Traffic Officers - What powers do they have?
Discussion
Do they have any actual legal authority over motorists beyond a non Traffic Officer?
For instance if you are driving and using a mobile can they stop you?
They often stop in the middle of the motorway (Lights flashing etc) at an accident or such and stop all rows of traffic. Could I just ignore them and drive on?
I'm intrigued.
For instance if you are driving and using a mobile can they stop you?
They often stop in the middle of the motorway (Lights flashing etc) at an accident or such and stop all rows of traffic. Could I just ignore them and drive on?
I'm intrigued.
Thankyou4calling said:
Do they have any actual legal authority over motorists beyond a non Traffic Officer?
For instance if you are driving and using a mobile can they stop you?
They often stop in the middle of the motorway (Lights flashing etc) at an accident or such and stop all rows of traffic. Could I just ignore them and drive on?
I'm intrigued.
Quoted.For instance if you are driving and using a mobile can they stop you?
They often stop in the middle of the motorway (Lights flashing etc) at an accident or such and stop all rows of traffic. Could I just ignore them and drive on?
I'm intrigued.
Thankyou4calling said:
Do they have any actual legal authority over motorists beyond a non Traffic Officer?
Same questions asked and answered umpteen times:https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Etc, etc, etc, etc, etc,........
Sebring440 said:
Thankyou4calling said:
Do they have any actual legal authority over motorists beyond a non Traffic Officer?
Same questions asked and answered umpteen times:https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Etc, etc, etc, etc, etc,........
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
On balance I think they are a useful addition to our road network - the police have training and powers that go beyond the tasks fufilled to the traffic officers.
Yes: an officer who can actually deal with the myriad of crappy driving whilst out and about could achieve a lot more - given the volume of hato presence Vs actual police presence.
But, inevitably, with resources being what they are, they would immediately be pulled off that task, and onto other more urgent things needing police powers.
Trying to ringfence them as a dedicated motorway or traffic squad would straight away have the endless "I was robbed and no one turned up" type responses. It's just a complete non starter.
I would happily pay for the creation of a anti-mlm police force, who just survived off fine income from this alone. Whilst not particularly dangerous, it is the visible tip of just how bad attitudes and skills have got, and I think leads to a lot of needless frustration (which is then dangerous - yes I have been triggered now).
To be fair to hatos, they drive under 70 so that people can overtake them legally. (Not that this actually stops a half mile long jam of cars behind one of them of course)
Yes: an officer who can actually deal with the myriad of crappy driving whilst out and about could achieve a lot more - given the volume of hato presence Vs actual police presence.
But, inevitably, with resources being what they are, they would immediately be pulled off that task, and onto other more urgent things needing police powers.
Trying to ringfence them as a dedicated motorway or traffic squad would straight away have the endless "I was robbed and no one turned up" type responses. It's just a complete non starter.
I would happily pay for the creation of a anti-mlm police force, who just survived off fine income from this alone. Whilst not particularly dangerous, it is the visible tip of just how bad attitudes and skills have got, and I think leads to a lot of needless frustration (which is then dangerous - yes I have been triggered now).
To be fair to hatos, they drive under 70 so that people can overtake them legally. (Not that this actually stops a half mile long jam of cars behind one of them of course)
I do wonder when i see them, how much of a saving is it verse a real police car, cant be a huge amount surely, I do get that a real cop maybe used elsewhere, but then we dont have enough police anyway, or those we do have are to busy doing admin etc.
If anyone knows if they are cheaper i would be interested, and is the saving worth it?
If anyone knows if they are cheaper i would be interested, and is the saving worth it?
From Glassdoor - The typical National Highways Traffic Officer salary is £28,000 per year. Traffic Officer salaries at National Highways can range from £22,472 - £34,090 per year. This estimate is based upon 37 National Highways Traffic Officer salary report(s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods.
Police Officers usually don't move into Roads Policing until they've had 4+ years service - £32,000, rising to £46k at 7 years service.
That's not taking into account the cost of training for additional skills -
Taser
DURFIT
Advanced Driver
TPAC
Drone
Police Officers usually don't move into Roads Policing until they've had 4+ years service - £32,000, rising to £46k at 7 years service.
That's not taking into account the cost of training for additional skills -
Taser
DURFIT
Advanced Driver
TPAC
Drone
Nibbles_bits said:
From Glassdoor - The typical National Highways Traffic Officer salary is £28,000 per year. Traffic Officer salaries at National Highways can range from £22,472 - £34,090 per year. This estimate is based upon 37 National Highways Traffic Officer salary report(s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods.
Police Officers usually don't move into Roads Policing until they've had 4+ years service - £32,000, rising to £46k at 7 years service.
That's not taking into account the cost of training for additional skills -
Taser
DURFIT
Advanced Driver
TPAC
Drone
We will just put the 400 million that it cost to set up to one side for now Police Officers usually don't move into Roads Policing until they've had 4+ years service - £32,000, rising to £46k at 7 years service.
That's not taking into account the cost of training for additional skills -
Taser
DURFIT
Advanced Driver
TPAC
Drone
Plus the on going cost of Comms, HR, Procurement, Management etc etc, all things the Police already had in place.
They should have just a had PCSOs for the motorways.
Nibbles_bits said:
From Glassdoor - The typical National Highways Traffic Officer salary is £28,000 per year. Traffic Officer salaries at National Highways can range from £22,472 - £34,090 per year. This estimate is based upon 37 National Highways Traffic Officer salary report(s) provided by employees or estimated based upon statistical methods.
Police Officers usually don't move into Roads Policing until they've had 4+ years service - £32,000, rising to £46k at 7 years service.
That's not taking into account the cost of training for additional skills -
Taser
DURFIT
Advanced Driver
TPAC
Drone
An interim I worked with did some financial planning work for the met police (or CoL - can't recall)Police Officers usually don't move into Roads Policing until they've had 4+ years service - £32,000, rising to £46k at 7 years service.
That's not taking into account the cost of training for additional skills -
Taser
DURFIT
Advanced Driver
TPAC
Drone
Anyway, he said constables and sergeant's can often take home £60k / £70k by getting the overtime and shift work right.
This apparently creates a problem for promotion, because officers don't get overtime - ie a big cut in pay (and probably without any change in hours).
Still, it would be necessary to compare like with like, so we'd need to know whether hato bods have a culture (or even ability) to rack up overtime.
I know there is one guy in PH who does the job.
To me, the actual price difference would be quite small - it's probably the politics between the dept for transport and home office that is the issue.
TheRainMaker said:
We will just put the 400 million that it cost to set up to one side for now
Plus the on going cost of Comms, HR, Procurement, Management etc etc, all things the Police already had in place.
They should have just a had PCSOs for the motorways.
Comms, HR, Procurement, Management etc etcPlus the on going cost of Comms, HR, Procurement, Management etc etc, all things the Police already had in place.
They should have just a had PCSOs for the motorways.
Things National Highways have had in place for the last 30 years ???
That's £400m over how many years?
Compared to Policing Budgets that go back to 1800s
Pretty sure, whichever way you try to spin it, Highways England is cheaper.
Edited by Nibbles_bits on Saturday 9th September 20:00
Nibbles_bits said:
TheRainMaker said:
We will just put the 400 million that it cost to set up to one side for now
Plus the on going cost of Comms, HR, Procurement, Management etc etc, all things the Police already had in place.
They should have just a had PCSOs for the motorways.
Comms, HR, Procurement, Management etc etcPlus the on going cost of Comms, HR, Procurement, Management etc etc, all things the Police already had in place.
They should have just a had PCSOs for the motorways.
Things National Highways have had in place for the last 30 years ???
That's £400m over how many years?
Compared to Policing Budgets that go back to 1800s
Pretty sure, whichever way you try to spin it, Highways England is cheaper.
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