Can I go for a recreational drive out?

[Bigends]

rainmakerraw said:

omniflow said:

What is most worrying is that a normally sane, law abiding citizen has reached a level of distrust of the police that he suspects that they're deliberately blocking roads to disrupt traffic and put people off driving.

Unfortunately, we don't have to suspect in Merseyside. They're gleefully broadcasting it, over and over again, with pics of massive checkpoints around the city and pictures of young men against walls surrounded by dogs and vans to ensure 'COVID compliance' and 'essential travel only' in cars.

Yet, allow dozens to congregate in groups in front of officers outside Marines footy ground prior to the recent Tottenham game

[JDiz]

[AB]

rainmakerraw said:

Unfortunately, we don't have to suspect in Merseyside. They're gleefully broadcasting it, over and over again, with pics of massive checkpoints around the city and pictures of young men against walls surrounded by dogs and vans to ensure 'COVID compliance' and 'essential travel only' in cars.

If you're seeing roadblocks everywhere then I would suggest you are visiting dodgy areas?

I still drive in and around Merseyside every single day, including through the Mersey Tunnels and up and down the M53/57/58/62 during the course of my work. I have not seen a single checkpoint, very few police cars and have not been stopped or seen anyone else stopped.

The roads are seemingly as busy as usual (since last March anyway).

I'm just not seeing any of the hysteria that Social Media seems to be indicating is present. My most used car is quite bright and quite loud.

Maybe I'm not trying hard enough.

[dundarach]

@merpoltraffic look like a bunch of idiots, whilst I have respect for the law, this kind of thing will only enrage the stupid and ultimately this affects us all.

This badger baiting of the gammon and unwashed should be stopped!

[Elysium]

JDiz said:

Merseyside police really have been at it, was going to post the examples above, but see it has been noticed.

This one did make me laugh though, bet they cant wait for valentines day to go around kicking doors down checking if couples are in the same household

This cannot be real?

Surely not.

[drdino]

Is it the amorous behaviour or the location that is not reasonable?

[C Lee Farquar]

drdino said:

Is it the amorous behaviour or the location that is not reasonable?

It would seem reasonable to offset the higher death rate

[rainmakerraw]

AB said:

If you're seeing roadblocks everywhere then I would suggest you are visiting dodgy areas?

I still drive in and around Merseyside every single day, including through the Mersey Tunnels and up and down the M53/57/58/62 during the course of my work. I have not seen a single checkpoint, very few police cars and have not been stopped or seen anyone else stopped.

The roads are seemingly as busy as usual (since last March anyway).

I'm just not seeing any of the hysteria that Social Media seems to be indicating is present. My most used car is quite bright and quite loud.

Maybe I'm not trying hard enough.

The checkpoints move around and cover all the roads you listed and more. Aigburth is hardly a dodgy area but it’s been heavily targeted.

[AB]

rainmakerraw said:

The checkpoints move around and cover all the roads you listed and more. Aigburth is hardly a dodgy area but it’s been heavily targeted.

I was always good at Pacman.

[Cyder]

I must admit to being a bit perplexed as to how it’s perfectly acceptable for me to ride my bike/walk/run around the local reservoir along with thousands of other people on a 2m wide path.

But it’s apparently unacceptable for me to go sailing on said reservoir singlehanded miles from anyone thanks to the wisdom of Anglian Water who have closed the water. Oh but it is safe for them to keep the cafe open at the country park next to the sailing club.

[0a]

rainmakerraw said:

omniflow said:

What is most worrying is that a normally sane, law abiding citizen has reached a level of distrust of the police that he suspects that they're deliberately blocking roads to disrupt traffic and put people off driving.

Unfortunately, we don't have to suspect in Merseyside. They're gleefully broadcasting it, over and over again, with pics of massive checkpoints around the city and pictures of young men against walls surrounded by dogs and vans to ensure 'COVID compliance' and 'essential travel only' in cars.

Surely all this public/police interaction is a far higher COVID risk than if they just let people get on with things?

[brisel]

C Lee Farquar said:

drdino said:

Is it the amorous behaviour or the location that is not reasonable?

It would seem reasonable to offset the higher death rate

It may have been work too...

[RSTurboPaul]

This is likely to be a dumb question and already covered somewhere in this topic, but...


https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1374

Regs said:

Interpretation
2.—(1) In these Regulations—
...
“relevant outdoor activity” means a physical activity which is carried on outdoors and for which a licence, permit or certificate issued by a public body to carry on the activity, or for any equipment used for the purposes of the activity, must be held by—
(a) the gathering organiser, or
(b) any person taking part in the activity;
...
(4) In the definition of “relevant outdoor activity”, the reference to a licence does not include a licence to drive a motor vehicle in the United Kingdom or to serve food or alcohol.



Exceptions
3.—(1) The exceptions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2(5)(c) are the following.
...
Exception 17: outdoor activities
(24) Exception 17 is that the gathering takes place outdoors (whether or not in a public outdoor place) and—
(a) it is for the purposes of a relevant outdoor activity, and
(b) the gathering organiser takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.



Exceptions in relation to outdoor gatherings
6.—(1) These are the exceptions relating only to outdoor gatherings.
...
Exception 2: outdoor activities
(3) Exception 2 is that the gathering—
(a) is for the purposes of a relevant outdoor activity, and
(b) the gathering organiser takes the required precautions in relation to the gathering.

I'm guessing the above does not specifically allow 'going for a drive' or 'meeting up with friends for a drive' because they would not be classed as 'physical activities'?

IANAL... and the Regs are not exactly 100% 'Plain English' (although I note they are not 'legalese') so as I say, probably a dumb question but just pondering out loud in case it may or may not come up at some point in a prosecution/defence situation that someone might be in. (No, I'm not asking for me or 'a friend'!)

[lufbramatt]

Interesting thread. I had wondered what would happen a few nights ago if I got pulled over on my way home from dropping off a weeks shopping at my parents house. Car was empty and I had no proof that I'd just done a click and collect as it's on my wife's email account and they don't give you any paperwork. So it would very much look like I was just out for a drive. Maybe I should've sorned the BMW not the jazz to make it a bit more believable

[geeks]

Appreciate this thread is about going for a drive but say I was to drive to a local dark spot for an evening of looking through my telescope, could I expect the Police to take a dim view of this? (pun intended)

[anonymous-user]

You mean blackmail photos and/or random perving at a dogging site, yeah? That is specifically included as OK.

[anonymous-user]

Seriously, however, unless your job is astronomer, you might be pushing your luck a bit on that one.

[geeks]

Breadvan72 said:

You mean blackmail photos and/or random perving at a dogging site, yeah? That is specifically included as OK.

no not quite, although if you have a target I am sure we can find someone to help, if you invoice me then it's paid work and that's ok

Ok so I assume going off to take images of a nebula is out. Fair enough.

[anonymous-user]

"We don't morally censure. We just want the money."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0caV4Fxpbw

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 19th January 15:08

[CanAm]

Breadvan72 said:

"We don't make moral judgments. We just want the money."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0caV4Fxpbw

It's frightening that I remember that sketch in detail, despite only seeing it once. It must be about 50 years old.