Pulled over for "giving a bad impression"

[M5 Mark]

14-7 said:

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.

I would agree with that. But I was doing more than 2 or 3 mph than he was and my GPS was reading 71-72 so I doubt he was doing more than 67-68, I understand his speedo might have been reading 70 but again surely what is the point for these few mph?

I'm not having a go at the police here, as I said he was very polite and professional in his aproach. We all KNOW that if I had attempted to have this conversation with him at the road side his whole attitude would change and the nod agree method is the only aproach when pulled over. I just don;t see the point in the whole pulling stopping someone.


I also think "Vipers" has a point that I hadn't even considered in that pulling us both on to the hard shoulder could be an additional hazard that could be avoided.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm having a go, I'm not, I simply trying to understand the whole point of what to me was pointless. We have all passed police cars at 75 before with no problem at all. Will it stop me driving at 71mph past a marked car? No? Why should I be forced to travel below the speed limit for no other reason than fear of being stopped?

Edited by M5 Mark on Friday 7th May 11:44

[djohnson]

Accelebrate said:

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.

If they travel at 70mph then everyone (execpt the OP) also does 70 mph hence the police only get to see a few cars. If they do 60 mph then a lot of people will pass them and hence they will get to see (and ANPR read) many more cars.

[14-7]

M5 Mark said:

I would agree with that. But I was doing more than 2 or 3 mph than he was and my GPS was reading 71-72 so I doubt he was doing more than 67-68, I understand his speedo might have been reading 70 but again surely what is the point for these few mph?

I'm not having a go at the police here, as I said he was very polite and professional in his aproach. We all KNOW that if I had attempted to have this conversation with him at the road side his whole attitude would change and the nod agree method is the only aproach when pulled over. I just don;t see the point in the whole pulling stopping someone.

Sorry if it sounds like I'm having a go, I'm not, I simply trying to understand the whole point of what to me was pointless. We have all passed police cars at 75 before with no problem at all. Will it stop me driving at 71mph past a marked car? No? Why should I be forced to travel below the speed limit for no other reason than fear of being stopped?

I know where you are coming from but I can also see the coppers point of view.

I'm not sure if you feel aggrieved that you didn't receive a fixed penalty because you were stopped. If the bobby had given you a ticket for your plate would you be raising the points about the stop still or accept the reason for the stop?

[MC Bodge]

Accelebrate said:

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.

In my experience that isn't true.

Passing a Police car isn't, and has never been, a crime.

Just as cars exceeding 70mph (or, God forbid, 100mph!) -where legal- don't spontaneous combust, passing a Police car doesn't result in disaster.

Edited by MC Bodge on Friday 7th May 11:59

[Munter]

So this story is:
Police office stops someone he knows to have been breaking the speed limit. Something he is employed to do.
Person stopped knows they were just over the limit and doesn't make things worse than they need to be.
In the spirit of the thing (not a big offence etc) the Police use their discretion act politely and lets the MOP on their way with the minimum of fuss and an explanation.

It seems ok to me.

[Accelebrate]

It isn't a crime and thankfully very few officers would ever pull anyone over for that alone.

But have you seriously never been travelling merrily along a motorway or DC and suddenly discovered all of the cars that you've been quite happily following at 80+ for the last few miles are braking down to 60 and slowly sulking back into lane one because a marked car has joined?

Some drivers will never overtake a Police vehicle, even if it can be done legally.

[havoc]

Waste of time. Regardless of the technicality of your 'offence', or the 'appearance' of it to another road user, 72 on an M-way should in no way be an issue unless there are severe meteo conditions or unless the average speed is <50mph (i.e. your overtake is way too quick vs the vehicles you're passing). The copper should have known all of that and left alone!

I'd suggest he was either bored or had too big an impression of himself.

[Mr_annie_vxr]

havoc said:

Waste of time. Regardless of the technicality of your 'offence', or the 'appearance' of it to another road user, 72 on an M-way should in no way be an issue unless there are severe meteo conditions or unless the average speed is <50mph (i.e. your overtake is way too quick vs the vehicles you're passing). The copper should have known all of that and left alone!

I'd suggest he was either bored or had too big an impression of himself.

Or the OP had been gaining on the officer at a greater speed but only passed at 70 odd,

The OP was also committing another offence that made him stand out.

For the two offences he got a pull and polite chat.

The OP has not stated what speed the officer said he was doing.

Patrol speeds are anything between 60-90 mph.


The officer is polite and explains why he stopped the OP and applied discretion, yet still gets vilified.

He may as well have just stuck the OP on for his number plate and called the OP a rude name and been obnoxious as he would have got just as much stick.

I've had similar with ambler gamblers who have gone through when they shouldn't have but not by large margins. I've stopped them and had a quick chat more for the impression it gives to the public who were there, i.e I am not ignoring it.

Does that make me think I'm God ?

[MC Bodge]

Accelebrate said:

It isn't a crime and thankfully very few officers would ever pull anyone over for that alone.

But have you seriously never been travelling merrily along a motorway or DC and suddenly discovered all of the cars that you've been quite happily following at 80+ for the last few miles are braking down to 60

It may have happened, but it doesn't happen very often. Not everybody is that daft, although there are a lot of idiot drivers.

[MC Bodge]

Mr_annie_vxr said:

I've had similar with ambler gamblers who have gone through when they shouldn't have but not by large margins. I've stopped them and had a quick chat more for the impression it gives to the public who were there, i.e I am not ignoring it.

Does that make me think I'm God ?

Just a thought:

When you're in your civvy car do you slow down when you see Police cars?

EFA: I mis-read the original 'Amber Gambler' bit as people cruising past Police cars! I don't like traffic light jumpers.

Edited by MC Bodge on Friday 7th May 13:53

[havoc]

Mr_annie_vxr said:

Or the OP had been gaining on the officer at a greater speed but only passed at 70 odd,

Fair point - possible, hadn't thought of that.

Re: No. Plate - that's the one reason that stops me putting the 'spare' I've got for the NSX (came with it at sale) on it - it's supposed to read "NSX..." but only reads as such when you mis-space it, so looks a little odd as standard. But given it's a bright-yellow supercar, it's already far too obvious for comfort...

Would I be right in thinking that on the continent they wouldn't be worried about a mis-spaced British #-plate?

[Vipers]

MC Bodge said:

Mr_annie_vxr said:

I've had similar with ambler gamblers who have gone through when they shouldn't have but not by large margins. I've stopped them and had a quick chat more for the impression it gives to the public who were there, i.e I am not ignoring it.

Does that make me think I'm God ?

Just a thought, when you're in you civvy car do you slow down when you see Police cars?

Edited by MC Bodge on Friday 7th May 13:25

How often do you pull middle lane hoggers? how often do you pull those with defective headlights, how often do you pull the idiots with fogs on, how often do you pull those who think they have gods gift to zoom down the slip road and pull out regardless............

Each evening you could pulls loads of defective lights for starters.

Not that I disagree with the amber gamblers, but just now and again, and I am guilty of it, I make a split second decision and decide to brake may cause the car behind me to hit me, and as the lights no longer go red as the others go green, there is minimum risk, unless someone is jumping the reds at the same time.

[14-7]

havoc said:

Mr_annie_vxr said:

Or the OP had been gaining on the officer at a greater speed but only passed at 70 odd,

Fair point - possible, hadn't thought of that.

Re: No. Plate - that's the one reason that stops me putting the 'spare' I've got for the NSX (came with it at sale) on it - it's supposed to read "NSX..." but only reads as such when you mis-space it, so looks a little odd as standard. But given it's a bright-yellow supercar, it's already far too obvious for comfort...

Would I be right in thinking that on the continent they wouldn't be worried about a mis-spaced British #-plate?

They probably woulnd't because it won't fall under their laws. However I don't think I've ever seen a mis-spaced european plate.

Was it Greece/Cyprus that can impound your car if you tamper with the reg plate?

[Tiggsy]

you passed a police car, breaking the limit with a miss space number plate - what did you expect?

[M5 Mark]

Mr_annie_vxr said:

havoc said:

Waste of time. Regardless of the technicality of your 'offence', or the 'appearance' of it to another road user, 72 on an M-way should in no way be an issue unless there are severe meteo conditions or unless the average speed is <50mph (i.e. your overtake is way too quick vs the vehicles you're passing). The copper should have known all of that and left alone!

I'd suggest he was either bored or had too big an impression of himself.

Or the OP had been gaining on the officer at a greater speed but only passed at 70 odd,

The OP was also committing another offence that made him stand out.

For the two offences he got a pull and polite chat.

The OP has not stated what speed the officer said he was doing.

Patrol speeds are anything between 60-90 mph.


The officer is polite and explains why he stopped the OP and applied discretion, yet still gets vilified.

He may as well have just stuck the OP on for his number plate and called the OP a rude name and been obnoxious as he would have got just as much stick.

I've had similar with ambler gamblers who have gone through when they shouldn't have but not by large margins. I've stopped them and had a quick chat more for the impression it gives to the public who were there, i.e I am not ignoring it.

Does that make me think I'm God ?

He joined the M3 as I was coming to the junction, so there was no coming up behind him at a much higher speed. I did state the marked car must have been doing around 5mph less than me so was clearly under the limit.

I've stated several times I did not think the officer was out of order, I was simply curious about the reasoning behind this. It was not my intention to create an "US vs THEM" thread but it appears there is a clear line of thought here between the posters who are obviosuly coppers and those who are not. I think that is a shame. It's a shame the BiB here clearly think black and white and jump to defend their colleague. I see less of a PH spirit in this section, from BiB and public then any other forum section. I think the whole thing is a shame. Mr_annie_vxR you are ofcourse right, 71mph IS an offence, but I really think your black and white view of this is exactly what gives the police a bad name. Not the officer stopping me, he couldn't have been nicer about it and had a lot less attitude than you are giving me. My whole point is what was the thinking behind it. Mr_annie_vxR is simply giving me a negative impression that I didn't have before this thread! If your attitude is actually the thinking behind why I was stopped then I find myself drawing the conclusion that maybe some police are narrow minded.

Once again apologies my intention was not to have a go at the police or create a division between public and police.

[havoc]

M5 Mark said:

If your attitude is actually the thinking behind why I was stopped then I find myself drawing the conclusion that maybe some police are narrow minded.

Conversely the only copper I came across when in Scotland (heading towards me on A-road, then waiting to turn right across my path) did no more than wave his hand downwards in a gesture to tell me to slow down (I'd just overtaken a truck on a straight downhill stretch and probably was over the posted limit approaching this junction, albeit my foot was already on the brake, not least because I'd seen him indicate right, so he'd got a fair point).

He could easily have swung the car around and pulled me over for "a talking to", but his action made the point equally well without wasting anyone's time. I genuinely believe it IS individuals, not something that is prevalent one way or another - you get sensible coppers and "black-&-white" coppers, same as in every other job. The difference is that where a copper acts very b&w, the public notice it a lot more...

[GW65]

I guess I've been very lucky when passing marked cars doing 70, as I've never been pulled. Most recent was on Wednesday on the M40. Marked car in the left-lane doing approx 70, cars in middle lane at similar speed. I overtook with minimal speed differential in a very red, very high-performance car...and not a flicker.

It's a shame there's so much inconsistency,

[14-7]

GW65 said:

I guess I've been very lucky when passing marked cars doing 70, as I've never been pulled. Most recent was on Wednesday on the M40. Marked car in the left-lane doing approx 70, cars in middle lane at similar speed. I overtook with minimal speed differential in a very red, very high-performance car...and not a flicker.

It's a shame there's so much inconsistency,

The main problem with saying that they should be consistent all the time is that guidelines then get drawn up saying exactly what they can and can't, should or shouldn't do.

That's all well and good until someone gets dealt with following the guidelines but thinks that the bobby should have used discretion instead.

Then they come on here moaning, others say that the officer is a jobs worth, has a God like complex, must have been bullied at school (etc) because he follows the rules/guidelines precisely, we then ask for discretion to be given back to officers. Then someone gets dealt with differently than someone else for the same offence due to officers differing ideas, people then want consistency . . . . . . . .

It's a vicious circle that we as members of the public keep turning because we can't accept, well, at least few can, being told off by the police. After all, we pay their wages so must be correct .

[Swervin_Mervin]

What a nob.

Not so long back I overtook a marked Scooby police car on the m-way at an indicated 80 (knowing mine overreads by at least 10%). Immediately after I passed a woman in the middle lane who had no reason to be there.

Obviously after passing I pulled right back over to the inside lane. Scooby seemed to speed up and I thought I was in for it but no. He pulled behind the woman in teh Punto and gave her a quick flash of his blues. When she pulled into the inside lane he switched them off and pulled in front of her

Put a smile on my face. FWIW I've only ever encountered one traff/m-way pol that was a nob from the outset, despite my polite responses.

[carinaman]

Most police are perfectly nice, decent people. That makes it easier when their customer service people follow up you 2 months later to ask how the police dealt with the incident and ask for information to back up that opinion.

I passed a police car (panda not traffic) on a very quiet M5 at about 11pm in the last century. He pulled me over, cited that if he was doing the limit and passed him I must have been exceeding the limit and said it was about the time the pubs empty out and perhaps I'd been drinking.

He was OK. If he accepted a boiled sweet from the open bag on the dashboard.

Edited by carinaman on Friday 7th May 17:59