Fined for photographing a traffic jam!
Discussion
An employee has just got into work late due to a long tailback on the A3 just south of Guildford.
In order to deliver evidence of this, rather than me assume that he'd chosen to catch a few more Z's in bed, he took a couple of photos of the queue from his STATIONARY car with his mobile phone.
A copper saw him take the photo, asked him to drive to the side of the road and gave him a fixed penalty for not being in control of his car ("using a mobile phone" FFS!). His engine was off at the time, because the traffic was not moving!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGHHH!!!!
In order to deliver evidence of this, rather than me assume that he'd chosen to catch a few more Z's in bed, he took a couple of photos of the queue from his STATIONARY car with his mobile phone.
A copper saw him take the photo, asked him to drive to the side of the road and gave him a fixed penalty for not being in control of his car ("using a mobile phone" FFS!). His engine was off at the time, because the traffic was not moving!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGHHH!!!!
jacobyte said:
An employee has just got into work late due to a long tailback on the A3 just south of Guildford.
In order to deliver evidence of this, rather than me assume that he'd chosen to catch a few more Z's in bed, he took a couple of photos of the queue from his STATIONARY car with his mobile phone.
A copper saw him take the photo, asked him to drive to the side of the road and gave him a fixed penalty for not being in control of his car ("using a mobile phone" FFS!). His engine was off at the time, because the traffic was not moving!
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGHHH!!!!
This is almost too stupid to be true.
If true, then respect for the law has to drop even lower. I mean, how much more utterly pin-headed can an enforcer be? "...Not in control...stationary vehicle...engine off..."
jacobyte said:"....and then my dog ate the phone!!!"
A copper saw him take the photo, asked him to drive to the side of the road and gave him a fixed penalty for not being in control of his car ("using a mobile phone" FFS!). His engine was off at the time, because the traffic was not moving
Now my ghast is even more flabbered: I am trying to encourage him to fight it, but he says "oh, it's only £30, and no points so it's too much hassle for that small amount". And yes, I have explained the principle of the matter to him and that everyone should exercise their right to a fair trial, it's robbery, etc, but he's almost trying to persuade himself that the BiB nabbed him fair and square. Some people, eh, you just can't help 'em.
Of course, if I do persuade him to fight it, he'll have to ask me to let him book a day's holiday to go to court
Of course, if I do persuade him to fight it, he'll have to ask me to let him book a day's holiday to go to court
jacobyte said:
Of course, if I do persuade him to fight it, he'll have to ask me to let him book a day's holiday to go to court
Tell him you'll give him a paid day off rather than using up holiday entitlement - it's got to be worth it just to expose the BiB in question as the tit that he is in court!
From the DfT
Q10. Can I use a hand-held mobile phone when stopped in a traffic jam?
The prohibition applies when driving. Driving includes times when stopped at traffic lights or during other hold-ups that may occur during a typical journey when a vehicle can be expected to move off after a short while.
In exceptional traffic jams, such as a lengthy stoppage on a motorway, it would be clear that someone wasn't driving if the engine was off.
Q10. Can I use a hand-held mobile phone when stopped in a traffic jam?
The prohibition applies when driving. Driving includes times when stopped at traffic lights or during other hold-ups that may occur during a typical journey when a vehicle can be expected to move off after a short while.
In exceptional traffic jams, such as a lengthy stoppage on a motorway, it would be clear that someone wasn't driving if the engine was off.
This is ridiculous.
How come if you are a motorist you have no legal rights?
I thought that you had to be PROVED guilty before being criminalised. How on earth can anyone prove you are not in control of a stationary car?
Are we now expected to hold our cars in gear and ride the clutch for hours with both hands on the wheel while sitting in traffic jams???
What a farce..
I really think we should all refuse to drive because being behind the wheel of a car is obviously incredibly hazardous even when stationary.
How come if you are a motorist you have no legal rights?
I thought that you had to be PROVED guilty before being criminalised. How on earth can anyone prove you are not in control of a stationary car?
Are we now expected to hold our cars in gear and ride the clutch for hours with both hands on the wheel while sitting in traffic jams???
What a farce..
I really think we should all refuse to drive because being behind the wheel of a car is obviously incredibly hazardous even when stationary.
Supposing he got out of the car (with engine still off) to take the pics, would PC Jobsworth have then issued him with a parking ticket? How bl**dy pathetic.
IMO, even if no appeal lodged, definitely warrants a formal complaint to the idiot's station (with copy to his CC) as being overzealous and not in the public interest.
IMO, even if no appeal lodged, definitely warrants a formal complaint to the idiot's station (with copy to his CC) as being overzealous and not in the public interest.
cuneus said:
From the DfT
Q10. Can I use a hand-held mobile phone when stopped in a traffic jam?
The prohibition applies when driving. Driving includes times when stopped at traffic lights or during other hold-ups that may occur during a typical journey when a vehicle can be expected to move off after a short while.
In exceptional traffic jams, such as a lengthy stoppage on a motorway, it would be clear that someone wasn't driving if the engine was off.
Nail on Head there !
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff