I am a menace to society
Discussion
Must be, got stopped twice on the way home. Left with a slightly bad taste in the mouth by the second one though. First time perfectly reasonable copper, perfectly sensible reason to stop (it's a long story, but I wasn't doing anything illegal, just slightly odd and there was a set-up roadside check, lots of people getting pulled) entirely straightforward:
'Good evening sir we're just running a routine check on cars in this area, May I ask, have you had anything to drink tonight'
"No, I've had nothing to drink"
'Nothing even early in the evening'
"No, I'm not happy driving even if I've only had a glass with dinner"
-completely true, I never drive after even a drop, it's just not something I'm happy with-
'OK. Where are you off too'
"I'm going to my mother's house"
etc. No problem, allowed to go, all fine.
Second stop (no more than 3 miles from home). Absolutely no reason to stop that I can think of (driving at speed limit, can't think of anything unusual that could have been witnessed),
No preamble:
'Where are you going'
"To my mother's house"
'I have reason to believe you may have been drinking'
-I don't think you do, but never mind-
"OK"
'Can I see your licence'
"No problem, here you are"
'Oh. OK sir, sorry to have stopped you, have a safe drive'
WTF
My mother knows a couple of the senior officers at the station this guy's from, but I really have a problem with this.
If I had done something wrong (and it's not outside the realms of possibility that I missed a stop sign or something) then I would expect any police officer to treat any driver the same as anyone else, providing they were cooperative, not obviously pi$$ed etc.
If I hadn't done anything wrong then seems to be a case of 'stopped on suspicion of, err, being young and driving a nice car. Not a good basis for deciding who to stop IMHO.
Am I wrong to be pissed off ? I'll happily listen to the arguments for/against, it just struck me as a bit off
'Good evening sir we're just running a routine check on cars in this area, May I ask, have you had anything to drink tonight'
"No, I've had nothing to drink"
'Nothing even early in the evening'
"No, I'm not happy driving even if I've only had a glass with dinner"
-completely true, I never drive after even a drop, it's just not something I'm happy with-
'OK. Where are you off too'
"I'm going to my mother's house"
etc. No problem, allowed to go, all fine.
Second stop (no more than 3 miles from home). Absolutely no reason to stop that I can think of (driving at speed limit, can't think of anything unusual that could have been witnessed),
No preamble:
'Where are you going'
"To my mother's house"
'I have reason to believe you may have been drinking'
-I don't think you do, but never mind-
"OK"
'Can I see your licence'
"No problem, here you are"
'Oh. OK sir, sorry to have stopped you, have a safe drive'
WTF
My mother knows a couple of the senior officers at the station this guy's from, but I really have a problem with this. If I had done something wrong (and it's not outside the realms of possibility that I missed a stop sign or something) then I would expect any police officer to treat any driver the same as anyone else, providing they were cooperative, not obviously pi$$ed etc.
If I hadn't done anything wrong then seems to be a case of 'stopped on suspicion of, err, being young and driving a nice car. Not a good basis for deciding who to stop IMHO.
Am I wrong to be pissed off ? I'll happily listen to the arguments for/against, it just struck me as a bit off
It would have been acceptable, if he had known you by face (usual in some areas, that policemen know the locals by face, even when they're law-abiding 
).
But: I think it's fairly normal that policemen (as well as any other individual) are more likely to trust someone who is not entirely unfamiliar. If there was any initial suspiciousness with the cop, it probably went away with the information you handed over with your license.
). But: I think it's fairly normal that policemen (as well as any other individual) are more likely to trust someone who is not entirely unfamiliar. If there was any initial suspiciousness with the cop, it probably went away with the information you handed over with your license.
to the voice of reason i used to get stopped all the time when i was in my last job! i am normally in unusual places at unusual times, i once got stopped by the police because someone had rang them and said we were badger baiting
we were actually trying to find some *travellers* who were trying to poach deer! when the local police got to know me and the vehicle i was using they would stop for a chinwag!
we were actually trying to find some *travellers* who were trying to poach deer! when the local police got to know me and the vehicle i was using they would stop for a chinwag! I used to get stopped when I worked in a pub all the time, but 18 yr old, decent(ish) motor, driving at speed (knew the road like the back of my hand + total overconfidence in driving ability) with all the windows down (I HATE the smell of smoke, but I needed the money 
) so pretty reasonable in hindsight.
I hope you caught the poachers...12 bore between the eyes would seem appropriate some how
) so pretty reasonable in hindsight. I hope you caught the poachers...12 bore between the eyes would seem appropriate some how
JD...
You have to understand (according to my local Plod friends here anyway), that after answering a few questions, Plod can tell either from your answers or (more importantly) by taking a strong inhale of air when you answer, if you have been drinking or not. That is probably why they let you be on your way so easily. They knew you where not lying...
ErnestM
>> Edited by ErnestM (moderator) on Monday 11th August 02:45
You have to understand (according to my local Plod friends here anyway), that after answering a few questions, Plod can tell either from your answers or (more importantly) by taking a strong inhale of air when you answer, if you have been drinking or not. That is probably why they let you be on your way so easily. They knew you where not lying...
ErnestM
>> Edited by ErnestM (moderator) on Monday 11th August 02:45
In the first instance 
(any barman has the same skills, it's not what they say, it's how they say it) In the second I don't think so. He didn't ask enough to get any impression, his attitude was extremely hostile and it changed only on seeing my name and address. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I'm not convinced...
(any barman has the same skills, it's not what they say, it's how they say it) In the second I don't think so. He didn't ask enough to get any impression, his attitude was extremely hostile and it changed only on seeing my name and address. Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I'm not convinced...jaydee, we did catch them but the police are usually a little reluctant to deal with travellers, as they have no fixed address and are difficult to persue! a few months later i stopped two lads using a semi auto rifle out of the window of a landrover! luckily they panicked and threw the gun in the hedge and stopped the car, i took the gun and put it in my pickup and they then handed over the spare magazine and ammo! they gave thier names quite willingly 
they offered me £500 to not report them, but i had all the evidence and thought that the local police (staffs) would be quite pleased to have an illegal firearm case, section 1 firearm,public place, no licence etc. lot of charges. when they both got £140 fine, i felt slightly let down, as i am sure the police did!
they offered me £500 to not report them, but i had all the evidence and thought that the local police (staffs) would be quite pleased to have an illegal firearm case, section 1 firearm,public place, no licence etc. lot of charges. when they both got £140 fine, i felt slightly let down, as i am sure the police did!Should've just used it. Don't have a very liberal attitude to poachers (as you may have guessed) ever since our gamekeeper got shot. Used to be the odd bit of rabbit poaching by people who 'new the rules' (sorry this is a bit 'in my day...' but it's true) now organised gangs, lamping for anything that moves, and with scanners and lookouts for the police and the keepers. We (and everyone else) know exactly who's behind it (and he's a nationally known celebrity) but will Cheshire Police do anything ? Will they heck
I'd say it was typical of Cheshire police. My first car was a fiesta; never got stopped, 2nd car a golf; never got stopped, 3rd car red BMW 320; stopped an average twice a month for two years. They never accused me of breaking any law, or bad driving, no checks on car's state, no producers. Got so bad at one stage I could recognise several different officers by face. 4th car black 530; never got stopped. West Yorkshire cops are what i'd describe as 'firm but fair'. I had nothing but rude aggressive aggro from Cheshire's.
>> Edited by stackmonkey on Tuesday 12th August 18:09
>> Edited by stackmonkey on Tuesday 12th August 18:09
jaydee said:
Should've just used it. Don't have a very liberal attitude to poachers (as you may have guessed) ever since our gamekeeper got shot. Used to be the odd bit of rabbit poaching by people who 'new the rules' (sorry this is a bit 'in my day...' but it's true) now organised gangs, lamping for anything that moves, and with scanners and lookouts for the police and the keepers. We (and everyone else) know exactly who's behind it (and he's a nationally known celebrity) but will Cheshire Police do anything ? Will they heck
In your day? I thought you were only 26? you're sounding like an old fogey
mrs f, i think jaydee is referring to the old school of poachers, who used to take a few birds or rabbits to feed themselves or buy a few pints with! i am not much older at 30, but things have changed a lot! as jaydee said poachers are now better equipped and prices for dead game have dropped considerably, so in recent years they have moved on from the odd pheasant or rabbit, to taking deer and hundreds of pheasants in a night! luckily i have not been shot yet, but i have been shot at, and some of the residents of cannock used to threaten to burn my house etc. i have moved to shropshire now for an easy life, there are three scrotes from hednesford who will remember me for a while!
jaydee said:
Should've just used it. Don't have a very liberal attitude to poachers (as you may have guessed) ever since our gamekeeper got shot. Used to be the odd bit of rabbit poaching by people who 'new the rules' (sorry this is a bit 'in my day...' but it's true) now organised gangs, lamping for anything that moves, and with scanners and lookouts for the police and the keepers. We (and everyone else) know exactly who's behind it (and he's a nationally known celebrity) but will Cheshire Police do anything ? Will they heck
Oh Pleease spill the beans!
v8 westy said:
mrs f, i think jaydee is referring to the old school of poachers, who used to take a few birds or rabbits to feed themselves or buy a few pints with! i am not much older at 30, but things have changed a lot! as jaydee said poachers are now better equipped and prices for dead game have dropped considerably, so in recent years they have moved on from the odd pheasant or rabbit, to taking deer and hundreds of pheasants in a night! luckily i have not been shot yet, but i have been shot at, and some of the residents of cannock used to threaten to burn my house etc. i have moved to shropshire now for an easy life, there are three scrotes from hednesford who will remember me for a while!
I was bought up in Hednesford
JohnP68 said:
Personally, I think that the police should be able to stop anyone they like, so long as they don't delay decent law abiding people like me for more than a minute or so. That would at least catch more of the uninsured drivers, illegal immigrants, burglars etc.
I agree, I am sure everyone would rather be inconvienced for a couple of minutes like that than have speed camera's and talivans....
I've only ever been stopped once (Red Diesel Citroen ZX) and that was for a standard road-side check. Funny thing was I was driving home after picking it up from it's MOT which it had just passed. They checked it over still but weren't too bothered
Stefan
jaydee said:
Second stop (no more than 3 miles from home). Absolutely no reason to stop that I can think of (driving at speed limit, can't think of anything unusual that could have been witnessed),
No preamble:
'Where are you going'
"To my mother's house"
'I have reason to believe you may have been drinking'
-I don't think you do, but never mind-
"OK"
'Can I see your licence'
"No problem, here you are"
'Oh. OK sir, sorry to have stopped you, have a safe drive'
WTF
If I had done something wrong (and it's not outside the realms of possibility that I missed a stop sign or something) then I would expect any police officer to treat any driver the same as anyone else, providing they were cooperative, not obviously pi$$ed etc.
If I hadn't done anything wrong then seems to be a case of 'stopped on suspicion of, err, being young and driving a nice car. Not a good basis for deciding who to stop IMHO.
Am I wrong to be pissed off ? I'll happily listen to the arguments for/against, it just struck me as a bit off
It sounds to me like he may have been given a report that a car similar to yours was driving erratically or something? The fact that he immediately said he thought you'd been drinking suggests that he had other information to go on?
A case of mistaken identity perhaps?
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