Discussion
I do hope I'm not breaking any rules by posting about a run in with the police, but I was curious about others' experiences.
I got pulled over tonight in my recently acquired V8VR. Policeman did all the checks - insurance/tax/mot/breathalyser, even whether or not I was wearing contact lenses. The reason given was that I had an air freshener hanging from my rearview mirror that could potentially obscure my view of the road. I was astounded to find out that a normal air freshener from Halfords qualifies as a "traffic offence"! He also told me off for "excessive noise" (no fuse 22), but not very much I can do about that other than lighten my right foot a little. Anyway, he was satisfied it was all 'legit' and let me on my way (albeit without my air freshener!).
I expect this whole encounter was simply a case of checking out a young person driving a flash car. So I'm curious, do other AM drivers have similar experiences? Can I expect to be pulled over frequently?
I got pulled over tonight in my recently acquired V8VR. Policeman did all the checks - insurance/tax/mot/breathalyser, even whether or not I was wearing contact lenses. The reason given was that I had an air freshener hanging from my rearview mirror that could potentially obscure my view of the road. I was astounded to find out that a normal air freshener from Halfords qualifies as a "traffic offence"! He also told me off for "excessive noise" (no fuse 22), but not very much I can do about that other than lighten my right foot a little. Anyway, he was satisfied it was all 'legit' and let me on my way (albeit without my air freshener!).
I expect this whole encounter was simply a case of checking out a young person driving a flash car. So I'm curious, do other AM drivers have similar experiences? Can I expect to be pulled over frequently?
rib27 said:
I expect this whole encounter was simply a case of checking out a young person driving a flash car. So I'm curious, do other AM drivers have similar experiences? Can I expect to be pulled over frequently?
I'm 24 now (bought my V8VR at 23) and have had 2 experiences of dealing with police since.The first was appalling and 6 months on I still haven't forgiven them, completely threatening me purely because I had a my nice car even having done nothing wrong and complying with their instructions.
The second was again for nothing wrong in the policeman's own words "don't worry you've done nothing wrong" and it was all good until he ended with 'how did you avoid the credit crunch then?' before walking off...
You can't avoid them, and being polite won't help either, if they want to be hard on you they will. A shame really because it makes it hard to have respect for the police service.
When I first started out in business I had a transit van whilst it was road legal you could see daylight through it if you stood in the right place. I got pulled over in that once.
I then bought a three year old jaguar series 111. I was pulled over so many times I lost count. I also got pulled quite a few times when driving my brothers golf gti.
Make of that what you will
Oh and I have been pulled over at least thirty times in my driving career . Btw I am of Asian origin. Paranoid moi ?
Always been polite to the bib, never really had a problem
I then bought a three year old jaguar series 111. I was pulled over so many times I lost count. I also got pulled quite a few times when driving my brothers golf gti.
Make of that what you will
Oh and I have been pulled over at least thirty times in my driving career . Btw I am of Asian origin. Paranoid moi ?
Always been polite to the bib, never really had a problem
Edited by jas xjr on Saturday 7th January 01:29
Shmee - It's a shame you had such a poor experience. To his credit the policeman was polite and not aggressive or impolite at all. He seemed like a nice enough chap, just very thorough!
jas xjr - Wow 30+ times! As you say, being polite should keep you out of trouble.
yorkieboy - I was tempted, but then thought better of it
crazy about cars/SystemParanoia - not sure if I've understood your comments correctly ... but contrary to all the usual assumptions, I earned it myself with a lot of hard work. I feel extremely fortunate to be in a position to buy such a special car.
Just to clarify for all - I wasn't angry at all about being pulled over, I just found it quite comical that all they could find to moan about was the air freshener in the car.
jas xjr - Wow 30+ times! As you say, being polite should keep you out of trouble.
yorkieboy - I was tempted, but then thought better of it
crazy about cars/SystemParanoia - not sure if I've understood your comments correctly ... but contrary to all the usual assumptions, I earned it myself with a lot of hard work. I feel extremely fortunate to be in a position to buy such a special car.
Just to clarify for all - I wasn't angry at all about being pulled over, I just found it quite comical that all they could find to moan about was the air freshener in the car.
rib27 said:
Just to clarify for all - I wasn't angry at all about being pulled over, I just found it quite comical that all they could find to moan about was the air freshener in the car.
Halfords air freshener....... How very common Thats why he pulled you over.... If it were a classy air freshener, it would have been fine. Anyway Rich, you are an Essex Boy and he spotted the furry dice didn't he? 
I've only had one negative run in with the law, it wasn't a traffic cop, is a plod in a fiesta when I was in the Maserati a few years, ago. he made up some nonsense about an offence which I didn;t do. Mostly because he had no evidence to prove I was speeding, which I was. So I figured fair enough really! The guy WAS a complete ass though, checked everything, very rude, swore at me etc. etc. Reported him but guess nothing would have happened.
EVERY other experience has been positive, I've been stopped many times and always found polite professional police talking to me. Some are petrol heads and want to look around the car and ask questions, others just doing their jobs. I'm polite and humble and apologetic and hands in the air yes I was speeding and there is no excuse. I've not once had a cop be nasty when I adopt that attitude. Boxing day I was let off doing 115mph by a really nice traffic cop. he told all about scraping bodies off the Mway, knocking on relatives dorrs the usual thing, but he as very fare and polite throughout. So I 1 negative experience for me about 7 years ago, since then every cop that pulled was more than fare, more than professional and very kind.
EVERY other experience has been positive, I've been stopped many times and always found polite professional police talking to me. Some are petrol heads and want to look around the car and ask questions, others just doing their jobs. I'm polite and humble and apologetic and hands in the air yes I was speeding and there is no excuse. I've not once had a cop be nasty when I adopt that attitude. Boxing day I was let off doing 115mph by a really nice traffic cop. he told all about scraping bodies off the Mway, knocking on relatives dorrs the usual thing, but he as very fare and polite throughout. So I 1 negative experience for me about 7 years ago, since then every cop that pulled was more than fare, more than professional and very kind.
rib27 said:
I do hope I'm not breaking any rules by posting about a run in with the police, but I was curious about others' experiences.
I got pulled over tonight in my recently acquired V8VR. Policeman did all the checks - insurance/tax/mot/breathalyser, even whether or not I was wearing contact lenses. The reason given was that I had an air freshener hanging from my rearview mirror that could potentially obscure my view of the road. I was astounded to find out that a normal air freshener from Halfords qualifies as a "traffic offence"! He also told me off for "excessive noise" (no fuse 22), but not very much I can do about that other than lighten my right foot a little. Anyway, he was satisfied it was all 'legit' and let me on my way (albeit without my air freshener!).
I expect this whole encounter was simply a case of checking out a young person driving a flash car. So I'm curious, do other AM drivers have similar experiences? Can I expect to be pulled over frequently?
That is the most rediculousssss thing I have ever heard.. An ilegal air freshener?? Seriously?? Me thinks that he had nothing better to do. I got pulled over tonight in my recently acquired V8VR. Policeman did all the checks - insurance/tax/mot/breathalyser, even whether or not I was wearing contact lenses. The reason given was that I had an air freshener hanging from my rearview mirror that could potentially obscure my view of the road. I was astounded to find out that a normal air freshener from Halfords qualifies as a "traffic offence"! He also told me off for "excessive noise" (no fuse 22), but not very much I can do about that other than lighten my right foot a little. Anyway, he was satisfied it was all 'legit' and let me on my way (albeit without my air freshener!).
I expect this whole encounter was simply a case of checking out a young person driving a flash car. So I'm curious, do other AM drivers have similar experiences? Can I expect to be pulled over frequently?
Can you imagine seeing a scenario like that on road wars!!!
burntout said:
That is the most rediculousssss thing I have ever heard.. An ilegal air freshener?? Seriously?? Me thinks that he had nothing better to do.
Can you imagine seeing a scenario like that on road wars!!!
Can you imagine seeing a scenario like that on road wars!!!
that would be an episode worth watching.(PS. I saw you on the list for the Brooklands meeting tomorrow burntout. I followed the story of your misfortune and the following repair/modification of your car, so I look forward to seeing it in the flesh tomorrow if I can make it down in time).
Pulled over for displaying an excessive air freshener......think I might have lost it.
Bordering on a Meldrew moment but I just don't believe it!...they would be better off stopping and rounding up all these
B******ds driving around with broken headlights.
Christ a rant and not even past noon,best have some tablets and lay down sorry.....
Bordering on a Meldrew moment but I just don't believe it!...they would be better off stopping and rounding up all these
B******ds driving around with broken headlights.
Christ a rant and not even past noon,best have some tablets and lay down sorry.....
SORRY ABOUT THE HIJACK....... But it does have something to do with BIB and the treatment from some of them.....
In Calgary, Alberta Canada we have quite a few EX Bobbies/BIB who have been recruited for our local police services. One such officer is coming towards me one day and he does a 180 just as he past me. Yes, lights and sirens on. I drove about a half a block before I found a safe spot to turn in with him right on my a$$. Get my paperwork together and get out of the car and I hear "Good afternoon sir" in an English accent. Spent 25 or 30 minutes on the side of the road with him going all over the car. No paperwork of any sort was exchanged and as I was leaving he said, "My mates down at the pub will never believe some Crazy Canuck has a supercharged TVR here in Calgary.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and I am leaving the downtown core (lots of tall buildings to help make echos) and yes I am going a touch over the limit when I spot a blue and white coming my way. Take my foot off the go fast pedal and as he is going past me the car is sounding like a popcorn machine and like in the movies he does a 180 and coming after me. trying to think quick figuring somebody reported my trip between the tall buildings and the BIB had a car in the area, all I can think about is the fine or points. As I am getting out of my car with all the required paperwork I hear that Brit accent again "And what have you been up to Mr. Leppard on such a nice day. You should be up in the mountains having a HOON. Come to my boot I have something to show you" He has been carrying a photo album in his bag with pictures of him and his mates back in the UK with their TVRs. While he is showing me this album every once in a while his head pops up and then he says that my car (same color as the first one he pulled me) sounds like it is running "RUFF". I then told him that this wasn't the same car and that it was converted to an American V8 by the Canadian importer with the factory's blessings. Spent almost 50 minutes on the side of the road while he "searched" my car. During the so called "search" two more Brits show up to help with the "search". One of them kept trying to get me to go out to a major highway and open it up for them. (Police escort......and I refused.) When I wouldn't do that they tried to get me to bring one of my TVRs to the Police Pub one night so their other mates could see it. I may have done some crazy things in the past but to take a car to a pub where 90-99.9% of the people there carry guns and badges.............I'm NOT that stupid. But I did offer to take Paul out on one of his days off for a blast in the car if I make up the route and he knows nothing about where we are going untill we get there. He has also been told "Only if his badge and gun stay at his apartment" To this day NO paperwork has been exchanged on either car and my D.L. was only in Paul's hands long enough for him to read my name.
So now ALL the EX Brit BIB know about the Crazy Canuck in Calgary who drives two TVRs. What I forgot to tell them is that My Spousal Unit/wife also has a V8 converted TVR. And I hope I am in the passenger seat with her the first time one of the EX Brit Bobbies spot her, as I have also forgot to tell her about being pulled over by the Ex Brits. (My oldest daughter knows what happened so she can be prepared when she is out in her car) I get some great father daughter time with her in her TVR or mine as she giggles and gets the TVR "Grin On" while driving around the downtown core, as she is having her own "TITTs" that we call Echos Between The Towers (EBTTs). She also LOVES teasing the "tuner" boys in our TVRs but this last year more and more of them are getting to know what a TVR is. When you don't have the time to go up to the twisties or tunnels in the mountains, you make do with what God hands you. Now if I could only find a GOOD newer style left hooker newer TVR to import (now up to a 1998) I would think I had died and gone to heaven.
In Calgary, Alberta Canada we have quite a few EX Bobbies/BIB who have been recruited for our local police services. One such officer is coming towards me one day and he does a 180 just as he past me. Yes, lights and sirens on. I drove about a half a block before I found a safe spot to turn in with him right on my a$$. Get my paperwork together and get out of the car and I hear "Good afternoon sir" in an English accent. Spent 25 or 30 minutes on the side of the road with him going all over the car. No paperwork of any sort was exchanged and as I was leaving he said, "My mates down at the pub will never believe some Crazy Canuck has a supercharged TVR here in Calgary.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and I am leaving the downtown core (lots of tall buildings to help make echos) and yes I am going a touch over the limit when I spot a blue and white coming my way. Take my foot off the go fast pedal and as he is going past me the car is sounding like a popcorn machine and like in the movies he does a 180 and coming after me. trying to think quick figuring somebody reported my trip between the tall buildings and the BIB had a car in the area, all I can think about is the fine or points. As I am getting out of my car with all the required paperwork I hear that Brit accent again "And what have you been up to Mr. Leppard on such a nice day. You should be up in the mountains having a HOON. Come to my boot I have something to show you" He has been carrying a photo album in his bag with pictures of him and his mates back in the UK with their TVRs. While he is showing me this album every once in a while his head pops up and then he says that my car (same color as the first one he pulled me) sounds like it is running "RUFF". I then told him that this wasn't the same car and that it was converted to an American V8 by the Canadian importer with the factory's blessings. Spent almost 50 minutes on the side of the road while he "searched" my car. During the so called "search" two more Brits show up to help with the "search". One of them kept trying to get me to go out to a major highway and open it up for them. (Police escort......and I refused.) When I wouldn't do that they tried to get me to bring one of my TVRs to the Police Pub one night so their other mates could see it. I may have done some crazy things in the past but to take a car to a pub where 90-99.9% of the people there carry guns and badges.............I'm NOT that stupid. But I did offer to take Paul out on one of his days off for a blast in the car if I make up the route and he knows nothing about where we are going untill we get there. He has also been told "Only if his badge and gun stay at his apartment" To this day NO paperwork has been exchanged on either car and my D.L. was only in Paul's hands long enough for him to read my name.
So now ALL the EX Brit BIB know about the Crazy Canuck in Calgary who drives two TVRs. What I forgot to tell them is that My Spousal Unit/wife also has a V8 converted TVR. And I hope I am in the passenger seat with her the first time one of the EX Brit Bobbies spot her, as I have also forgot to tell her about being pulled over by the Ex Brits. (My oldest daughter knows what happened so she can be prepared when she is out in her car) I get some great father daughter time with her in her TVR or mine as she giggles and gets the TVR "Grin On" while driving around the downtown core, as she is having her own "TITTs" that we call Echos Between The Towers (EBTTs). She also LOVES teasing the "tuner" boys in our TVRs but this last year more and more of them are getting to know what a TVR is. When you don't have the time to go up to the twisties or tunnels in the mountains, you make do with what God hands you. Now if I could only find a GOOD newer style left hooker newer TVR to import (now up to a 1998) I would think I had died and gone to heaven.
Edited by V8TVR1978 on Saturday 7th January 11:35
Edited by V8TVR1978 on Saturday 7th January 11:38
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