Anecdotal E.G of contrasting French vs. UK (US) police
Discussion
Bit of a long one this but I have been reflecting on this a lot today…
PREVIOUSELY the Monday after Easter Sunday 2005 I was driving with a friend through France to look at the Normandy landing beaches and pay respects at a cemetery on the way. We were pretty close, it was a beautiful day, the roads were very very quiet, I was dawdling behind a small truck when a lovely stretch opened up so I overtook quickly.
We passed a large building several 100’s of meters to the side. It turned out to be a school (closed because of the holidays) hence the 70 kph limit sign which I did NOT see because of the truck. I had massive visibility across hedge less fields on both sides once past the truck, the end of the straight approached, breaking gently I got a sinking feeling...
Police ! We were waved into leafy drive where a Gendarme was lurking, he had logged me doing 137kmh ! Zute, Alors ! He asked for my papers and said that for the speed I was doing it was normal to impound the car on the spot and give a 500+ Euro fine.
Time for some fast talking (in French) “We were returning home that night” , “I need my car for work” , then I thought that won’t work, I need an emotional sell. I hit the jackpot with “we are visiting the beaches and graves”… his eyes lit up with joy – he liked the idea of Brits caring enough to visit. He told me his grandfather was with the resistance and he lived to see the Americans land and 90 years of age. Apparently his uncle had blown up a Panza with a bomb made from pig $hit and got a medal for it too ! Deserved one for inginuity alone IMHO.
I got off with a 60 Euro fine and that’s it. He actually apologised for fining me at all, but said he had to because he had started to write the ticket out and they were all logged.
We ended the conversation with a chat about my Porsche, his restaurant recommendation in the area and an invitation to a Tank Museum. I said I would slow down in future and he said dont worry about it ! Now that’s why I love the French – they are about life.
So to the reason I mention all that is the contrast it has with what happened driving home...
...YESTERDAY a large undercover US style people carrier with a non-uniformed man in it drove up to literally 1 foot behind me with it’s sirens on and hidden lights flashing. Assuming I had been done I pulled to the hard shoulder and stopped. He nearly clipped my bumper then he sped off at about 90 in a 50 Zone. I sat there dumbfounded, thanked my lucky stars and set off again.
Presumably not a patrol car because there are some military bases nearby but WTF kind of behaviour is that ? He damn well near caused an accident where there was none in the first place and was not even interested in closure on the circumstances he was reacting to and was speeding himself !
Really big contrast to my mind – just wanted to share it with you all.
PREVIOUSELY the Monday after Easter Sunday 2005 I was driving with a friend through France to look at the Normandy landing beaches and pay respects at a cemetery on the way. We were pretty close, it was a beautiful day, the roads were very very quiet, I was dawdling behind a small truck when a lovely stretch opened up so I overtook quickly.
We passed a large building several 100’s of meters to the side. It turned out to be a school (closed because of the holidays) hence the 70 kph limit sign which I did NOT see because of the truck. I had massive visibility across hedge less fields on both sides once past the truck, the end of the straight approached, breaking gently I got a sinking feeling...
Police ! We were waved into leafy drive where a Gendarme was lurking, he had logged me doing 137kmh ! Zute, Alors ! He asked for my papers and said that for the speed I was doing it was normal to impound the car on the spot and give a 500+ Euro fine.
Time for some fast talking (in French) “We were returning home that night” , “I need my car for work” , then I thought that won’t work, I need an emotional sell. I hit the jackpot with “we are visiting the beaches and graves”… his eyes lit up with joy – he liked the idea of Brits caring enough to visit. He told me his grandfather was with the resistance and he lived to see the Americans land and 90 years of age. Apparently his uncle had blown up a Panza with a bomb made from pig $hit and got a medal for it too ! Deserved one for inginuity alone IMHO.
I got off with a 60 Euro fine and that’s it. He actually apologised for fining me at all, but said he had to because he had started to write the ticket out and they were all logged.
We ended the conversation with a chat about my Porsche, his restaurant recommendation in the area and an invitation to a Tank Museum. I said I would slow down in future and he said dont worry about it ! Now that’s why I love the French – they are about life.
So to the reason I mention all that is the contrast it has with what happened driving home...
...YESTERDAY a large undercover US style people carrier with a non-uniformed man in it drove up to literally 1 foot behind me with it’s sirens on and hidden lights flashing. Assuming I had been done I pulled to the hard shoulder and stopped. He nearly clipped my bumper then he sped off at about 90 in a 50 Zone. I sat there dumbfounded, thanked my lucky stars and set off again.
Presumably not a patrol car because there are some military bases nearby but WTF kind of behaviour is that ? He damn well near caused an accident where there was none in the first place and was not even interested in closure on the circumstances he was reacting to and was speeding himself !
Really big contrast to my mind – just wanted to share it with you all.
moreymach said:
Yeah, thanks a lot for that.....
Not quite sure what it was saying but still...
Thanks. I obviously don't have a great (or brief) point to make. Main reason was the contrast between the humanity of the French Police and the hostility / hypocrisy of the chap yesterday who was driving like a nutter, swerving, speeding and generally making the motorway a dangerous place just so he could have his peneth worth.
Message for Hollywood. Go yourself, after reading up a bit. Definitely go to Omaha, it's amazing. Visit the American cemetry, do the gun emplacements all along Omaha. Also go to Pointe du Hoc, the craters there are unbelievable. The British beaches are ok, but not so inspiring - and before you get me wrong, I am English - and my dad landed at Juno 'on the day'. Good place to go is Pegasus Bridge, and the massive gun emplacement just up the road that I'm ashamed to say I've forgotten the name of( just remembered, Merville). It's the one the British Paras captured. Also, St Mere Eglise is well worth a visit, visit the museum there and admire the figure of John Steele hanging from the church (it's not really him! - And it's on the wrong side of the church, but it's good for the tourists. Just outside St M E there an amazing underground trench system you can go around. The gun emplacements look out over Utah beach, with loads of mg posts along the way.
As the saying goes, I could write a book. If you want any more detail, send a reply with your email address, I'll mail you directly.
As the saying goes, I could write a book. If you want any more detail, send a reply with your email address, I'll mail you directly.
Hollywood Wheels said:
[quote=cyrus1971]
the humanity of the French Police
Now that is funny!!!
quote]
Well it is a sample of just one so "humanity" is a bit much, but he was a particularly nice bloke. Sure they can be swines too !
I can’t recall the name of the beach, I have asked my friend. It was one of the smaller ones, right on the beach, about 5 bunkers & as many trenches, couple of mortar positions and one barracks further back. The memorial read like a smorgasbord of regiments.
Will post when known
Cheers for the advice guys...
I have many many books on the subject, and would want to visit all five beaches eventually. It's a disgrace really that i'm 31 years old and still haven't been.....you've helped make my mind up. I would love to do an Arnhem trip at some point in the future too, would be a good excuse for a hoon as well!
I have many many books on the subject, and would want to visit all five beaches eventually. It's a disgrace really that i'm 31 years old and still haven't been.....you've helped make my mind up. I would love to do an Arnhem trip at some point in the future too, would be a good excuse for a hoon as well!
Hollywood Wheels said:
Cyrus, which of the beaches did you visit? Hoping to get over there myself soon, unsure whether to go with the 'Battlefields' Tour which seems good, or just drive over there myself.....
Drive yourself.
Don't forget to travel alittle and spend a few days for the WW1 battlefields.
Visit a cementry - small ones are better - less crowded. Humbling is the only word I can think of when seeing row after row of white gravestones.
Sod GCSG's - a visit should be part of the eduction of every child.
It's offensive to see what so many gave up for the freedoms that people choose to throw away in the current "troubled times"
"Talking of cemetries, I found the grave of my dads tank commander a couple of years ago. Dad was the only one of the five crew to get out alive. I keep promising to take him over to visit the grave, but shamefully i haven't done so yet, Well, he's only 83, he's got years left yet!"
Take him there soon, only you and he - it will be the greatest and most humbling father/son experience in your life. You will never be closer to him in your life; nor he, you.
Take him there soon, only you and he - it will be the greatest and most humbling father/son experience in your life. You will never be closer to him in your life; nor he, you.
cyrus1971 said:Remember the advice given when being tailgated (especially in such circumstances as described) ... SLOW DOWN, make space in front of you ... lots of space. Keep slowing down. Let them overtake you when they think it's safe. And get a note of the number to post here! - Streaky
YESTERDAY a large undercover US style people carrier with a non-uniformed man in it drove up to literally 1 foot behind me with it’s sirens on and hidden lights flashing.
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