View Full Version : In the Police? In here!
Hi there!
Tonight I was pulled over by the Police for actually nothing at all! I went through a set of lights I know really well *just* as they turned to amber - as in, I went through them and as I crossed the line they changed. Put my foot down a bit in fairness, probably to an indicated shade over 40mph but my speedo is a fair bit out anyway so I am confident I wasn't actually speeding.
Anyways, I get allll the way home (next to the police station as it happens) and he pulls in behind me (in a Fiesta I think, on his own) and opens my door:
"What is the speed limit along that stretch of road?"
"40mph"
"Right, well I had to do over 70mph to catch up with you"
"Err, no way on EARTH was I going anything like 70mph!! Pretty much 40mph"
"You also ran a light, I was watching them"
"No, I went through it on green and as I crossed the line it changed to amber"
"Do you know what amber means?"
"Stop if it is safe to do so"
"What if I had been coming through there with the blue lights on?"
"Well, I would have seen/heard you, but even if I hadn't, it was still on green for me and there wouldn't have been much I could have done"
"Well, one or both of us would have been seriously injured. What if a drunk had stepped out in front of you at that speed?"
At this point I reiterated that I didn't believe I was speeding and that I was in the outside lane of the dual carraigeway, but said that had someone ran out in front of me, there wouldn't have been much anyone could do.
He said "You also have a VERY loud exhaust" - I told him that it was the standard Toyota exhaust. Not sure what his intention was by mentioning that? In fairness, it is probably louder than 99.9% of stock exhaust systems but meh...
He then told me that he had ran my plate and got my details and that should I commit another offence in the future, he would prosecute me. Thing is, I didn't actually commit an offence?
Am I going to get loads of grief from the local cops for not actually giving them anything to book me for? I cba getting pulled over left right and centre! He obviously wasn't a traffic officer and was alone in a panda car so I didn't think they had the powers to make comment on things like that?
Cheers!
Sounds like he made a mistake and was too proud to admit it - or maybe he thought he saw something and was following a hunch and just got it wrong. I wouldn't read too much into it tbh - I've had that before, and nothing's ever come of it. :)
Veteran Tyke
23-10-2007, 06:44
What Will said. Ignore it and carry on as normal.
Mic got pulled over and breathalysed on his way into work for having "disciplined lane use" i.e. he got pulled over for driving correctly :huh:
some Police, especially Road Traffic Cops have a chip on their shoulder, I have one that normally stops me when picking my sisters, or parents up from the local
Stelly
So the policeman actually admitted breaking the law to catch up with you? Did he have his lights and sirens on at the time? If not HE could be the one facing a caution.
Unfortunately, I would put it down to him having a bad day or just being one of the rare "I got bullied in school so im a police office to make up for my small penis" type of people. On the whole though, if he is a non traffic type and on his own, he is doing nothing more than posturing.
With the exhaust comment, he probably thought you were some sort of boy racer and was going to have a field day on you, but then realised you weren't so left you alone.
As for opening your door, I don't think he should be doing that.
As for the comments about him having his blue lights on, its not up to you if he is the one running a red light. Having blues and twos on doesn't give him the right to endanger lives, he still has to be very careful. TBH, he sounds a bit of a plank. I would have taken his number and had a quiet word with the sergeant on duty.
I wouldn't bother making much of a fuss - it wasn't that much of an issue from what I can tell, if it was more serious and did cause a lot of problems then yes... but really it seems a little daft to go OTT for a bit of over zealous "keeno" policing.
I wouldn't bother making much of a fuss - it wasn't that much of an issue from what I can tell, if it was more serious and did cause a lot of problems then yes... but really it seems a little daft to go OTT for a bit of over zealous "keeno" policing.
Yeah, thats what I thought of it - I was more concerned about being "flagged" or whatever and getting loads of grief every time I venture out in the car.
He wasn't nasty, he was fairly nice during the conversation and I remained polite at all times, I just wasn't going to let him make me "admit" to anything!
To be fair you do look a bit dodgy :p
Von Smallhausen
23-10-2007, 13:15
You allegedly did this that and the other yet got nothing for it ?
Speaks volumes. You have likely ran into a cop who is a tit, can't admit when they are wrong and is probably a budding traffic cop or failed to get in.
There is no VASCAR in a panda to determine speed and running a red light is not a discressionary offence, it is a ticket and 3 points yet it didn't get issued because it didn't happen.
Does the set of lights have a camera that could back you up ? Were you cautioned ? Were you given an NIP ? It seems not so nothing can be done anyway. Forget about it.
You won't be flagged at all for what you mentioned.
You allegedly did this that and the other yet got nothing for it ?
Speaks volumes. You have likely ran into a cop who is a tit, can't admit when they are wrong and is probably a budding traffic cop or failed to get in.
There is no VASCAR in a panda to determine speed and running a red light is not a discressionary offence, it is a ticket and 3 points yet it didn't get issued because it didn't happen.
Does the set of lights have a camera that could back you up ? Were you cautioned ? Were you given an NIP ? It seems not so nothing can be done anyway. Forget about it.
You won't be flagged at all for what you mentioned.
No caution, no NIP, nothing. Wasn't even asked my name!
I haven't left anything out so if thats all good then I have nowt to worry about!
Cheers Von!
I've had similar incidents, usually when driving late at night.
Get pulled over, police officer wades in all guns blazing - generally expecting to find some yob with no insurance etc.
It really knocks them for six when they realise you are a normal person driving around not breaking any laws.
It's a shame, they give good cops a bad rep. My mate works in ops for Dyfed Powys Police, he was with me when we got given a load of grief for parking up at the roadside eating a sandwich at 1am. My mate mentioned the incident to his Super the next day and the Super went off the wall. He said that arrogant officers like that give the force (sorry, service :p) a bad name and make his job more difficult than it needs to be.
Mic got pulled over and breathalysed on his way into work for having "disciplined lane use" i.e. he got pulled over for driving correctly :huh:
Because drink drivers are great at driving in straight lines :rolleyes:
In other news, I was reading the log next to the intoximeter today at work, the highest reading we've had at Oxford was 172ug alcohol per 100ml of breath. The legal limit is 35!!!!
I despise drink driving :angry:
I despise drink driving :angry:
Me too, although I do try to hide my comtempt and maintain professionalism.
Of course - I'd find that difficult, I'd do it, but I'd hate it.
:o I had a similar thing happen to me :shocked: went through an amber light - copper went through on red just to pull me over and tell me i went through on amber... *cough* at 40 *cough*
i had to take a breath test and produce all my documents and everything - the guy even tried to tell me i wasn't insured(!) before sitting me in the back of a riot van where the 4 of em surrounded me and proceeded to question me.
:o I had a similar thing happen to me :shocked: went through an amber light - copper went through on red just to pull me over and tell me i went through on amber... *cough* at 40 *cough*
i had to take a breath test and produce all my documents and everything - the guy even tried to tell me i wasn't insured(!) before sitting me in the back of a riot van where the 4 of em surrounded me and proceeded to question me.
Just be thankful it wasn't 1978, they'd have kicked 7 shades of poop out of you. ;)
The only time I've been pulled it was completely my fault. I was talking on my phone (held up to my ear) going through a set of traffic lights (on green) round a bend. It would happen in front of the main Leicester Police Station. They pulled me over had a chat with me and breathalysed me (I had a 'stubby' beer a half hour before). Nice enough about everything and had a bit of a laugh with them. Only got a £30 fine thankfully :)
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