Unmarked police car, no flashing lights, pulled over
Discussion
Thought this was a bit of an unusual one and doesn’t exactly instil confidence in the police but sounds like it was legit and not a criminal pretending to be a police person potentially looking to steal car…
My partner was in the left of two lanes at the traffic lights on red and a blue Vauxhall Corsa pulled up alongside and was rocking back and forward on the clutch. My partner decided to put her foot down a bit and pulled away briskly and surely enough made it out ahead of this car before it filtered down to one lane.
At the next roundabout the Corsa pulled up alongside her and the woman in the Corsa waved her walkie talkie at her and signalled for her to pull over which she obligingly did, thinking they were police, at the next exit of the roundabout. What I thought was strange is that they didn’t flash any blue lights or siren at all.
When she pulled over, the woman got out of the Corsa and was actually wearing full police uniform and so it sounds legitimate, and basically told her off for pulling away too fast and told her that they were in a rush to get somewhere important so she shouldn’t have pulled away in front of them but she’ll let her off because she wouldn’t have known it was a police car.
Just seems dodgy to me as there have been cases of people having their cars stolen by criminals pretending to be police. I’d have thought the police would always flash blue lights especially in unmarked cars??
Surely there must be some rule on this?
My partner was in the left of two lanes at the traffic lights on red and a blue Vauxhall Corsa pulled up alongside and was rocking back and forward on the clutch. My partner decided to put her foot down a bit and pulled away briskly and surely enough made it out ahead of this car before it filtered down to one lane.
At the next roundabout the Corsa pulled up alongside her and the woman in the Corsa waved her walkie talkie at her and signalled for her to pull over which she obligingly did, thinking they were police, at the next exit of the roundabout. What I thought was strange is that they didn’t flash any blue lights or siren at all.
When she pulled over, the woman got out of the Corsa and was actually wearing full police uniform and so it sounds legitimate, and basically told her off for pulling away too fast and told her that they were in a rush to get somewhere important so she shouldn’t have pulled away in front of them but she’ll let her off because she wouldn’t have known it was a police car.
Just seems dodgy to me as there have been cases of people having their cars stolen by criminals pretending to be police. I’d have thought the police would always flash blue lights especially in unmarked cars??
Surely there must be some rule on this?
Nonstarter said:
I’d have thought the police would always flash blue lights especially in unmarked cars??
Surely there must be some rule on this?
Not all Police vehicles are fitted with blue lights.Surely there must be some rule on this?
The rule/law is you are required to stop for a Constable in uniform.
https://www.askthe.police.uk/content/Q587.htm
Similar thing happened to me about 20 years ago - dark blue Escort was alongside me at some lights on a dual carriageway and I gunned it away from the lights and straight-lined the roundabout just after. I wasn't in a particularly fast car so they caught up with me eventually and drew alongside. I realised I was in trouble when I noticed the light glint off the metal numbers on the passengers epaulette. They then held their warrant card up against the window. I was given words of advice about my driving and sent on my way. It was late at night in one of the less salubrious parts of Merseyside - back then they tended to stop anything being driven in a spirited fashion just to make sure it wasn't stolen. I got stopped a few times like that.
Spotted a similar stop recently, woman pulls up at a minor junction not wearing a seat belt . Whilst waiting to turn right small Citroen pulls around her and words are exchanged through the open windows. Once on the main road and stopped a very large officer exits from the small Citroen, he's in civvies but with the full stab vest . No ticket was issued but note were made and more words of advice were spoken, at no point were any blues turned on, initially I thought it was a bit of road rage which is why I hung about. So if your in South Manchester and a small Citroen appears behind you with two large gentlemen up front beware.
citizensm1th said:
pulling away a bit quickly is against the law huh?
i have always thought as long as you did not break the posted speed limit and remained in control then it is fine.
i am not convinced this actually happened in the manner described
I think things like excessive use of acceleration is now a "thing" Doing 0-40 in 1 second in a 40 limit can be excessivei have always thought as long as you did not break the posted speed limit and remained in control then it is fine.
i am not convinced this actually happened in the manner described
Probably off duty or a pool car rather than a panda/unmarked?
It is a bit odd though.
I was once driving in a 30, at 30, with a police car literally sat on my back bumper. I got really pissed off so I pulled into a bus lane, and pulled back out behind them. They then pulled me over for driving suspiciously.
I pointed out that I did it because she was obviously in a hurry and tailgating me so I let her pass. I also pointed out if I wouldn't have pulled straight back out if I had something to hide.
She was completely clueless, could tell she was embarrassed and then decided to ask me if I had owned my car since new, which at the time would have meant buying a BMW 330ci at age 11. She also thought it looked good for condition for a 1991 (private registration).
It is a bit odd though.
I was once driving in a 30, at 30, with a police car literally sat on my back bumper. I got really pissed off so I pulled into a bus lane, and pulled back out behind them. They then pulled me over for driving suspiciously.
I pointed out that I did it because she was obviously in a hurry and tailgating me so I let her pass. I also pointed out if I wouldn't have pulled straight back out if I had something to hide.
She was completely clueless, could tell she was embarrassed and then decided to ask me if I had owned my car since new, which at the time would have meant buying a BMW 330ci at age 11. She also thought it looked good for condition for a 1991 (private registration).
Happened to me at 5:30am, in the dark, driving through Banbury (which was deserted) trying to get to the Station for the 6am train into Marylebone. A small hatchback followed me all the way through town and pulled up next to me in the station car park as I got out to leg it for the train, out steps a police officer who starts to accuse me of speeding through town. I asked her if her (own) car had a calibrated speedo, suggested she was wasting her time as it was her word against mine and left for the train with her shouting at me......
I had some copper being a lane hogger in his own car a dual carriageway, eventually I slid up the inside, he then glues himself to the back of my car, and is gesticulating. I came off at my slip road to turn right at the roundabout and he’s up the inside waving his warrant card, I ignored him any drive off and he follows turning right from the left lane, so I stay on the roundabout and kept going round, quicker and quicker, and within three laps, I am right up behind him! Lol
It was a big interchange roundabout, no traffic lights so once up his chuff, I buggered off up my exit, and he had to go all the way around again, by which time I was gone!
Never heard anything else.
I’d not bother stopping for anyone unless I’m sure it’s a proper on duty cop, off duty in their own car, waving walkie talkies……. Nope!
It was a big interchange roundabout, no traffic lights so once up his chuff, I buggered off up my exit, and he had to go all the way around again, by which time I was gone!
Never heard anything else.
I’d not bother stopping for anyone unless I’m sure it’s a proper on duty cop, off duty in their own car, waving walkie talkies……. Nope!
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