Apparently excessive tailgating
Discussion
So last night I was pulled over by unmarked police for excessive tailgating and racing up to 70mph. I’m not even sure I hit 70mph tbh. But the video shows me leaving a little side road and gaining speed as I didn’t want to get in anyone’s way. I follow an vw Amerok. I then got followed to a petrol station and an unmarked car pulled in and had a right go at me. Issued me a section 59 and gave me a ticket with an offence code of rt88576 and told me to expect a court summons. I’m keeping evidence of my view but this is petty. Would you class this as excessive tailgating. 
For the most part you are just under 1 second from the Amarok, that's too close, certainly not safe but I see worse. However...
1) during the braking for the roundabout, you got way closer - I'd estimate 5-6m between you both. That's WAY too close, especially when the car you are following is already braking.
2) coming off the roundabout where you cut the video you appear to be driving up his bum.
So I'd say that is excessive tailgating, yes. A ticket seems a bit much though, I'd have expected words of advice to be given.
1) during the braking for the roundabout, you got way closer - I'd estimate 5-6m between you both. That's WAY too close, especially when the car you are following is already braking.
2) coming off the roundabout where you cut the video you appear to be driving up his bum.
So I'd say that is excessive tailgating, yes. A ticket seems a bit much though, I'd have expected words of advice to be given.
WTF - if that is the section of road on which the police car followed you and is basing his S59 on then that’s just b
ks.
The acceleration looks perfectly normal and I can’t say that the distance you are following the Amorak at is anything to get agitated about either, even allowing for the wet road - and I say that as someone who is very particular about keeping my distance. I was expecting a few feet.
Either the copper is being a dick or this is not what he is basing his judgement upon. Was there another factor? We’re you driving something with a loud exhaust or something?
ks. The acceleration looks perfectly normal and I can’t say that the distance you are following the Amorak at is anything to get agitated about either, even allowing for the wet road - and I say that as someone who is very particular about keeping my distance. I was expecting a few feet.
Either the copper is being a dick or this is not what he is basing his judgement upon. Was there another factor? We’re you driving something with a loud exhaust or something?
Mk6gee said:
So last night I was pulled over by unmarked police for excessive tailgating and racing up to 70mph. I’m not even sure I hit 70mph tbh. But the video shows me leaving a little side road and gaining speed as I didn’t want to get in anyone’s way. I follow an vw Amerok. I then got followed to a petrol station and an unmarked car pulled in and had a right go at me. Issued me a section 59 and gave me a ticket with an offence code of rt88576 and told me to expect a court summons. I’m keeping evidence of my view but this is petty. Would you class this as excessive tailgating. 
It’s tricky with it being dark, but when the VW passes the road side in the offside and you say only a fool breaks to two second rule. You pass the same sign before you finish saying it. What are the road conditions like? I can’t work out if it’s raining or not? If it’s raining or damp roads then you are too close in my opinion.
Court seems a bit harsh. You should be able to get a course for that. It’s low level. Unless you’ve done one before (or in Scotland?).
I wouldn't say there is anything wrong with it. You seem about the same distance to the car in front as the blue Mondeo is when passing.
I think what you're supposed to do these days is pull out in front of people and make no effort to get up to the speed of other traffic. Police may have preferred that. 🤔
I think what you're supposed to do these days is pull out in front of people and make no effort to get up to the speed of other traffic. Police may have preferred that. 🤔
Could be worse.
I once had a police car behind me, then I genuinely got lost and took the wrong exit on a roundabout (where the Trafford Golf Centre is). So After exiting the roundabout I turned into the very first side road. The police car then stopped stationary in the middle of the dual carriageway to wait for me.
I didn’t know getting lost was a crime? And everyones viewed with suspicion and assumed guilty.
I once had a police car behind me, then I genuinely got lost and took the wrong exit on a roundabout (where the Trafford Golf Centre is). So After exiting the roundabout I turned into the very first side road. The police car then stopped stationary in the middle of the dual carriageway to wait for me.
I didn’t know getting lost was a crime? And everyones viewed with suspicion and assumed guilty.
Barmy, and great that you have dashcam footage to refute it in court. I wouldn't say you were tailgating but you were a little closer than I would've been.
In contrast I was tailgated by a chav in a typical white 1-series coupe as I passed a marked police car in the nearside lane on the A23 on Saturday. I was doing an indicated 75, 72 on the GPS. I couldn't see the chav's reg plate or lights in my rear-view mirror and I wasn't about to go hoofing it past the cop. As I pulled back in the chav came past and gave me a variety of hand-signals to which I responded in kind. He then started playing the t
t in front of me - I've never wanted to PIT manoeuvre someone so much in my life...
The cop was clearly oblivious to the tailgating and subsequent f
kery by 1-series chav.
In contrast I was tailgated by a chav in a typical white 1-series coupe as I passed a marked police car in the nearside lane on the A23 on Saturday. I was doing an indicated 75, 72 on the GPS. I couldn't see the chav's reg plate or lights in my rear-view mirror and I wasn't about to go hoofing it past the cop. As I pulled back in the chav came past and gave me a variety of hand-signals to which I responded in kind. He then started playing the t
t in front of me - I've never wanted to PIT manoeuvre someone so much in my life...The cop was clearly oblivious to the tailgating and subsequent f
kery by 1-series chav.Mk6gee said:
So last night I was pulled over by unmarked police for excessive tailgating and racing up to 70mph. I’m not even sure I hit 70mph tbh. But the video shows me leaving a little side road and gaining speed as I didn’t want to get in anyone’s way. I follow an vw Amerok. I then got followed to a petrol station and an unmarked car pulled in and had a right go at me. Issued me a section 59 and gave me a ticket with an offence code of rt88576 and told me to expect a court summons. I’m keeping evidence of my view but this is petty. Would you class this as excessive tailgating. 
You are too close to the VW. The VW also braked early and held their brakes on in an attempt to make you pull back.
donkmeister said:
For the most part you are just under 1 second from the Amarok, that's too close, certainly not safe but I see worse. However...
1) during the braking for the roundabout, you got way closer - I'd estimate 5-6m between you both. That's WAY too close, especially when the car you are following is already braking.
2) coming off the roundabout where you cut the video you appear to be driving up his bum.
So I'd say that is excessive tailgating, yes. A ticket seems a bit much though, I'd have expected words of advice to be given.
1) during the braking for the roundabout, you got way closer - I'd estimate 5-6m between you both. That's WAY too close, especially when the car you are following is already braking.
2) coming off the roundabout where you cut the video you appear to be driving up his bum.
So I'd say that is excessive tailgating, yes. A ticket seems a bit much though, I'd have expected words of advice to be given.
Sash cam records 1min videos at a time annoying i know but it’s only cheap one. As soon as we come off roundabout he pulls to side and I just sail past with unmarked still behind me who even said them selfs I wasn’t speeding all the time they followed me.
Mk6gee said:
Sash cam records 1min videos at a time annoying i know but it’s only cheap one. As soon as we come off roundabout he pulls to side and I just sail past with unmarked still behind me who even said them selfs I wasn’t speeding all the time they followed me.
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