Unmarked Police car question

[EsGrau1994]

Making good progress down the A34 and sussed an unmarked BMW 3 Series so pulled in behind it. Blue lights come on and I get pulled over.

Very nice Police Officer says that although I did not pass him above the limit, he has a calibrated speedo that showed he was doing 78 MPH so as I was "going like a bat out of hell" it was a given I was speeding and he could have me prosecuted. He then let me off. Phew.

So my question is could he have done? Only asking as if he could have I was bang to rights and am getting conflicting info from friends/family regarding legal status. Everyone is an expert etc. For the record, I thought I was lucky, was treated more than fairly and came away with a really positive view towards the Police....and most importantly drove more slowly for the rest of the journey.

Edited by EsGrau1994 on Monday 4th June 11:42

[Fleckers]

so he was doing 78 for what reason whould be my initial question

but you have been let off so its 1 up for plod, new pants for you and the finger to a speed camera

[340600]

EsGrau1994 said:

So my question is could he have done?

Yes.

[CoolHands]

No

[CraigyMc]

Fleckers said:

so he was doing 78 for what reason whould be my initial question

Using the police exemption in relation to his duties?

C

[NHK244V]

You was breaking the law and got away with it, does it really matter ?

[Aizle]

NHK244V said:

You was breaking the law and got away with it, does it really matter ?

You're right, let's never ask a question to learn something new, ever again.

[xreyuk]

CoolHands said:

No

Yes he could. The 10% + 2mph etc are guidelines, not laws.

[maniac0796]

It it more a question of using the accuracy of his speedo to give you a ticket for speeding or more one for the fact 78mph is technically illegal?

[sturobturbo]

Fleckers said:

so he was doing 78 for what reason whould be my initial question

If that was his first question, he would probably have been done! Lol.

[EsGrau1994]

sturobturbo said:

Fleckers said:

so he was doing 78 for what reason whould be my initial question

If that was his first question, he would probably have been done! Lol.

The thought did occur to me, but it remained a thought for this very reason.

[forzaminardi]

Not if his only evidence was a 'calibrated speedo'. Logic dictates that if you were going faster than him, you were doing over 78mph, but his speedo only measures his own speed and not that of your car. Strictly speaking what he could have done, on noting your speed past his car, was then record your speed and then 'do' you (so to speak). As it was he stopped you for a polite chat but had no evidence to prosecute you at that point. He was a good officer and doing his job well. I suspect he might have been less charitable had you blasted past without noticing his unmarked car.

[daemonoid]

They need two pieces of evidence for a successful prosecution. One of them can be the officer's estimate, the second needs to be different. Looking at his speedo is enough to help him calibrate his estimate, to get the second piece of evidence he'd have needed to do a follow check or similar.

[McSam]

daemonoid said:

They need two pieces of evidence for a successful prosecution. One of them can be the officer's estimate, the second needs to be different. Looking at his speedo is enough to help him calibrate his estimate, to get the second piece of evidence he'd have needed to do a follow check or similar.

Exactly.

I imagine he was watching you in his mirrors fully expecting you to fly by and give him some trade, but as you spotted him and slowed down, he probably figured he might as well pull you to talk to you. It worked - you drove slower afterwards!

This is why there's simply no substitute for TrafPol being out there, no matter how many yellow boxes you have.