Pulled over for "giving a bad impression"

[M5 Mark]

Pulled over a few weeks back for "giving a bad impression" just curious on anyone elses take on this? Is it right?

Coming down the M3 there was a marked 5 series in the midle lane. I was very careful NOT to speed. Was keeping an eye on the GPS as I went past. GPS showing 71-72 and dial showing 75. he follows for about mile (doing vehicle check he told me later) then pulls me over.

To be fair he was very polite and reasonable but explained that he HAD to pull me over because it gives a bad impression someone passing a marked police car in powerful car! He stated what would other drivers think if they saw a performance car passing a marked vehicle! I knew better than to argue but did point out that his speedo was probably the same level of accuracy as mine but I was checking my GPS reading and that it was showing 70 ish. He interestingly pointed out that the police were under instruction NOT to ticket people for doing less than 79 as a general rule by the home office but I was taking the mickey.

But seriously giving a bad impression to other road users?! Surely if he is doing less than the legal limit, even slightly, then it shouldn't matter!

Still fair play didn't get a ticket and as he pointed out he could have given me one for my number plate. Glad I stopped.... was sooo tempting to dissapear! As much as I think the whole thing was BS I must say he was actually the nicest most polite copper I've encountered! Just rattles me that do the police really have little to do?!

[Vipers]

And they don't give a bad impression? what a toss pot.

Does he think he is GOD, "Don't you dare pass me in your powerfull car", maybe you should do it again in a V8 Morris Minor, that'l show him.

Toss pot.

[cs02rm0]

Weird. But what you can you do. Shrug your shoulders and forget about it?

[y2blade]

M5 Mark said:

P
Still fair play didn't get a ticket and as he pointed out he could have given me one for my number plate. Glad I stopped.... was sooo tempting to dissapear! As much as I think the whole thing was BS I must say he was actually the nicest most polite copper I've encountered! Just rattles me that do the police really have little to do?!

what was wrong with your numberplate?

[MC Bodge]

Although my instinct is to question stupidity and the abuse of power...
in that situation, I'd just nod and say,
"Yes, Officer".

Pathetic, but what can you do?

[cornishgirl]

It's happened to me more than once. And yes they were always polite.

It's a combination of a better car, daring to overtake them in front of other drivers and also if your appearance doesn't look 'quite right' - as one BiB actually said to me!

[M5 Mark]

y2blade said:

M5 Mark said:

P
Still fair play didn't get a ticket and as he pointed out he could have given me one for my number plate. Glad I stopped.... was sooo tempting to dissapear! As much as I think the whole thing was BS I must say he was actually the nicest most polite copper I've encountered! Just rattles me that do the police really have little to do?!

what was wrong with your numberplate?

Just 1 digit moved slightly, so a spacing issue.

As I say the guy was very polite and no issues over him not ticketing me for the plate. Just curious behind the thinking of the whole thing. The only thing I can possibly imagine is that he had a few mins left before shift finish and decided to use them... The only other possibility is he had some sort of god complex and didn't want to be passed, BUT I don't think he was that sort of person he very reasonable in everything he said and did EXCEPT the pulling me over bit.

[superlightr]

so the police car was sat at 70 and you went past as 72. It is asking for a pull is it not?

[Hugo a Gogo]

are you Les Dennis?

was it that 'woman off Coronation St' one?

[Mr_annie_vxr]

Vipers said:

And they don't give a bad impression? what a toss pot.

Does he think he is GOD, "Don't you dare pass me in your powerfull car", maybe you should do it again in a V8 Morris Minor, that'l show him.

Toss pot.

He took the view that as he was travelling at the speed limit ( on a calibrated speedo) that if someone overtakes him and he ignores them doing so with other drivers around it sends out the wrong message to other road users.

He did not seek to ticket the OP on any matter and was polite and explained the reasons for his actions.

Had the officer been travelling below the speed limit then he would not have stopped the OP.

If you overtake a police vehicle that is traveling on the speed limit on any given road then you put yourself on offer for them to stop you.

[y2blade]

how quick were you going before you spotted him?

[jazzyjeff]

Hugo a Gogo said:

are you Les Dennis?

was it that 'woman off Coronation St' one?

I don't really know!!!?

Surely you should be praised for not altering your driving behaviour due to a fuzz presence?

JJ

[Rude-boy]

superlightr said:

so the police car was sat at 70 and you went past as 72. It is asking for a pull is it not?

Potentially but it is certainly baiting if they are doing that, which is not on.

[14-7]

I think Annies hit the nail on the head with the fact that if a fully marked police car is travelling at spot on the limit then by overtaking them is asking to be stopped really as it may appear that by doing so you think you don't have to pay attention to the law or (as many seem to comment about police officers attitudes) you are being disrespectful by doing so.

[streaky]

A police car travelling at the speed limit on a motorway ... well I never! - Streaky

[quantum30]

Mr_annie_vxr said:

Vipers said:

And they don't give a bad impression? what a toss pot.

Does he think he is GOD, "Don't you dare pass me in your powerfull car", maybe you should do it again in a V8 Morris Minor, that'l show him.

Toss pot.

He took the view that as he was travelling at the speed limit ( on a calibrated speedo) that if someone overtakes him and he ignores them doing so with other drivers around it sends out the wrong message to other road users.

He did not seek to ticket the OP on any matter and was polite and explained the reasons for his actions.

Had the officer been travelling below the speed limit then he would not have stopped the OP.

If you overtake a police vehicle that is traveling on the speed limit on any given road then you put yourself on offer for them to stop you.

In theory you are right. But please be honest, how many cars actually do 70 on motorways ? Unless there is congestion, most of the cars cruise at around 85 , some even higher. I was coming back to London the other day from North, i was doing 80-85 , and lost count of the number of cars who passed me. other than the trucks, i didnt pass anyone for a long time !

Stopping a car for doing just over 70 is a bit sad. I was stopped twice for doing 28-29 in the city (obviously limit is 30). The cops were very polite but i just couldnt understand why they stopped me and asked me why i was driving slow.

we cannot win can we ?

[oldsoak]

quantum30 said:

Mr_annie_vxr said:

Vipers said:

And they don't give a bad impression? what a toss pot.

Does he think he is GOD, "Don't you dare pass me in your powerfull car", maybe you should do it again in a V8 Morris Minor, that'l show him.

Toss pot.

He took the view that as he was travelling at the speed limit ( on a calibrated speedo) that if someone overtakes him and he ignores them doing so with other drivers around it sends out the wrong message to other road users.

He did not seek to ticket the OP on any matter and was polite and explained the reasons for his actions.

Had the officer been travelling below the speed limit then he would not have stopped the OP.

If you overtake a police vehicle that is traveling on the speed limit on any given road then you put yourself on offer for them to stop you.

In theory you are right. But please be honest, how many cars actually do 70 on motorways ? Unless there is congestion, most of the cars cruise at around 85 , some even higher. I was coming back to London the other day from North, i was doing 80-85 , and lost count of the number of cars who passed me. other than the trucks, i didnt pass anyone for a long time !

Stopping a car for doing just over 70 is a bit sad. I was stopped twice for doing 28-29 in the city (obviously limit is 30). The cops were very polite but i just couldnt understand why they stopped me and asked me why i was driving slow.

we cannot win can we ?

We ain't supposed to 'win' anything...what we ARE supposed to do is obey the lolly especially where there are Police officers in the vicinity that have a duty to uphold that limit.

[Vipers]

Mr_annie_vxr said:

Vipers said:

And they don't give a bad impression? what a toss pot.

Does he think he is GOD, "Don't you dare pass me in your powerfull car", maybe you should do it again in a V8 Morris Minor, that'l show him.

Toss pot.

He took the view that as he was travelling at the speed limit ( on a calibrated speedo) that if someone overtakes him and he ignores them doing so with other drivers around it sends out the wrong message to other road users.

He did not seek to ticket the OP on any matter and was polite and explained the reasons for his actions.

Had the officer been travelling below the speed limit then he would not have stopped the OP.

If you overtake a police vehicle that is traveling on the speed limit on any given road then you put yourself on offer for them to stop you.

So he pulls you over on a motorway for basically passing him at 3-4 mph faster then him, he is putting you and himself at risk by stopping on the hardshoulder.

Havn't they got better things to do, and don't foget the bit about "Giving wrong impressions", bolex really.

If you choose to nip past at say 90, then expect to be pulled, but for a couple of MPH, c'mon be realistic, is your car speedo calibrated, if it shows 70, are you really doing exactly 70?

[MC Bodge]

Rude-boy said:

superlightr said:

so the police car was sat at 70 and you went past as 72. It is asking for a pull is it not?

Potentially but it is certainly baiting if they are doing that, which is not on.

Many times I have been in a line of cars edging past a Police car that was travelling at 70mph give-or-take in the left hand lane of the motorway.

The more considerate Police drivers travel at 60mph.

[Accelebrate]

MC Bodge said:

The more considerate Police drivers travel at 60mph.

Only for everyone else to slam on their anchors and crawl along behind at 59mph clogging up all three lanes.