warning?

[webmistress]

Got sent this as email recently... any comments guys?

"This actually happened to someone's daughter. Lauren was 19 yrs old and in college. It was the Saturday before New Year about 1.00 pm in the afternoon, and Lauren was driving to visit a friend. An UNMARKED police car pulled up behind her and put its lights on. Lauren's parents have 4 children (of various ages) and have always told them never to pull over for an unmarked car on the side of the road, but rather wait until they get to a service station, etc. So Lauren had actually listened to her parents' advice, and promptly called No. 112 on her mobile phone to tell the police dispatcher that she would not pull over right away. She proceeded to tell the dispatcher that there was an unmarked police car with a flashing blue light on his rooftop behind her. The dispatcher checked to see if there was a police car where she was and there wasn't. He told her to keep driving, remain calm and that he had back-up already on the way. Ten minutes later 4 police cars surrounded her and the unmarked car behind her. One policeman went to her side and the others surrounded the car behind. They pulled the guy from the car and tackled him to the ground... the man was a convicted rapist and wanted for other crimes.

I never knew that bit of advice, but especially for a woman alone in a car, you should not pull over foran unmarked car. Apparently police have to respect your right to keep going to a "safe" place. You obviously need to make some signals that you acknowledge them (i.e. put on your hazard lights) or call No. 112 like Lauren did. Too bad the mobile phone companies don't give you this little bit of wonderful information.

So now it's your turn to let your friends know about No. 112. This is good information that I did not know. Please pass on to any females that you know.

Some more info received: 999 is the emergency services.... apparently the 112 number takes you straight to dispatch who can track the marked
and unmarked police cars. 999 wouldn't be able to be as quick or knowledgeable - they probably also wouldn't know what to do if you called them and questioned them about the car following you...."

[puggit]

Been discussed before:

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=65825&f=10&h=0&hw=112

[zetec]

More info here.

www.thamesvalley.police.uk/unmarked-cars.htm

[webmistress]

Thanks for the replies, much appreciated....

(Appears the email has become more 'English' whilst doing the rounds!)

[volvod5_dude]

Does this mean you DON'T have to stop on a MWay hard shoulder if directed to by police, but can carry on and exit then stop at the next junction where it's safe or safer at least? By no stretch of the imagination can hardshoulders be deemed safe! I've seen some horrendous accidents on hard shoulders, in real life and on TV and there's no way I would stop on one, unless my car broke down, then I wouldn't stay anywhere near it. I can't understand people who meekly go and sit in a police car on the hard shoulder - have they got a deathwish!

>> Edited by volvod5_dude on Tuesday 2nd December 12:15

[outlaw]

volvod5_dude said:

Does this mean you DON'T have to stop on a MWay hard shoulder if directed to by police, but can carry on and exit then stop at the next junction where it's safe or safer at least? By no stretch of the imagination can hardshoulders be deemed safe! I've seen some horrendous accidents on hard shoulders, in real life and on TV and there's no way I would stop on one, unless my car broke down, then I wouldn't stay anywhere near it. I can't understand people who meekly go and sit in a police car on the hard shoulder - have they got a deathwish! >> Edited by volvod5_dude on Tuesday 2nd December 12:15

had that agument befer with a plod.

there no way ill stand about on the hard sholder, just cause they want to pull me over they can wait to the next junction.


in tatoal agreeyment with you m8.

[buckshee]

Many years ago, I was travelling on a quiet rural A road on an absolutely filthy November night -lots of surface water in pools at both sides of the road. I drove along, picking the best line along the road at a very safe 30-40mph. Suddenly, a car appears about 10yds off my tail in the rearview mirror flashing headlights intently. I had no idea who this was or what they wanted, so I carried on driving for another few miles.

As I slowed to pull up at a T junction, the car behind suddenly pulls round me and parks in front of me. Out jumps plod from his Fiesta marked police car, which surprised me, because he didn't use the blue lights.

Apparently, I had passed over a double white line on 6 occasions whilst I was being followed, which I acknowledged I had been forced to do because of the road conditions.

I went in person to court, but the magistrates wouldn't hear my reason for crossing the lines was for safety or that the BiB had driven like highwaymen rather than Poilice behind me. To take the biscuit. The Bib who brought the charges and read from his pocket book that I was accompanied by a lady, when in truth I was with my 4feet tall daughter aged 9!

The magistrates will believe whatever the Bibs say.
So much for beyond all reasonable doubt!

[g_attrill]

I would advise stopping on the hard shoulder if stopped by a police car. You can then either wait for the officer to approach your car and crack the window so they can speak to you (and show their ID) or get out and *slowly* walk to the edge of the hard shoulder. I believe you don't have to accept their offer of sitting in their car - you could cite safety concerns and say you are just fine standing out of the way of the traffic.

Gareth