Police and speed limits....
Discussion
Someone once told me that the police, when not responding to an emergency, are governed by the same laws regarding speeding in the same way as the rest of us.
They said that if they've not got their "blues and twos" going then they should stick to the speed limit like the rest of us
I can't remember where I heard this, probably in a pub. So it must be true !!
Can anyone shed any light on this ? Maybe I should get my facts right before attempting a citizens arrest !!!
They said that if they've not got their "blues and twos" going then they should stick to the speed limit like the rest of us
I can't remember where I heard this, probably in a pub. So it must be true !!
Can anyone shed any light on this ? Maybe I should get my facts right before attempting a citizens arrest !!!
You are halfway there. Police do not HAVE to have lights and sirens on to claim a legal exemption. However, if speed limits are exceeded or red lights are driven through, then this must be necessary and justified. E.g. a surveillance vehicle is unlikely to have all lights and noise on when travelling quickly. Kind of compromises the use to which the vehicle is being put. 
Dwight VanDriver said:
IIRC doesn't even have to be a Police vehicle but one used for POLICE PURPOSES.........
DVD
They are supposed to drive within the limits unless there is a reason for them not to. Most of the time there will be a lawful legitimate reason
under that exemption if they are caught which will come under the heading for Police Purposes. The sticky brown stuff hits the fan when there is a particular problem which arises from a police vehicle being used in excess of a limit and there is no real reason for the driver to do so. Some quick thinking needs to be done by the driver in relation to his particular reason and use at that time or points and the relevant penalty will come winging their way quicker than they can say GATSO.
If he/she decides to try and bat the problem off with an unbelievable story which does not hold any corroborating evidence, then he/she is in the doo doos up to the top of their ears and above!
Prosecution and discipline offences follow if they are found to be 'making it up'!
In my force, part of the Personal Development Revue objectives are that Police vehicles are driven in an exemplary manner to set an example. Sadly this is not always the case and can have serious repercussions for those who cannot provide evidence at the time for annual appraisals to the fact they have done so. Complaints about bad driving and accidents tend to throw a spanner in the works for that objective!
This is especially so if considering applying for a specialist post or promotion.
Yes. Seconded. Gone is quite right. Any complaint about Police driving is investigated thoroughly. This week, a M.O.P. complained that a Police car had overtook them on a freshly gritted road, casuing a stone to fly up and chip windscreen. The resultant witch-hunt found that the PC was going to a bona-fine emergency, so no probs. Police paid MOP for the windsreen. Had the driver not been justified, then (s)he would have been seriously in the poo.
Incidentally, talking about quick thinking reminded me of something many years ago. I was being tutored at the time. In the area car (a Rover 820 !!) heading back th the nick from another division. Got flashed by the newly installed Gatso we didn't know about! Quick as a flash, my tutor is on the radio, "Fail to stop! Gives location... Vauxhall Astra, no rear number plate, (very nicely done!) XS speed... gives a few directions... temporary loss.... confirmed loss this location, stand all units down."
The NIP duly arrived. Oh yes, that'll be that Fail to Stop we had last week!
Incidentally, talking about quick thinking reminded me of something many years ago. I was being tutored at the time. In the area car (a Rover 820 !!) heading back th the nick from another division. Got flashed by the newly installed Gatso we didn't know about! Quick as a flash, my tutor is on the radio, "Fail to stop! Gives location... Vauxhall Astra, no rear number plate, (very nicely done!) XS speed... gives a few directions... temporary loss.... confirmed loss this location, stand all units down."
The NIP duly arrived. Oh yes, that'll be that Fail to Stop we had last week!
Funny that the police are allowed to argue mitigating circumstances for the heinous crime of speeding yet the 30 million motorists who do 99.9% of the miles have to suck up the points and add to the coffers...
Presumably this mitigation avenue is available to all officers, not just class one holders?
Presumably this mitigation avenue is available to all officers, not just class one holders?
xxplod said:If only that avenue was available to us lesser mortals....
Quick as a flash, my tutor is on the radio, "Fail to stop! Gives location... Vauxhall Astra, no rear number plate, (very nicely done!) XS speed... gives a few directions... temporary loss.... confirmed loss this location, stand all units down."
The NIP duly arrived. Oh yes, that'll be that Fail to Stop we had last week!
moreymach said:
Slightly of track but whats the law when a member of the public is following an emergency vehicle? Only ask as I was overtaken at the weekend by an ambulance with lights n siren on followed by a Pug 406 with hazzards on.. both doing well over the 40 limit.
If as you say a member of the public and not connected to the Emerency Services then two offences (1) Speeding (2) Illegal use of hazard flashers.
Exemption mentioned not only applies to Police but vehicles being used for the purpose of Fire Brigade, Ambulance Service.
Of interest : Strathern v Gladstone (1937) - a private person trailing a Police car with a view to obtaining evidence to prosecute its driver for speeding cannot claim similar exemption.
DVD
Dwight VanDriver said:
Slightly of track but whats the law when a member of the public is following an emergency vehicle? Only ask as I was overtaken at the weekend by an ambulance with lights n siren on followed by a Pug 406 with hazzards on.. both doing well over the 40 limit.
If as you say a member of the public and not connected to the Emerency Services then two offences (1) Speeding (2) Illegal use of hazard flashers.
Exemption mentioned not only applies to Police but vehicles being used for the purpose of Fire Brigade, Ambulance Service.
Of interest : Strathern v Gladstone (1937) - a private person trailing a Police car with a view to obtaining evidence to prosecute its driver for speeding cannot claim similar exemption.
DVD
Interesting.. thanks for that
gone said:
They are supposed to drive within the limits unless there is a reason for them not to. Most of the time there will be a lawful legitimate reason
The sticky brown stuff hits the fan when there is a particular problem which arises from a police vehicle being used in excess of a limit and there is no real reason for the driver to do so. Some quick thinking needs to be done by the driver in relation to his particular reason and use at that time or points and the relevant penalty will come winging their way quicker than they can say GATSO.
If he/she decides to try and bat the problem off with an unbelievable story which does not hold any corroborating evidence, then he/she is in the doo doos up to the top of their ears and above!
Prosecution and discipline offences follow if they are found to be 'making it up'!
Not that I'm trying to stir things with a big stick.....
BBC -
Sergeant Alun Williams, 38, was caught doing 102mph on a speed camera on the M4 as he headed towards Bridgend.
The jury heard how three other officers in the car had no idea they were meant to be chasing a criminal, as claimed by Sergeant Williams.
The advanced police driver, from Tonypandy, Rhondda, denies perverting the course of justice.
The prosecution claims that Sergeant Williams made up a story that he was on an official police pursuit, chasing a banned driver along the motorway.
He told police he was chasing a white Volvo sports car but a jury heard no car of that sort was on the motorway CCTV cameras at the time.
[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/3629011.stm[/url]
I was at my school a couple of weeks ago when a police car driven by a bloke not much older than myself drove through the gates at a stupid stupid speed, executed a dangerous 3 point turn and wheel spinned away again. He didn't have his blue/twos going and there were many kids about. But then who is going to do anything about a policeman's driving anyway? ****head.
I live in a busy area of a Town (busy nightlife area too) and see police responding to many different things..
Most of the time it's justified.
However I have seen them do wheelspins away from junctions and many a time going up one way streets the wrong way halting traffic etc both with and without blue lights (and most of the time it's just for some guy that has shouting abuse at folk (breach) at a passer by or sommat similar.
I wouldn't care if someone was getting beaten up or worse. Which around here also happens alot lol
My best mate is a Copper & I don't have a problem with police in general
Most of the time it's justified.
However I have seen them do wheelspins away from junctions and many a time going up one way streets the wrong way halting traffic etc both with and without blue lights (and most of the time it's just for some guy that has shouting abuse at folk (breach) at a passer by or sommat similar.
I wouldn't care if someone was getting beaten up or worse. Which around here also happens alot lol
My best mate is a Copper & I don't have a problem with police in general
MajorPart/B S - quite often the problem can be what we get told of an incident over the radio can be quite different to what is actually taking place; someone calls the Police, they speak to a call taker. The call taker creates an incident log, then sends it to the radio despatcher, who sends it out to patrols...
This isn't an excuse for bad driving, I'm just attempting to explain how a minor street disturbance can get built up into a riot by the time it's been through a few links in the chain (although it happens less with CCTV monitored in control rooms).
This isn't an excuse for bad driving, I'm just attempting to explain how a minor street disturbance can get built up into a riot by the time it's been through a few links in the chain (although it happens less with CCTV monitored in control rooms).
As told to me.
Policeman Talivan operator to Traffic Officer
"I clocked you at 120 mph the other day (names a straight stretch of motorway)"
Traffic Officer "It was a particularly urgent emergency response and the road was completely empty as you know, so mind your own fkcing business and if you don't like it, fkcing report me, and don't ever mention anything like that to me again you fkcing w@nker.
Policeman Talivan operator to Traffic Officer
"I clocked you at 120 mph the other day (names a straight stretch of motorway)"
Traffic Officer "It was a particularly urgent emergency response and the road was completely empty as you know, so mind your own fkcing business and if you don't like it, fkcing report me, and don't ever mention anything like that to me again you fkcing w@nker.
tootler said:
As told to me.
Policeman Talivan operator to Traffic Officer
"I clocked you at 120 mph the other day (names a straight stretch of motorway)"
Traffic Officer "It was a particularly urgent emergency response and the road was completely empty as you know, so mind your own fkcing business and if you don't like it, fkcing report me, and don't ever mention anything like that to me again you fkcing w@nker.
roflmao!!......thats just bang on!!
we had the police called to the garage next to mine on wednesday morning (0330) when a group of 7 or 8 people went into the garage (door was open but neighbours car was parked in a bay),closed the door down and started doing whatever.........so when my neighbour saw this (who also works nights but was also on 'days off') the police got called.
so i started to record the events as they unfolded (i needed practice with the new camcorder before i go to goodwood anyway,so why not.)
when the police turned up,the cop parked the car outside the garage and turned the search lights on,then the 2 cops got out and the driver walked to the door with the passenger standing at the front of the car.......the cop opened the garage door and what he said next made me and my neighbour absolutely crack up with (muffled) laughter.........
"'ello,'ello,'ello......whats all this then?"
when they got these people out,3 of them were girls,2 were 16 and the 3rd was 14......the 14yr old was taken away by the police and i heard one of the cops give this piece of advice to one of the persons caught.......
"now,f*** off and dont come back here again"
CLASSIC!
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