Policeman flashing Warrant Card on M25
Discussion
Coming round the M25 yesterday I was stuck behind a Vauxhall in lane 3. We were doing about 90 and there was absolutely nothing on the inside so no reason for him to be in that lane as he was not overtaking. I wanted to get past and did not want to go up the inside. After a while he still hadn’t moved over so I got fed up and moved closer and flashed my lights twice. He still didn’t move over, but instead wound down his window and flashed what looked like a Warrant Card at me!
He then used hand signals to get me to follow him into lane 1. I thought he wanted to pull me over onto the hard shoulder, but instead he signalled for me to pull alongside him in lane 2, wind down my passenger window and move over towards his car so I could hear him. By this time we had caught up with other traffic so it was difficult to do this safely while concentrating on what else was going on around me. He shouted something about being reported for summons, but at 70 mph in a Sagaris it’s pretty difficult to hear what somebody in the car next to you is shouting. So I don’t know if it was a threat or what he was actually going to do – certainly not the best way to give a verbal NIP!! Then he wound up his window and I let him continue front of me.
A couple of junctions further on he exited the motorway at the very last second driving right across the chevrons in front of other traffic :rolleyes:
Trying to drive side by side to have a conversation between cars on the M25 in traffic at about 70mph is not very safe at all. Driving along in lane 3 causing a hold up while overtaking nothing is not very sensible or considerate, in fact I would go as far as to say he may have been trying to bait me into doing something silly.
Is a policeman in plan clothes in a car that is clearly not a police car actually allowed to do this kind of thing? And if they are can they actually send you a summons for flashing your headlights at them? Presumably they have to NIP you first?
He then used hand signals to get me to follow him into lane 1. I thought he wanted to pull me over onto the hard shoulder, but instead he signalled for me to pull alongside him in lane 2, wind down my passenger window and move over towards his car so I could hear him. By this time we had caught up with other traffic so it was difficult to do this safely while concentrating on what else was going on around me. He shouted something about being reported for summons, but at 70 mph in a Sagaris it’s pretty difficult to hear what somebody in the car next to you is shouting. So I don’t know if it was a threat or what he was actually going to do – certainly not the best way to give a verbal NIP!! Then he wound up his window and I let him continue front of me.
A couple of junctions further on he exited the motorway at the very last second driving right across the chevrons in front of other traffic :rolleyes:
Trying to drive side by side to have a conversation between cars on the M25 in traffic at about 70mph is not very safe at all. Driving along in lane 3 causing a hold up while overtaking nothing is not very sensible or considerate, in fact I would go as far as to say he may have been trying to bait me into doing something silly.
Is a policeman in plan clothes in a car that is clearly not a police car actually allowed to do this kind of thing? And if they are can they actually send you a summons for flashing your headlights at them? Presumably they have to NIP you first?
Before you all of you jump on the bandwagon there are people out there who try to pass themselves off as being a stalwart member of an organisation who normally wear a uniform of blue.
How do you know it was a warrant card?
I don't but this one more likely a numpty with delusions of granduer flashing a Barclaycard.
DVD
How do you know it was a warrant card?
I don't but this one more likely a numpty with delusions of granduer flashing a Barclaycard.
DVD
Tusker said:
Impressive driving on the M20 yesterday, TSS. 
Your Saggy was the only car to overtake us from Dover to the end of my piloting stint at Toddington.
Are you sure you approached the said Vauxhall at 90mph ??
Hi Tusker, was good to meet you at the ferry yesterday. I hope you had a good drive home.
Yes I was definitely doing about 90, I was in a queue of traffic in lane 3 all doing about that speed overtaking some slow stuff with the Vauxhall about 3 cars ahead at the front of the queue. As the inside became clear the cars between us moved over to let me and the cars behind me past. The Vauxhall and myself were both doing about 90 in lane 3 (with nothing on the inside) for a short while before I got fed up and flashed him.
>> Edited by TSS on Thursday 23 June 16:03
Dwight VanDriver said:
Before you all of you jump on the bandwagon there are people out there who try to pass themselves off as being a stalwart member of an organisation who normally wear a uniform of blue.
How do you know it was a warrant card?
I don't but this one more likely a numpty with delusions of granduer flashing a Barclaycard.
DVD
Im with DVD on this one, just some numpty trying to be something he isn't.
Maybe he was saying "Give it some ya bastard, it's a TVR not a Talbot Sunbeam!"
Dwight VanDriver said:
How do you know it was a warrant card?
DVD
I can't be sure it was a warrant card as it was quite difficult to see, but his manner when shouting across at me and the way he used hand signals to get me to move alongside his car suggested that he was somebody used to doing this sort of thing. I’d say I’m 95% certain he was a real policeman.
Unfortunately I didn’t get his registration, although in hindsight I probably should have taken it down.
TSS,
Presumably that would've been you overtaking me and the missus in our little red Scoob on the Rouen-Calais stretch then? Can't have been that many Saggyarses left in France by the Wednesday.
IIRC we stopped for fuel just after you, had a leasurely lunch then had to massage the speed limit the rest of the way as we lost track of time in the services.
Going back to the gist of your first post, I shouldn't worry about said 'plod', for all you know he could've been flashing his vip pass to Mrs Tiggywinkle's house of bondage.
Shame you weren't able to get close enough to nick said card from his outstretched paw.
Lovely car by the way!
Dave
Presumably that would've been you overtaking me and the missus in our little red Scoob on the Rouen-Calais stretch then? Can't have been that many Saggyarses left in France by the Wednesday.
IIRC we stopped for fuel just after you, had a leasurely lunch then had to massage the speed limit the rest of the way as we lost track of time in the services.
Going back to the gist of your first post, I shouldn't worry about said 'plod', for all you know he could've been flashing his vip pass to Mrs Tiggywinkle's house of bondage.
Shame you weren't able to get close enough to nick said card from his outstretched paw.
Lovely car by the way!
Dave
DJFish said:
TSS,
Presumably that would've been you overtaking me and the missus in our little red Scoob on the Rouen-Calais stretch then? Can't have been that many Saggyarses left in France by the Wednesday.
Lovely car by the way!
Dave
Hi Dave, yes that was me, I remember your red Scooby. We were on a bit of a mission to get to Boulogne in time to do some shopping and have lunch before the 17:30 ferry. Glad you like the car.
TSS
DVD may well be right, but then there are a small minority of total numpties in the Police, who might just behave as this person did.
The law DOES require an Officer to be in uniform to stop a vehilce. (They do not have to be wearing their hat!). If a Police vehicle wants to stop a car it should do so in the proper fashion, i.e. use of blue lights/headlamps etc...
People should NEVER pull over on the flash of a badge together with a gesture or hand signal. There are strange people out there, I have had some personal experience of dealing with a Police impersonator and the implications are worrying.
Even if you see blue lights, and you then stop, if the Officer doesn't look "right" don't be afraid to ask for ID. Any legitimate Officer should be quite willing to press their warrant against the window for you to look at.
The law DOES require an Officer to be in uniform to stop a vehilce. (They do not have to be wearing their hat!). If a Police vehicle wants to stop a car it should do so in the proper fashion, i.e. use of blue lights/headlamps etc...
People should NEVER pull over on the flash of a badge together with a gesture or hand signal. There are strange people out there, I have had some personal experience of dealing with a Police impersonator and the implications are worrying.
Even if you see blue lights, and you then stop, if the Officer doesn't look "right" don't be afraid to ask for ID. Any legitimate Officer should be quite willing to press their warrant against the window for you to look at.
If you do receive a summons to appear at court; which I doubt very much. I'm sure the defence solicitor would have an absolute field day outlining that the 'officer' issued a verbal NIP through the window of a moving vehicle at 70 mph on the M25 !!
Imagine the press coverage of that !?
In your position I would be sleeping soundly. And if the unexpected comes to pass... you will have an enjoyable day in court. Of that I am very sure.
Imagine the press coverage of that !?
In your position I would be sleeping soundly. And if the unexpected comes to pass... you will have an enjoyable day in court. Of that I am very sure.
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