed a new one, but not by how much. Mr Plod got out his measuring stick and took many many readings of the tyre.
Thankfully all were between 2.0mm and 1.6mm.
Few...
Mr Plod remarked at how close they were to the limit, I stated that I checked them every week and he retorted with 'its a good job given you drive so fast!'
It is at this point I baked the biggest and fullest pie I had baked in all my life. Guess what the filling was made of...? 100% pure humble pie.
Eating furiously, I launched in to a frankly pathetic speech in to how what I had done was clearly wrong, I had made a mistake, I should have been driving more slowly... and so I went on.
I think he got bored with my pie and they got out a digital camera and started taking pictures of the number plates. I asked Mr Plod if he did intend to cease the plates as I would need to arrange a lift home ect. It was at this point he told me he will be issuing me with a £30 fine for the plates and that I should put the old ones back. I gladly accepted the punishment. A-ha, he was a human being after all.
I was then invited in to the back seats of the Range Rover. He then stated again that he was going to go ahead with a dangerous driving charge given the 'extreme speeds' I was doing. Mr & Mrs Plod then had a bit of a conference, phoned a friend and found the maximum a fixed penalty notice could be issued for was 85. I was then asked if I had learnt from this experience, whether I would change my driving habits, and whether I would stick to the speed limits. All of my answers were a resounding yes, with more pie eaten together with a double helping of cream.
To my astonishment, he then told me he he has discretion in the course of action he could take and would issue me with a fixed penalty notice. I was gob smacked. Mr Plod explained the ticket would be written out for 85 but he would record in his notebook I was doing 90. If I wanted to contest the fixed penalty notice he would be happy to see me in court. I was then cautioned again (for some reason). I explained I would be delighted with the fixed penalty notice and assured him I do not want my day in court, thanks very much.
Sheepishly and very slowly I then made my way home, £90 lighter and 3 points heavier.
I think I got quite a good deal if you ask me.
I did a lot better than you mate.
100 (estimate by them) overtake in position they deemed dangerous, I semi-accepted that, but justified my actions with pseudo-post commentry.
2 tyres illegal (I thought they were borderline, but still legal, he said otherwise).
Luckily they didnt get a VASCAR on me during the overtake so they weren't able to do for speeding, and I suspect the lashings of humble pie consumed by myself, topped with sprinkles of weeing myself, made them take pitty (and my obs that made me suspect them as an undercover so kept it dialed into 60 after that).
I drove away veeewy slowly, license+wallet intact, their point noted.
Sold the car the next week too!
Sounds like they were being twits with that dangerous driving malarkey. To be honest, I'd have struggled to accept that at teh time and argued my case against VERY strenuously. Not a hope in hell, even with vid evidence of you hooning at 90 in a 60 that that's DD, not unless you had the back end out in a big way all the time... and even then....
Still, 3 points aint that bad, saved you a court appearance which is bonus
100 (estimate by them) overtake in position they deemed dangerous, I semi-accepted that, but justified my actions with pseudo-post commentry.
2 tyres illegal (I thought they were borderline, but still legal, he said otherwise).
Luckily they didnt get a VASCAR on me during the overtake so they weren't able to do for speeding, and I suspect the lashings of humble pie consumed by myself, topped with sprinkles of weeing myself, made them take pitty (and my obs that made me suspect them as an undercover so kept it dialed into 60 after that).
I drove away veeewy slowly, license+wallet intact, their point noted.
Sold the car the next week too!
Sounds like they were being twits with that dangerous driving malarkey. To be honest, I'd have struggled to accept that at teh time and argued my case against VERY strenuously. Not a hope in hell, even with vid evidence of you hooning at 90 in a 60 that that's DD, not unless you had the back end out in a big way all the time... and even then....
Still, 3 points aint that bad, saved you a court appearance which is bonus
I don't understand why people let their tyres go so low. The four black bits of rubber are the only thing that makes the car go quicker, go round a corner, slow down and stop.
The legal mininium is very much that and scrapping the barrel in terms of performance. Anything below 3mm makes a huge difference in wet weather. The tyre wear indicator is normally set at the min level so they should be changed before you reach it.
The legal mininium is very much that and scrapping the barrel in terms of performance. Anything below 3mm makes a huge difference in wet weather. The tyre wear indicator is normally set at the min level so they should be changed before you reach it.
bluepolarbear said:
I don't understand why people let their tyres go so low. The four black bits of rubber are the only thing that makes the car go quicker, go round a corner, slow down and stop.
The legal mininium is very much that and scrapping the barrel in terms of performance. Anything below 3mm makes a huge difference in wet weather. The tyre wear indicator is normally set at the min level so they should be changed before you reach it.
Totally agreeThe legal mininium is very much that and scrapping the barrel in terms of performance. Anything below 3mm makes a huge difference in wet weather. The tyre wear indicator is normally set at the min level so they should be changed before you reach it.
Isoproturon1 said:
ajstephe said:
You can issue up to 1 endorsable and 2 non endorsable tickets at any one time, otherwise it's court
Never specified when I did my training; we were just told it had to be a summons. Maybe a force policy then?Humble pie is the best dish to serve in any transgression with regards the law - despite initial appearances, every police office i've ever met (and it's not that many in terms of tugs) has actually taken a very human approach to my dilemma (with the exception of the git who nicked me for speeding on route to my honeymoon!)...The best of which was the nice fella on the Medway bridge who did give me a FPN for the speed but spent longer telling off for lack of mechanical sympathy as he had at least reognised that my brakes weren't applied once to slow me to a near-legal speed and the gearbox just took the full brunt of a need to slow rapidly when I'd twigged that the car sitting about a mile back wasn't dropping off and probably wasn't civilian (he did also complement the awareness that spotted him so early!).
Curiously, I am actually and genuinely much slower through there these days out of respect for his discretion.
Curiously, I am actually and genuinely much slower through there these days out of respect for his discretion.
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