Reporting the police.. To the police?

[Conor D]

I'm not too sure how this will go down, but has anyone ever reported the police for driving offences?

I'm getting a bit pissed off seeing police cars (marked and unmarked) pulling manoeuvres that any other driver would get a severe telling off for, and maybe even points, taken upto court etc.

A few times I've felt like going upto them and asking for their ID to report them.. Nothing will probably happen, but it might make them think twice about driving like dicks. I've never done it though.

None of the times were the police on the way to an accident or a call (that I would understand), normally they were just patrolling around town.

Just curious about the whole thing..

[broken biscuit]

Without wishing to cause an argument - how do you know they werent en route to callouts? Lights and sirens aren't used for all jobs - sometimes its better to turn up unannounced rather than with all the kit. Some Police drivers are just as bad as other drivers - like in every role in life, some are better at some things. Without wishing to defend the Police - sometimes they can be concentrating on the radio, listening to what job they are going to, trying to inconspicuously catch up with a car etc etc.

However, if the driving is that bad, just the reg of the car with the time and date would be sufficient - each driver fills in a log from when the car is taken out to when it is returned.

[slimmyreed]

I did go into a police station a while ago to have a moan about a police car running me off the road as they overtook a car on a blind bend with me coming the other direction. I had a phone call a few days later from the sarget telling me they knew who it was, and they would be getting a bking, as it wasn't the first complaint they had about them.

[Mastodon2]

Conor D said:

I'm not too sure how this will go down, but has anyone ever reported the police for driving offences?

I'm getting a bit pissed off seeing police cars (marked and unmarked) pulling manoeuvres that any other driver would get a severe telling off for, and maybe even points, taken upto court etc.

A few times I've felt like going upto them and asking for their ID to report them.. Nothing will probably happen, but it might make them think twice about driving like dicks. I've never done it though.

None of the times were the police on the way to an accident or a call (that I would understand), normally they were just patrolling around town.

Just curious about the whole thing..

How can you be sure they weren't on response? They don't always use lights and sirens. No offence but you are just a civie, and they are the police. By that token, they can go above and around the laws of the road when necessary to do their jobs. I've seen police cars doing "illegal" U turns and what-not without lights on, but when they are doing the stuff that is really potentially dangerous like cutting through traffic at high speed the lights will be on. When it comes to things like driving the wrong way in one way systems, "illegal" U turns etc, you are never going to stick it to the police by reporting that kind of thing, you will probably just get laughed at.

[Flintstone]

I suspect you'll have as much luck with this as you would with any other 'generic' complaint, it'll be your word against theirs and if we spent our time reporting drivers for the stupidity we see on the roads we'd all get nothing else done.

Don't get me wrong, I've seen some appalling plod driving just the same as I've seen some appalling civilian driving. I've learned to ensure they miss me and just get on with things.

[150bhp]

Stick them in, their attitude stinks. Couple of weeks ago i was at a set of lights, car in front of me and police car in front of them at a red light. Light goes to green, police don't move, 6 to 7 seconds later they still haven't moved, too busy laughing at something(i could see this as the lights are on a bend in the road), i give a small short toot of the horn, we all move off but i can see the passenger copper looking over his shoulder. At the first chance(bus stop) they pull in, as i pass they then speed up behind me and proceeded to sit about a meter off my bumper for the next mile till i pulled in for petrol(bear in mind im not some ned driving a souped up corsa, i drive a standard Audi A4). Both coppers looked about 20yrs old. I was hoping they'd follow me into the forecourt so i could get their details and give them a bking about their petty attitude and frankly st driving. tts.

[jimbobsimmonds]

I can understand if they are all call or look to be wanting to get a bit of a move on; but i have noticed the driving standards of many police (particularly your bog standard patrol vehicles) is just as poor as the rest of us; and had the shoe been on the other foot Joe Civvie would receive a severe bking...

something we just have to accept i suppose that there is no real way of doing anything about it; but then how often do you report other dikheads to the police? not very i suspect...

[MGZRod]

The other week I was driving down King's St. in Aberdeen, and noticed a police car behind me, was a dog carrier ford Focus estate. Now, I passed this thing when it was parked up about 5 minutes before as I came out of my estate. And it is all 30mph roads and I was dead on the limits, but then half way down Kings st (bloody long road, lots of traffic lights and a few roundabouts) i see him behind me, glued to my arse. So I do my 'textbook' driving, everything fine.

Then for whatever reason, he decides to overtake me (i'm sitting at 30mph) and cuts right infront of me. then sits at 25 mph. And how do I know they weren't on a call? they took the same turn I did and turned into the police station unbelievably slowly. clipping two kerbs in two corners.

Wish I had though to take details at the time as I just couldn't believe my eyes.

[Flanders.]

150bhp said:

Stick them in, their attitude stinks. Couple of weeks ago i was at a set of lights, car in front of me and police car in front of them at a red light. Light goes to green, police don't move, 6 to 7 seconds later they still haven't moved, too busy laughing at something(i could see this as the lights are on a bend in the road), i give a small short toot of the horn, we all move off but i can see the passenger copper looking over his shoulder. At the first chance(bus stop) they pull in, as i pass they then speed up behind me and proceeded to sit about a meter off my bumper for the next mile till i pulled in for petrol(bear in mind im not some ned driving a souped up corsa, i drive a standard Audi A4). Both coppers looked about 20yrs old. I was hoping they'd follow me into the forecourt so i could get their details and give them a bking about their petty attitude and frankly st driving. tts.

I'm sure you gving them a bking would go down well...

[dudleybloke]

most of the ones round here dont indicate.

[RedAlfa]

You won't get anywhere IMHO. The police are a law unto themselves. Some of the BiB are cocks. Last year I was driving along, minding my own business. I drove past a police HQ, and on the opposite side of the road there was a police car, waiting to turn into the HQ. The BiB was impatient, so he crossed my path suddenly, forcing me to brake. If that situation had been reciprocated I would have been pulled over. Hypocrite!

[150bhp]

Flanders. said:

150bhp said:

Stick them in, their attitude stinks. Couple of weeks ago i was at a set of lights, car in front of me and police car in front of them at a red light. Light goes to green, police don't move, 6 to 7 seconds later they still haven't moved, too busy laughing at something(i could see this as the lights are on a bend in the road), i give a small short toot of the horn, we all move off but i can see the passenger copper looking over his shoulder. At the first chance(bus stop) they pull in, as i pass they then speed up behind me and proceeded to sit about a meter off my bumper for the next mile till i pulled in for petrol(bear in mind im not some ned driving a souped up corsa, i drive a standard Audi A4). Both coppers looked about 20yrs old. I was hoping they'd follow me into the forecourt so i could get their details and give them a bking about their petty attitude and frankly st driving. tts.

I'm sure you gving them a bking would go down well...

True, prob just as well for me they drove on.

[angusfaldo]

150bhp said:

Stick them in, their attitude stinks. ........... tts.

Yep. Generalisations are great. I mean everyone knows you need to have a stinking attitude even to get an interview to join the force...

[anonymous-user]

angusfaldo said:

150bhp said:

Stick them in, their attitude stinks. ........... tts.

Yep. Generalisations are great. I mean everyone knows you need to have a stinking attitude even to get an interview to join the force...

Evidence is on road wars for all to see. They antagonise and get cocky with people.

[angusfaldo]

MSTRBKR said:

angusfaldo said:

150bhp said:

Stick them in, their attitude stinks. ........... tts.

Yep. Generalisations are great. I mean everyone knows you need to have a stinking attitude even to get an interview to join the force...

Evidence is on road wars for all to see. They antagonise and get cocky with people.

Jesus. After generalisations we're now lowered to using sensationalist TV programmes to justify our sweeping statements. Shame on you.

[ehyouwhat]

angusfaldo said:

MSTRBKR said:

angusfaldo said:

150bhp said:

Stick them in, their attitude stinks. ........... tts.

Yep. Generalisations are great. I mean everyone knows you need to have a stinking attitude even to get an interview to join the force...

Evidence is on road wars for all to see. They antagonise and get cocky with people.

Jesus. After generalisations we're now lowered to using sensationalist TV programmes to justify our sweeping statements. Shame on you.

I don't like generalisation at the best of times, and most of the police I have ever met have been perfectly fine (as you would expect, given that I've only ever had passing relationships with them)...

...that said, 'Road Wars' et al do absolutely nothing to promote the positive, respective attitudes that are expected of our police officers, and frankly I am often surprised that the parties with editing discretion let some of the scenes be shown on tv.

[anonymous-user]

angusfaldo said:

MSTRBKR said:

angusfaldo said:

150bhp said:

Stick them in, their attitude stinks. ........... tts.

Yep. Generalisations are great. I mean everyone knows you need to have a stinking attitude even to get an interview to join the force...

Evidence is on road wars for all to see. They antagonise and get cocky with people.

Jesus. After generalisations we're now lowered to using sensationalist TV programmes to justify our sweeping statements. Shame on you.

They are filmed doing their job as it happens, how exactly is it sensationalist? The fact that it's a TV show doesn't come in to it.

Sometimes the policemen and women on there areout of order.

[150bhp]

MSTRBKR said:

angusfaldo said:

MSTRBKR said:

angusfaldo said:

150bhp said:

Stick them in, their attitude stinks. ........... tts.

Yep. Generalisations are great. I mean everyone knows you need to have a stinking attitude even to get an interview to join the force...

Evidence is on road wars for all to see. They antagonise and get cocky with people.

Jesus. After generalisations we're now lowered to using sensationalist TV programmes to justify our sweeping statements. Shame on you.

They are filmed doing their job as it happens, how exactly is it sensationalist? The fact that it's a TV show doesn't come in to it.

Sometimes the policemen and women on there areout of order.

Well the two coppers who pulled over to then tailgate me clearly had a highly unprofessional and billy big time attitude, as if, how dare a mere member of the public bring to our attention the lights are now at green? God forbid! Now i don't think you need to have a stinking attitude to get an interview with the police as you suggest and i know the police are used to dealing with scum but they shouldn't tar all members of public with the same brush and realise that they don't always have to be so antagonistic and think they are always right. RE Road Wars, they guys have a tough job but they don't do themselves any favours and come across as cocky with their smart arse comments imo.

[AREA]

When I was younger and somewhat more arrogant than wise I reported police quite a few times for poor driving. Was basically fed up being pulled over as a young guy driving a 911 and a Merc and getting the "is this your car Sir?" routine just for being a pimply yoof. However despite the arrogance I got some good results: followed Plod driver into the police station and got a personal apology in front of his colleague and had a written apology on another occasion after involving a Chief Sup.

Some 20 years on I have mellowed somewhat and have a hell of a lot of respect for the job these guys do. Sometimes they don't do it to the standard required and expected; well, we all have off moments and let he who is without sin cast the first stone and so on.

[zippyprorider]

im just fed up of them speeding on the motorway without their lights on. And before anyone has a go at this with "some situations are better without the lights", cruising down the motorway for miles at around 95mph is not one of them. Thinking if they want to tell motorists speed kills they should practice this too or give some warning to others ie lights on!