Mobile phone penalty to increase
Discussion
It looks like the government will be increasing the penalty for using a mobile phone whilst driving.
They've found that the current £30 fixed penalty ticket with no points, isn't enough of a detterent. (I was screaming that this was the case when it came out last year
)
Anyway, in the future such breaches of the law will result in 3 penalty points and £60 fine... However, it wont be introduced until late 2005.
Keep your eyes peeled for such mobile phone muppets...
Street
They've found that the current £30 fixed penalty ticket with no points, isn't enough of a detterent. (I was screaming that this was the case when it came out last year
) Anyway, in the future such breaches of the law will result in 3 penalty points and £60 fine..
. However, it wont be introduced until late 2005. Keep your eyes peeled for such mobile phone muppets...
Street
Don't be such a cynic....If we as the public don't encourage such moves towards road safety, like the increase in the penatlies for mobile phone use, cameras will be all there is.
Trafpol and Beat bobbies deal with the offences of mobile phone use.
Bleating about cameras for every subject is just pointless. Trafpol numbers are increasing steadily...In a couple of years time, we'll be bleating about getting stopped all the time and the cameras will be brought back..
Street
Trafpol and Beat bobbies deal with the offences of mobile phone use.
Bleating about cameras for every subject is just pointless.
Trafpol numbers are increasing steadily...In a couple of years time, we'll be bleating about getting stopped all the time and the cameras will be brought back.. Street
Streetcop said:
Trafpol numbers are increasing steadily...In a couple of years time, we'll be bleating about getting stopped all the time and the cameras will be brought back..
Street
Oh really ... then how come Dibs is on ownsome most of the time?
How come I never see any of you on the road - see lots of scamerati - but no trafpols.
See loads of people using mobile phones too
- only you are not there to cop them. Are we sure we are not confusing proper trafpol with pretzels in pandas who are not of same quality?
PS I was amazed that use of mobile penalty was so low in first place. I happen to think it is most dangerous gadget to contemplated using whilst driving - and I have never ever used one - whilst driving.
>> Edited by WildCat on Sunday 15th August 19:31
Use of a hand held mobile phone while driving is not necessarily dangerous, any more than it is necessarily dangerous to exceed a speed limit. It depends on the circumstances.
If I am in a minority of one on this topic, then so be it.
By the way WildCat, I will take as read your reference to tantrums.
Best wishes all,
Dave. (frequent speeder - NSL primarily - and occasional user of hand held mobile phone under safe conditions).
If I am in a minority of one on this topic, then so be it.
By the way WildCat, I will take as read your reference to tantrums.
Best wishes all,
Dave. (frequent speeder - NSL primarily - and occasional user of hand held mobile phone under safe conditions).
TripleS said:
Use of a hand held mobile phone while driving is not necessarily dangerous, any more than it is necessarily dangerous to exceed a speed limit. It depends on the circumstances.
If I am in a minority of one on this topic, then so be it.
Minority of two then!
Depends on where, when and how.
WildCat said:
Oh really ... then how come Dibs is on ownsome most of the time?
Because that's the policy of most forces....Single crewed vehicles cover more area.
WildCat said:
How come I never see any of you on the road - see lots of scamerati - but no trafpols.
I don't know. Are you at home often, making babies?
I'm on the road often and so are other bobbies..
WildCat said:
See loads of people using mobile phones too
Yep, me too..When I see them when I'm working, they get ticketed. Trouble is...silly boys and girls who drive whilst on the phone tend to drop such technology into their laps upon sight of police car. Bib eyes have to be quicker than the hands of the other driver.
WildCat said:
Are we sure we are not confusing proper trafpol with pretzels in pandas who are not of same quality?
I'm not confused in the slightest. I'm talking about the increase in Trafpol numbers. Beat bobbies moving from normal policing duties to Road Policing duties, new name for Traffic Dept. As for the same quality. I don't think quality has anything to do with it. Some excellent Bib decide not to specialise in any department, but instead continue to do the work they love..in the thick of it out on the streets. No lack of quality in them!
WildCat said:
PS I was amazed that use of mobile penalty was so low in first place.
Yep, me too..
Street
>> Edited by Streetcop on Sunday 15th August 21:41
I dont see the need for specific legistlation.
undue care and attention doesnt need you to have a moby in your hand....
i have used a moby whilst driving and it distracts me a heck of a lot less than having to remember somthing, or rushing cos im late and carnt contact someone to let them know/ make other arrangements..
2 mins to say "hi im running late i'll late can we rearrange to meet at 2pm" is a lot safer than worrying about being late and driving like an arse to try and make an appointment thats unachieveable"
G
undue care and attention doesnt need you to have a moby in your hand....
i have used a moby whilst driving and it distracts me a heck of a lot less than having to remember somthing, or rushing cos im late and carnt contact someone to let them know/ make other arrangements..
2 mins to say "hi im running late i'll late can we rearrange to meet at 2pm" is a lot safer than worrying about being late and driving like an arse to try and make an appointment thats unachieveable"
G
TripleS said:
Use of a hand held mobile phone while driving is not necessarily dangerous, any more than it is necessarily dangerous to exceed a speed limit. It depends on the circumstances.
As far as I can see - too many drive with "no hands"
Of course it is dangerous! If you are not concentrating on road ahead and fiddlying around mit mobile phone and texting - it is dangerous. You cannot argue that you speedo gawp cos of scameras in one breath and claim you are 100% concentrating whilst drivin' one handed and gabbin' on phone in the next.
I have never used one and office/lab have instructions not to contact me if they know I am driving. But this is company policy of one the world's top five companies of which I am [brag mode well and truly on ] toppest scientist
TripleS said:
By the way WildCat, I will take as read your reference to tantrums.
Best wishes all,
Dave. (frequent speeder - NSL primarily - and occasional user of hand held mobile phone under safe conditions).
if you see someon disagreeing with you over use of mobile telpehone as "tantrum" then I would suggest that tis you 'avin' tantrum!
It is dangerous - much more dangerous than me blatting down m/way at well over ton! (Yup - I have done on occasion - in Germany
Streetcop said:
Trouble is Graham..it's not the quick calls that get caught..it's the 2-10 mile convesations and more...The drivers talking whilst emerging from junctions or negotiating roundabouts..etc etc..
Street
towman said:
Depends on where, when and how.
So texting my mates as I pass through the M25 roadworks is a no-no then?
Obviously I dont do it when it is dangerous, but may I ask the following...
What has driving with one hand got to do with it? - changing gear, tuning radio, electric windows etc.
Similarly having a conversation . Is there to be an offence of "conversing with passenger in a built up area"?
Similarly concentrating - I would suggest that "Talk Radio", plays and debates on Radio 4 require a degree of concentration. (I spend hours wondering what Emma`s going to do about the baby!)
Yes it`s illegal, but on an empty Motorway at 56mph I submit that it is not necessarily dangerous.
Steve
kevinday said:
TripleS and Towman, I think you are definitely in a minority, anything which reduces the concentration on driving is dangerous. Mobile phone use should only take place when stationary.
£60 and points is still too low!
I'm sure you're right to suggest that Steve (towman) and I are in a minority with our point of view. That however does not get away from the fact that these are matters of individual judgement and opinion, and the majority opinion is not always the right one.
I get the impression that you consider complete concentration is vital at all times while driving, whereas I do not take that view. Of course you need sufficient concentration to cope properly with the various hazard situations, but in many cases there is spare capacity to do other things as well, not always, but sometimes. A decently competent driver does not, in my opinion, always need to be stationery to make safe use of a hand held mobile phone.
The £60 and 3 points automatic penalty should not be applied regardless of the circumstances, although that's the way the law now works, or soon will. The previous powers available to the police should have remained, which left room for discretion in individual cases.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Streetcop said:
and occasional user of hand held mobile phone under safe conditions).
David! Really!
Street
I'm sorry Gary, but while you have the law on your side, that still does not make clear what is the right or the wrong answer. That can only be a matter of balance, judgement and opinion. In this case our opinions differ.
Best wishes all,
Dave.
Streetcop said:
WildCat said:
Oh really ... then how come Dibs is on ownsome most of the time?
Because that's the policy of most forces....Single crewed vehicles cover more area.
But... do not see one. Last time I did - I managed to upset nice, lovely TonyRec. I just commented on fact that on that morning - that saw the three members of lesser chequered trafpol - rarest of all known species - und they were all mumpties oeach sighting - und made dosy-eyed Doris look like a F-1 expert .....
Und - is single crew not dangerous for you? Lot of very nasty people around!
Strassencop said:
WildCat said:
How come I never see any of you on the road - see lots of scamerati - but no trafpols.
I don't know. Are you at home often, making babies?
I'm on the road often and so are other bobbies..
Um - kitten no 5 -
Thinking of calling he or she "hacker" as conception was down to me tryin' to get out of bother havin' hacked my way into his computer and sending all his butch mates well dodgy e-mails.... No - not at home often - usually have 200 mile return-commute to work through LanCASH££££re, at same time dodging Steve in his talivans.... Go into pseudo maternity leave in October - as baby due in November... Will probably work from home despite baby as my work is at interesting stages....
Strassencop said:
WildCat said:
See loads of people using mobile phones too
Yep, me too..When I see them when I'm working, they get ticketed. Trouble is...silly boys and girls who drive whilst on the phone tend to drop such technology into their laps upon sight of police car. Bib eyes have to be quicker than the hands of the other driver.
Bit like those who pull seat belt to give impression of wearing it....
I have never ever been able to understand the need for using a mobile phone whilst driving. My job is important to my firm. My husband is toppest man in his field. But neither of us have ever allowed mobile phone to be used whilst we are in charge of a car. Maybe it is because he is doctor, and relative are doctors, BiBs and lawyers - and most of us have grown up around race tracks....
Strassencop said:
WildCat said:
Are we sure we are not confusing proper trafpol with pretzels in pandas who are not of same quality?
I'm not confused in the slightest. I'm talking about the increase in Trafpol numbers. Beat bobbies moving from normal policing duties to Road Policing duties, new name for Traffic Dept.
Are these beat bobbies trained to old Class One standards? Because there is a difference.
The pretzel in Panda let a dodgy driver whom he claimed to have seen swerve, but took no action, get onto a motorway where he was taken ill and nearly took me out with him. The trafpol who was on hard shoulder at time was the chap who helped saved my life - and I was just lucky puss cat that he was there that day... I am sure a properly trained trafpol would not have been as careless as to allow that. (Not that I am biased or anything ....
) Strassencop said:
As for the same quality. I don't think quality has anything to do with it.
Proper training has everything to do with it.
strassencop said:
Some excellent Bib decide not to specialise in any department, but instead continue to do the work they love..in the thick of it out on the streets. No lack of quality in them!
That I do not doubt - if and when we see them.... Unfortunately - red tape and form filling prevent this luxury... Plus those idiot fast-track -pen pushing thickos in charge .....
strassencop said:
PS I was amazed that use of mobile penalty was so low in first place.
Yep, me too..
Street
>> Edited by Streetcop on Sunday 15th August 21:41
See Liebchen - we do agree - not polarised completely
>> Edited by WildCat on Sunday 15th August 22:21
I NEVER EVER EVER use one whilst driving my car! WildCat said:
You cannot argue that you speedo gawp cos of scameras in one breath and claim you are 100% concentrating whilst drivin' one handed and gabbin' on phone in the next.
You speak a lot of sense and I agree with nearly everything you say my feline friend but in this case I fear the spin has bitten....one is imposed the other is chosen. If you can do it, do it, if you can't BiB will grab you for DD or UCaA. To me (and I may be wrong) lumping everyone together with identical skills and limitations reduces all our freedoms to the lowest common denominator, ergo, ultimately, we will not be allowed past our doorsteps without written authority.
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